How to Choose a Tree Service in the Lehigh Valley — 9 Things to Check Before You Hire

A Google search for “tree service Lehigh Valley” returns dozens of companies. Some are fully licensed, insured, and staffed by trained arborists. Others are one-person operations with a truck, a chainsaw, and no insurance coverage that would protect you if something goes wrong on your property. Knowing which is which before you sign anything can save you thousands — or prevent a disaster. Here are nine things to verify before hiring any tree service in the Lehigh Valley.

1. Verify Pennsylvania Contractor Registration

Pennsylvania requires home improvement contractors — including tree service companies — to register with the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection under the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act (HICPA). Registered contractors receive a registration number beginning with “PA.” This registration is searchable online.

How to verify: visit the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s contractor lookup tool and search by company name or registration number. A company that cannot provide a PA contractor registration number is either unregistered (illegal for jobs over $500) or lying about having one. Walk away.

Note: registration is different from licensure. Pennsylvania does not issue a specific “tree service license” but does require contractor registration and proper business licensure.

2. Confirm They Carry Workers’ Compensation Insurance

This is the single most important insurance check for tree work specifically. Tree work is one of the most dangerous occupations in the country. If an uninsured or underinsured worker is injured on your property and the company does not carry workers’ compensation, you can be held liable for their medical bills and lost wages as the property owner.

Ask the company for a workers’ compensation certificate of insurance (COI) before any work begins. The COI should name your address as the job site, show the policy number and insurer, and show current effective dates. Call the insurance company listed on the COI to verify the policy is active — do not just accept the paper at face value.

3. Confirm They Carry General Liability Insurance

General liability insurance covers property damage — your house, fence, driveway, neighbor’s car — if the tree service causes it. Minimum adequate coverage for residential tree work is $1 million per occurrence / $2 million aggregate. For large trees near structures, more is better.

The COI should show the policy number, insurer, coverage limits, and effective dates. Again, verify with the insurer directly for any job involving significant property exposure.

4. Ask About ISA Certified Arborists

The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist credential requires passing a comprehensive examination on tree biology, pruning standards, risk assessment, and tree care best practices, plus ongoing continuing education to maintain certification. An ISA-certified arborist on staff is a meaningful signal of professional competence.

To verify: ask the contractor for the certifying arborist’s ISA credential number and verify it at the ISA’s online credential lookup. Note: not every company needs an ISA arborist for routine removals, but for hazard assessments, tree preservation plans, or complex work near structures, you want a certified professional involved.

5. Get At Least Two Written Estimates

Get written, itemized estimates from at least two (ideally three) companies for any job over $500. Estimates should specify:

• Exactly which trees or limbs are being removed or pruned
• Whether stump grinding is included or is an additional cost
• Whether haul-away is included or additional
• Whether the estimate is fixed-price or time-and-materials
• The expected timeline for completion

Beware of estimates given verbally or by phone without a site visit. Tree pricing depends heavily on site conditions, access, and tree specifics — any contractor pricing over the phone without seeing the tree is guessing.

6. Ask Specifically About Permit Handling

In Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton, tree permits may be required. Ask your contractor: “Is a permit required for this job, and if so, who handles it?” A contractor who immediately says “no permit needed” without knowing your address and tree location is a red flag. A professional contractor knows local permit requirements and should either handle permits themselves or clearly explain what you need to do.

7. Verify They Follow ANSI A300 Pruning Standards

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) A300 standards are the accepted industry standard for tree care. The most important standard for homeowners to know about is the prohibition on “topping” — the practice of cutting the main trunk or large limbs back to stubs. Topping disfigures trees permanently, creates structural weakness, opens large wounds to decay, and is rejected by every professional arboricultural organization. Any company that proposes topping your tree as a solution to over-growth or storm-hazard should be dismissed immediately.

8. Check Reviews — Specifically for Recent Work

Google reviews are your most accessible signal of real customer experience. When reading reviews for a Lehigh Valley tree service, look for:

• Reviews mentioning specific crew members, which suggests authentic experience
• Reviews from the last 12 months (older reviews may not reflect current crew or ownership)
• How the company responds to negative reviews — professional, solution-focused responses are a good sign
• Reviews mentioning insurance, cleanup, and communication — these are the things that go wrong most often

Be skeptical of companies with only 5-star reviews and no negative reviews at all — particularly if the reviews are brief and generic. Authentic review profiles have a natural distribution.

9. Never Pay More Than 50% Upfront

A legitimate tree service does not need full payment before starting work. A reasonable deposit to hold a scheduled date is acceptable (10–25%). If a contractor demands full payment before any work begins, or demands cash only, treat it as a major red flag.

For jobs over $1,000, Pennsylvania’s HICPA requires a written contract that specifies the work, total price, payment schedule, and expected start and completion dates. The contract also gives you a 3-day right to cancel for contracts signed at your home.

Red Flags Summary

Stone Ridge Landscaping LLC is fully licensed, insured, and registered in Pennsylvania. We carry workers’ compensation and general liability coverage, and we provide written estimates after an on-site assessment for every job. Call us today and see why homeowners throughout the Lehigh Valley trust us with their trees.