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Tree Trimming License Information Q&A Why is the City of Brighton requiring licensing for tree care? 3 reasons….. 1. Ordinances reflect the values of a community; the values its residents believe are worth protecting to maintain their quality of life and an environment that is both safe and pleasant. A community’s trees are very much the kind of community asset that deserves to be protected and managed for the common good. 2. Tree work can be expensive and potentially dangerous to perform. Certified tree care companies shall be knowledgeable about the needs of trees and are trained and equipped to provide proper care. 3. Poorly maintained trees can be a significant liability to all citizens of a community. This ordinance gives direction to professional tree care within Brighton’s work force and helps control unscrupulous or careless operators. Practices such as “lion-tailing,” “topping,” and removing more than 25% of live canopy from a tree are not accepted or allowed within the professional arboriculture industry. Does Brighton have existing code that requires licensing and certification for contractors specializing in tree care? Yes. According to current Brighton Municipal Code Article 5-68-20, “all persons engaged in the business of performing tree care in Brighton must have a license and insurance and will be subject to a competency test. The competency test must be completed before the license is issued.” The license requirement is for tree or shrub work for hire, including barter or trade of services. Do other municipalities in the Denver Metro-Area have similar codes? Yes. Lakewood, Aurora, Denver, Englewood, Littleton and Wheat Ridge all require by ordinance the licensing and certification of tree care. Other cities such as Longmont, Greeley, and Fort Collins have similar code requirements. How do I get certified? There are four municipalities that administer standardized testing in the Denver Metro-Area; Lakewood, Wheat Ridge, Denver, and Aurora. A written and field test must be taken in one of the above cities. If a company passes or has passed the testing requirements for any one of these cities, they will then be allowed to obtain a license in Brighton. You must get a score of 70% or more to pass the written test. Standard review time for a contractor’s license in Brighton is one week. ---PAGE BREAK--- Standard review time for a contractor’s license and testing in Aurora, Denver, Lakewood, and Wheat Ridge is about one week. Please contact the individual municipality for more information on their specific programs or to schedule an appointment. See below… What tree license is appropriate for my business? Brighton offers 4 different licenses for tree care: 1. Arboriculture License. Is issued to companies that engage in trimming, spraying, and removal of trees of any size. Proof of a valid Colorado Pesticide Applicator’s license from the Department of Agriculture with appropriate categories is required. 2. Large Tree License. A Large Tree license will be required if the tree company is going to be using ropes, aerial lift trucks, or ladders. It does not include spraying. 3. Ornamental License. An ornamental license will be issued as long as the tree company is engaged in work that can be performed safely from the ground. It does not include spraying. 4. Spray License. A spray license shall be issued to a company engaged in spraying operations only. This does not require testing but proof of a valid Colorado Pesticide Applicator’s license with appropriate categories is necessary. PLEASE NOTE: Written tests can be waived if the individual possesses a valid ISA Certified Arborist certification. If an individual posses a valid ISA Certified Tree Worker certification the field test will be waived. Who needs to hold the license within the company? Any one person within the company must hold the license. If the licensee leaves the company for any reason, that company will no longer be licensed in the City of Brighton until another representative fulfills the licensing requirements. It is recommended that the proprietor/owner of the company obtain the license. Licensees must communicate ordinance responsibilities to their fellow employees. MUNICIPALITY AURORA Denver Lakewood Wheat Ridge Is there a fee? License fee $0 Testing fee $30 $25 Application Fee + $25 License Fee Testing fee $0 License Fee $25 $10 Application Fee + $25 License Fee Contact Information [PHONE REDACTED] www.auroragov.org [PHONE REDACTED] www.denvergov.org [PHONE REDACTED] www.lakewood.org [PHONE REDACTED] www.ci.wheatridge.co.us ---PAGE BREAK--- All workers are responsible for compliance with Brighton’s ordinances, regulations, and permitting requirements. Licensees do not have to be physically present at each job site, but will be accountable and liable for all tree work performed by the company they are employed with. What are the tree care licensing requirements for Brighton? (Licenses can be obtained from the One Stop Center at 500 s. 4th St. Brighton CO. [PHONE REDACTED]) Application fee of $25 per year. CRS Affidavit of Legal Presentation Copy of Driver’s License General Liability Insurance 50/100/25 Reference for Contractor License Copy or proof of a completed and approved competency test from one the following municipalities: Aurora, Denver, Lakewood, Wheat Ridge OR Copy of ISA Certified Arborist Certification and/or ISA Certified Tree Worker Certification How long is the license good for? Will I be notified when my license is going to expire? 1 year from the date of issue. Yes, you will be notified 1-2 months prior to license expiration. Do I need an additional permit if I am going to be doing tree work on City right-of-way? Yes. Permits and licensing can applied for at 500 S. 4th Ave. Brighton, CO. What are the requirements for a tree trimming right-of-way permit? Site plan (showing trees to be removed or worked on.) Traffic control plan Complete scope of work and timeframe for work Complete list of equipment for scope. (Aerial lift truck, chipper, etc.) $5,000 permit bond covering contractor for each job performed in Brighton Approval from City Forester before and after work Study References: 1. American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Publications. (Copies of these standards can be found at the One Stop Center 500 S. 4th Ave.) a. ANSI Z133.1-2006 Safety Requirements for Arboriculture Operations b. ANSI A300 (Part 1)-2001 Pruning for Tree Care operations-Tree, Shrub, and Other Woody Plant Maintenance-Standard Practice (Pruning) ---PAGE BREAK--- 2. International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist Study Guide www.isa-arbor.org 3. www.brightonco.gov under the “Parks and Recreation” tab click on “Forestry” 4. Kyle Sylvester Brighton City Forester [PHONE REDACTED] or 5. Municipal Code: ARTICLE 5-68 Tree Care Sec. 5-68-10. License required. It is unlawful for any person to engage in the business for hire of planting, cutting, trimming, pruning, removing, spraying or otherwise treating trees, shrubs, hedges or vines, or applying herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, soil conditioners or fertilizers by spraying or disseminating any such materials by any device, other than by hand tools, actuated in whole or in part by compressed air, gas, water or mechanical means or source, without first obtaining a license therefore from the City. (Ord. 664 §1(part), 1971; Ord. 1589, 1999) Sec. 5-68-20. Application; contents. The license application shall specify the type or types of service to be performed. Before any license is issued, the applicant will be examined orally and/or in writing to determine the applicant's qualifications and competency to engage in the requested business. Each such license issued shall specify on its face the type or types of service the licensee is authorized to perform. (Ord. 664 §1(part), 1971) Sec. 5-68-30. Fee. The annual license fee shall be paid to the City Clerk at the time of application for the license, and such fee shall be an amount to be set by resolution of the City Council, which shall remain in effect until such resolution is amended by action of the City Council. If the initial license is issued after June 30, the fee for the balance of the calendar year shall be one-half of the annual fee. (Ord. 664 §1(part), 1971; Ord. 1435 §15, 1993) Sec. 5-68-40. Insurance requirements. No license shall be issued until the licensee files with the City Clerk a satisfactory public liability insurance policy covering all operations of the licensee in the sum of at least fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00) for each person injured and not less than one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.00) in case of injury of two or more persons in any one accident, and in the sum of not less than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000.00) for property damage. The policy may be written to allow the first one hundred dollars ($100.00) of liability for damage to property to be deductible. Should any policy be cancelled, the City shall be notified by the company writing such policy within ten (10) days after such cancellation is effective. Failure of the licensee to maintain required insurance shall be grounds for revocation or suspension of such license. (Ord. 664 §1(part), 1971)