Business Insurance  /  Specialties  /  Tree Service Insurance

Tree Service & Arborists

Tree Service Insurance
Built for One of Texas’s
Most Demanding Jobs.

Tree trimming and removal is high-risk work — working at height, dropping heavy limbs near homes and power lines, running powerful equipment on people’s properties. Your insurance needs to reflect that reality. We build programs specifically for tree service companies across Texas that actually cover the work you do.

Why Tree Service Companies Choose McKnight

Tree work isn’t landscaping. Your coverage shouldn’t be either.

Tree service is one of the most dangerous industries in the country. OSHA consistently ranks it among the highest fatality-rate professions, and the liability exposure that comes with dropping large trees near structures, power lines, and neighbors’ properties is genuinely significant. A lot of tree service companies are written under a general landscaping policy — and a lot of those policies exclude tree removal work, or don’t carry adequate limits for the real risk profile of the job.

Our managing agent Toby Yeary spent over 20 years running a landscape and irrigation business in DFW. That background gives our team a direct understanding of the outdoor trades — what the work actually looks like, what goes wrong, and what insurance language matters. We work with tree service companies that do everything from residential pruning and stump grinding to large-scale commercial removals, and we make sure the policy covers what’s actually happening on the job.

“Tree work is a different animal from landscaping. The heights, the weights, the proximity to structures and power lines — your policy has to say ‘tree work’ specifically. If it doesn’t, you may not be covered.”

— Toby Yeary, Managing Agent, McKnight Insurance

We serve tree service companies across Texas — solo operators with a truck and a chipper, growing crews doing residential and commercial work, and established operations running bucket trucks and large removal jobs. We shop across 100+ carriers to find the right program for your specific services and risk profile.

Important: Not all general liability policies cover tree removal and trimming work. Some explicitly exclude it, or categorize it under landscaping at inadequate limits. Before you assume you’re covered, let us review what your policy actually says about tree work specifically.

Same-day certificates of insurance
Need a COI to start a job today? We turn them around same day — we know how quickly a contract can appear and how fast you need to move.

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Tree-specific policy language verified
We verify that “tree work” — trimming, removal, and stump grinding — is explicitly covered in your GL, not just assumed under a landscaping classification.

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Real people — actually reachable
When something happens on a job, you need answers fast. When you call McKnight, a person picks up who knows your policy and can help you move forward.

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Real Risks. Real Scenarios.

The situations tree service companies across Texas call us about.

This industry has higher injury and liability exposure than almost any trade. These scenarios are why coverage specifics matter.

01
A limb drops and hits a structure
A section being cut swings unexpectedly and catches a corner of the house, a fence, or a parked car in the driveway. This is one of the most common tree service claims — and one of the most significant, because structural damage can be expensive. Your GL covers this, but the limits and policy language have to be right for tree work specifically.

03
A tree falls the wrong direction
Even with proper rigging and planning, a large removal can go wrong. A tree falls toward a structure instead of away from it. The damage to a neighbor’s fence, vehicle, or building is your liability. For high-risk removals near structures, your GL limits need to reflect the potential scale of the damage — not just a basic landscaping minimum.

05
A chipper or bucket truck breaks down mid-job
Your chipper or bucket truck is critical equipment. When it breaks down on a job, you’re losing productivity and potentially a client relationship. Equipment breakdown coverage specifically covers mechanical and electrical failures — something standard property insurance doesn’t cover. For operations that depend on heavy equipment, this coverage is worth having.

02
A crew member falls from height
Working in tree canopies, on ladders, and from bucket trucks is inherently dangerous. A fall causes serious injury. Without workers’ compensation, that injured employee can pursue your business directly with no limit on damages. In Texas, workers’ comp isn’t legally required — but in tree service, going without it is an enormous financial exposure.

04
Climbing and rigging gear is stolen
Chainsaws, climbing harnesses, rigging ropes, loppers, and hand tools left on a job site or in an unsecured trailer overnight can be gone by morning. This equipment is expensive and essential. Commercial auto covers the truck. Your GL covers third-party claims. Neither covers your gear. Inland marine is what pays to replace it.

06
A client claims you damaged a healthy tree
A client hires you to remove a problem tree. Later, they claim you also damaged a healthy tree nearby during the process, or that your cuts caused disease to spread. If you provide tree health advice as part of your services, a professional liability claim can arise from that guidance. Arborist E&O coverage protects against advice-based claims — standard GL does not.

Coverage Recommendations

A complete insurance program for tree service companies.

Tree service companies have a higher risk profile than most trades. Here’s how we build a program that covers the real exposures — working at height, falling trees, expensive equipment, injured crew members, and the property damage that can happen fast in this line of work.

General Liability — Tree-Specific

Covers third-party bodily injury and property damage from your operations. Must explicitly include tree trimming, removal, and stump grinding — not just landscaping. We verify the language covers tree work before placing the policy. Limits should reflect the real liability of working near structures.

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Workers’ Compensation

Tree work is one of the highest injury-rate industries in the country. Texas doesn’t require workers’ comp by law, but without it, an injured climber or ground crew member can sue your business directly without limit. For any tree service business with employees, this is non-negotiable coverage.

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Commercial Auto Insurance

Covers your trucks, trailers, and bucket trucks for liability, collision, and comprehensive. Every vehicle used for the business needs to be properly scheduled. Personal auto won’t cover work-related accidents, and an unlisted vehicle in an accident creates serious coverage problems.

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Tools, Equipment & Inland Marine

Covers chainsaws, climbing gear, rigging ropes, chippers, stump grinders, and all other equipment on job sites, in transit, and at your location. Commercial auto and GL don’t cover your tools. Inland marine is the coverage that follows your equipment wherever the work takes it.

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Commercial Umbrella / Excess

Tree service operations near structures, power lines, and neighboring properties carry real large-loss potential. When a claim exceeds your primary GL limits — and in this industry it can — umbrella coverage absorbs the excess. Many commercial contracts require umbrella coverage before you start work.

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Arborist E&O / Professional Liability

If your business provides tree health assessments, diagnosis advice, or recommendations on which trees to remove — you have professional liability exposure beyond GL. Arborist E&O covers claims that your advice or assessment led to property damage or financial loss. Relevant for any company providing consultative tree services.

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Common Mistakes We See

What your current tree service coverage might be missing.

01
A GL policy written for “landscaping” — not “tree work”
This is the most critical mistake in tree service insurance. Some GL policies explicitly exclude tree removal, trimming above a certain height, or work near power lines. If your policy says “landscaping” and doesn’t specifically address tree work, you may not have coverage when a claim happens. We read the policy language before we place it.

03
GL limits too low for the real exposure
A basic $1M GL policy written for a landscaping company may not be adequate for tree removal near structures. If a large tree goes the wrong direction and takes out a corner of a house, the repair cost alone can approach or exceed $1M — before legal costs. Many commercial clients require $2M or more for tree work near buildings.

05
Bucket trucks and chippers not properly scheduled
Specialty equipment like bucket trucks and large chippers needs to be specifically addressed in your commercial auto and equipment coverage. An unlisted or improperly described piece of equipment in an accident or breakdown creates a coverage dispute you don’t want to be in the middle of on a job site.

02
No workers’ comp in a high-injury profession
Texas allows employers to opt out of workers’ comp — but tree service is one of the highest-injury industries in the country. A climber who falls and suffers serious injuries can pursue your business with no legal cap on damages. Workers’ comp protects your employee and puts a defined structure on your financial exposure.

04
No coverage for climbing and rigging equipment
Chainsaws, harnesses, rigging hardware, and climbing gear are expensive — and are prime targets for theft on job sites. Commercial auto and GL don’t cover this equipment. Without an inland marine or tools and equipment policy, replacing stolen or damaged gear comes entirely out of pocket.

06
No E&O coverage when providing tree health advice
If you assess trees, recommend removals, or advise clients on tree health as part of your service — even informally — you have professional liability exposure. GL doesn’t cover a claim that your assessment was wrong or that your advice caused financial harm. Arborist E&O is the coverage that protects you in those situations.

FAQ

Questions tree service business owners ask us.

Does my landscaping insurance cover tree trimming and removal?
Not always — and this is the most important question a tree service company can ask. Some general liability policies written under a landscaping classification explicitly exclude tree removal or work above a certain height. Others cover light trimming but not large-scale removal near structures. Before you assume your current policy covers tree work, have someone read the actual language. We do this review for tree service companies and frequently find that their existing coverage doesn’t match what they’re actually doing on the job.
Why is workers’ compensation especially important for tree service companies?
Tree work consistently ranks among the most dangerous professions in the country. Working at height, operating chainsaws, managing heavy falling limbs — serious injuries are a real possibility, not a remote one. In Texas, workers’ comp isn’t legally required for most employers, which means many tree service companies go without it. But without it, an injured employee can sue your business directly with no cap on what they can recover. Workers’ comp puts a defined structure on your liability and provides your injured employee with medical coverage and lost wage replacement. For any tree service business with employees on the ground or in the trees, it’s essential.
How much general liability coverage does a tree service company need?
More than most landscaping companies carry. Tree removal near structures, power lines, and neighboring properties creates large-loss potential. A $1M per occurrence limit is a common starting point, but many commercial clients — municipalities, property managers, commercial property owners — require $2M or more before they’ll let you on the property. We help you set limits that match the scale of your work and satisfy your typical contract requirements, not just the minimum that sounds adequate.
Does commercial auto cover my chipper and bucket truck?
Commercial auto covers your vehicles — trucks, trailers, and tow-behind equipment — for liability and physical damage. Bucket trucks are typically covered as commercial vehicles and need to be specifically listed. Chippers can be more complex: if towed, they may be covered as a trailer; if self-propelled, they may need separate coverage. Equipment breakdown coverage addresses the mechanical failure scenario that commercial auto doesn’t — when your chipper or bucket truck simply breaks down on a job. We make sure all your equipment is properly addressed in your program.
Is my climbing and rigging gear covered if it’s stolen from a job site?
Not under your commercial auto or general liability policy. Climbing harnesses, rigging ropes, chainsaws, loppers, and hand tools left on a job site or in a trailer are covered by inland marine — also called tools and equipment coverage. This policy follows your gear wherever it goes: job sites, in transit, and at your shop or yard. If you’ve ever had equipment stolen and didn’t have inland marine coverage, you know what it costs to replace it out of pocket. It’s one of the most practical and underutilized coverages for tree service operations.
What is arborist E&O insurance and do I need it?
Arborist errors and omissions coverage protects you against claims that your professional advice or assessment led to financial harm or property damage. If you assess a tree’s health, recommend removing or keeping a tree, or advise a client on disease or risk — you’re providing professional guidance, not just labor. If your advice is later disputed and a client claims it caused them financial harm, GL won’t cover it. E&O is designed for that. If your business includes any consultative or diagnostic component — even informally — it’s worth discussing whether arborist E&O belongs in your program.
Do I need special insurance for work near power lines?
Working near power lines is one of the higher-risk scenarios in tree service — both for worker safety and for liability if something goes wrong. Some carriers specifically exclude work within a certain distance of energized lines, or require additional documentation and safety certifications. We make sure your policy is clear on what’s covered when power lines are in the picture — and we find carriers that understand tree service operations rather than ones that write blanket exclusions.
Can I get a certificate of insurance the same day?
Yes — same-day certificates are standard for us. We know that in tree service, jobs can come up fast and a certificate requirement can be the difference between working and waiting. Call us when you need it and we move quickly. This is something we take seriously because we understand how the business works.
My workers are subcontractors, not employees. Do I still need workers’ comp?
It depends on how the relationship is structured. True independent contractors who carry their own workers’ comp are generally not your liability. But misclassified workers — people who work only for you, follow your schedule, and use your equipment — may legally be considered employees regardless of what you call them. If a worker is injured and a court determines they were a de facto employee, your business can face the same liability as if they were on your payroll. We help you think through your specific situation and make sure you’re not carrying exposure you didn’t know about.

Get Started

Tree service is high-risk work. Your insurance should be built for it.

Whether you’re a solo operator with a truck and a saw, or a growing operation with bucket trucks and crews — we’ll build a program that actually covers the work you do. No pressure. No jargon. Just straight answers from people who understand the outdoor trades.

Same-day certificates available  ·  Serving tree service companies across Texas  ·  No obligation