Home, Property and Environment

Significant Tree Maintenance Rebate Pilot Program

The City is excited to announce the launch of a fixed-fee maintenance subsidy pilot program to help residents maintain significant trees on their property.

This pilot program has been approved by the Council with a $25,000 budget, funded by the City's Green Initiatives Reserve Fund. Space will be limited during this phase due to the dedicated funding.

Applications will open at 9:00am on March 31 and stay open until April 25, 2025. Consult with your qualified professional and get your documents ready to apply!

Who can apply for the rebate

Residents within the City’s urban area where the private tree by-law applies.
Check if you live in the urban area by using the City’s interactive map.
This pilot is only for residential properties and does not apply to commercial, industrial or commercial properties.

What size trees are covered under the rebate

Only significant trees as defined within the City’s private tree by-law.
Significant trees are 75cm (2.5ft) in diameter or larger.
As this is a pilot program, the City is focusing on these significant trees only.
To learn how to measure a tree, including those with multiple stems view the Guide to Tree Protection.
You can measure your tree’s diameter by measuring the circumference (distance around the tree) and dividing it by 3.14.

Number of trees eligible for the rebate

You can apply for a rebate for one (1) tree per property.
The tree must be solely owned and not shared.
This is a pilot program, and in the future, the program may expand to include more than one tree.

Type of work covered under the rebate

Talk with a qualified tree professional to determine what work the tree needs. For this pilot, the following select list of tree work maintenance actions are allowed:

Tree crown reduction or retrenchment
Removal of deadwood
Pruning for clearance or elevation of the tree
Installing cables and/or braces to support the tree
Deep root fertilizing
Vertical mulching soil treatment to promote tree health
Radial trenching to de-compact the soil
Applying compost tea to promote tree health
Level 3 Risk Assessment (resistance drilling, sonic tomography, pull test)

If the work you want to do is not on this list, it cannot be considered for the rebate at this time.

Rebate coverage amount

The rebate covers up to 50% (before taxes) of the cost of the tree work.
The maximum rebate is $1000 per tree per property.
Work must be future planned work and does not include work already completed.
You can only collect the rebate once during the pilot.

Rebate processing time

After the City approves the work, you can start the tree maintenance.
For the pilot you will have 6 months from your approval date to collect your rebate.
- Applicants that are applying for pruning related work to Oak trees will receive an extended approval date to avoid the oak wilt pruning window (April 1 – October 31). This date will be communicated upon approval to help you schedule your qualified tree professional to ensure sufficient time to complete the work and apply for the rebate.
Once the work is completed and paid for, you’ll apply for the rebate using the link provided to you in your approval email.
Once staff check the details of your payment submission, you should receive your rebate in 4 to 6 weeks.

How do I apply? Step-by-step process

Talk with a qualified tree professional to figure out what work your tree needs

Check if the work you need is part of the list covered for work for the rebate program

If it is on the list, fill out the rebate application form online. You will need to include:

An owner authorization form, if the applicant is not the owner of the tree.
The type of tree and diameter size of the tree in centimeters.
A clear photograph of the tree. We have a guide to help you take the right picture
A clear photograph of the measurement of the tree. Use our photograph guide for help and have your arborist measure the tree with their diameter tape.
Name of the qualified tree professional / company who will complete the work.
A quote from the qualified tree professional that outlines the scope of work with the maintenance related work to be performed.

Wait for approval

City staff will notify you between April 28 to May 9 if you are successful.
An approval document, reference number and link for the rebate payment application form will be provided.

Go ahead and do the work as approved.

Once the work is finished, apply for the rebate. You will need to include:

The application reference number in the approval email provided by the City.
A photo(s) of the tree following the work, and a photograph(s) of the work performed. Use our photograph guide for help
A copy of the invoice issued from the qualified tree professional.
Proof of payment (receipt) of the invoice.
Your preferred method of how you would like to receive payment of the rebate (e.g., cheque or direct deposit) and payment information.

Once you submit your payment form online staff will check it. If it is approved, you will receive a rebate in 4-6 weeks.

Important Notes

This is a pilot program, with a $25,000 budget offering a limited number of spots for residents to benefit from tree maintenance support.
Staff will review all applications carefully, but due to limited funds, not every application will be approved.
Your application must be approved before starting the work.
This rebate cannot be used toward tree permit conditions or by-law violations.
A survey will be launched in fall 2025 to seek feedback about this program. To stay informed, subscribe to www.getinvolvedburlington.ca/forestry.

Take a moment to read through the instructions before applying for your significant tree maintenance rebate to ensure a smooth process.

Apply here