Arborists

The City of Fort Collins Forestry Division grants and manages licenses for arborists and third-party businesses that perform tree removal, pruning, cutting and other tasks on trees within Fort Collins. 

Licensing Rules and Information

• Businesses performing tree pruning or removal at heights of 10 feet or more above the ground or are felling trees for financial gain within Fort Collins city limits must be licensed by the City. See City Code Sec. 27-34.
• Any licensee must perform all cutting, trimming, spraying, removing or pruning of trees on public or private property within city limits in accordance with the requirements in the City of Fort Collins Tree Management Standards and Best Management Practices. Any licensee not complying with these standards may have their license suspended or revoked.
• Producing and maintaining trees in a nursery setting does not require an arborist license.
• Any person desiring to plant, treat, cut, trim, prune, or remove any tree within the public right-of-way of any street or sidewalk, or upon other City-owned property within the City, or to remove any tree planted upon any commercial property with a diameter of fifteen (15) inches or greater, must first obtain a free permit from the office of the City Forester, if a permit is required under City Code Sec. 27-31.

Become an Arborist

Required Materials

After submitting your license application, the following documents will be provided to you and are required to be read and available to your staff: 

• Work Area Traffic Control Policies and Procedures Handbook
• Tree Management Standards and Best Management Practices
• Arborist License Requirements
• Licensed Arborist Ordinance
• Tree ID Study Guide

Licensed Arborists and Tree Care Companies

The companies listed below are authorized by the City of Fort Collins to prune and remove trees by way or climbing and/or the use of equipment.