A tree crew can change a yard in an afternoon, and most of what goes right or wrong was decided before the first call: who you picked, what got written down, and what nobody thought to ask. Few homeowners hire a tree company more than a handful of times, so the questions don't come naturally.
This checklist pulls together advice from UF/IFAS Extension, the Florida chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), the Florida Urban Forestry Council and Lakeland Electric. It boils down to ten checks you can run in a phone call or two, whether you found the company yourself or through us.
Both UF/IFAS and Florida ISA begin the same way: work out what you want solved. A branch over the roof, a trunk that has started to lean, a canopy nobody has pruned in years and a leftover stump are four different jobs with four different kinds of crew. Write your answer in a sentence and give that sentence to every company, so the estimates you collect describe the same work.
Be careful with anyone whose first answer is to take the whole tree. Florida ISA advises caution toward an arborist who suggests removing a living tree, because removal is sometimes necessary but should be the last resort after other options are considered. UF/IFAS makes a similar point about storm damage: trees can recover from substantial injury, and what looks awful at first may look less serious to an experienced professional. When a tree does need to come down, our page on taking a tree down safely explains what that job usually involves.
Homeowners often expect a state license for tree work, the way electricians have one. Florida ISA says plainly that arborists practicing in Florida are not licensed, and that you should find out whether your own municipality requires a specific license or certification. So when a company says it is "licensed," ask the follow-up: licensed by whom, for what, and can you see it?
ISA certification is a separate, voluntary credential, and it's the one that matters for the next point. Florida ISA keeps a find-an-arborist tool that links to ISA's own certified-arborist directory, which is a better starting point than a flyer on your door.
Some tree work in Lakeland touches the permit process. The City of Lakeland publishes a tree removal permit application for removing a tree from residential or commercial property when it is dead, diseased or damaged, or because of construction. Florida law adds a twist for homes: under section 163.045 of the Florida Statutes, a local government may not require a notice, application, approval, permit, fee or mitigation to prune, trim or remove a tree on residential property if the owner has documentation that the tree poses an unacceptable risk to people or property. That documentation has to be a signed, on-site risk assessment by an ISA-certified arborist or a Florida-licensed landscape architect.
In plain terms, a certified arborist's written assessment can carry real weight in whether permit fees and conditions apply to your tree. Our guide to how the city and county rules fit together walks through the layers. If you suspect your tree qualifies, ask the arborist at the estimate whether they perform written risk assessments.
A limb that touches a line is a utility problem first. UF/IFAS tells homeowners to call the electric company to report limbs that have fallen on or are hanging over a power line, and Lakeland Electric's guide says that if a tree endangers the service entrance cable, the utility may need to temporarily disconnect it so a private crew can proceed. Arrange that before the crew shows up, not after. For tall pruning jobs that don't involve a line, help with trimming and clearance is a different kind of work and a different crew.
You'll know quickly. The person who comes out looks at the tree from several sides, asks what you want, and explains options instead of defaulting to one. They can name their insurance carrier without hunting for it, say which standards they follow, and are comfortable putting the scope in writing. They can tell you who handles the stump, and if one is left, point you to the options in our guide to stump grinding. If the visit feels rushed, or you hear "I can start right now if you pay today," treat that as the warning it is.
Tree Removal Lakeland is an independent service. When you call, we connect you with a local tree care provider that does the inspecting, pricing and work. Our disclosure page spells out how that works, including that we don't verify licenses, insurance or certifications. That's why we'd rather you carry this checklist than take our word for anyone. Start at our Lakeland tree service hub if you want to see the work we help with, or check the FAQ for common questions.
According to Florida ISA, arborists practicing in Florida are not licensed. It advises finding out whether your municipality requires a specific license or certification for tree work, and asking any company to show exactly what it holds.
It means the person passed ISA's written test and keeps the credential current through ongoing education. Florida ISA contrasts it with simple membership in a trade group, which requires no test.
Lakeland Electric's hurricane guide says not to pay in advance for tree trimming or debris removal. Get the scope, the debris plan and the payment terms in writing before agreeing to anything.
The City's Tree Crew handles trees on public property, and its Urban Forest page states that private trees are not the purview of the Parks and Recreation Department. Use the checks above for private-property work.
Need a hand? Call 863-267-9528 or use the chat on this page.
Tree Removal Lakeland is an independent service that connects callers with local tree care providers; we are not a tree contractor. Independent service, not a tree contractor.