Roanoke Tree Removal is a local referral service: we pass your request to an independent, local tree crew. We are not a government office, and this page is general information, not legal advice.
The short answer
The Virginia Board for Contractors, part of DPOR, publishes its interpretations in a guidance document; the current version took effect December 9, 2025. Under landscape service contracting it says: general landscape services, such as mowing, trimming, placement of plant material and tree removal, do not require a license issued by the Board for Contractors. So a crew that only trims or takes down trees doesn't need a DPOR contractor license, and a missing license number on a tree quote isn't by itself a red flag.
When a contractor license can apply
The board's regulations define a landscape service contracting (LSC) specialty for altering a land area by excavation, clearing, grading, retaining walls or landscaping timbers, and say it may remove stumps and roots below grade. Virginia Code § 54.1-1100 sets license classes by job size:
| Class | Single contract or project | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Class C | Over $1,000 but less than $30,000 | Va. Code § 54.1-1100, Checked Oct 12, 2026 |
| Class B | $30,000 or more, but less than $150,000 | Va. Code § 54.1-1100, Checked Oct 12, 2026 |
| Class A | $150,000 or more | Va. Code § 54.1-1100, Checked Oct 12, 2026 |
The classes also have 12-month totals; see the statute. DPOR's guidance doesn't say whether stump grinding alone needs a license. If a quote includes grading, clearing a lot or digging out stumps and roots, ask the company whether it holds a license with the LSC specialty, or ask DPOR. See land clearing cost.
How to check a license
DPOR runs a public License Lookup on its website. If a company says it's licensed, look for a Class A, B or C contractor license and check which specialties it lists. A license only covers the work in its classification and specialties, so a home improvement license doesn't by itself tell you anything about tree work.
Workers' compensation
The Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission says an employer that regularly employs more than two part-time or full-time employees must carry workers' compensation. A business that uses subcontractors has to count their employees too, even if the subcontractors carry their own coverage. The commission's site links an Insurance Coverage Search, so you can look a company up instead of relying on a certificate it emails you.
We found no Virginia rule requiring liability insurance for tree work. Ask for a certificate of insurance anyway, and call the insurer listed on it to confirm the policy is active.
State safety rules for tree crews
Virginia has its own tree care safety standard, 16VAC25-73, enforced by Virginia Occupational Safety and Health (VOSH). It applies to employers in tree pruning, removal, brush cutting and related work who hire one or more people. Among its rules:
- A qualified arborist decides whether a job needs direct supervision on site.
- The qualified arborist in charge gives a job briefing to the crew before each job starts.
- Workers wear helmets, and Class E helmets near electrical conductors.
The standard defines a qualified arborist by training and on-the-job experience. It's a job qualification, not a license you can look up.
Trees near power lines
Under the standard's electrical hazard section, a qualified arborist must check for electrical hazards before anyone climbs or works in a tree, and only qualified line-clearance arborists, or trainees under their supervision, may be assigned where an electrical hazard exists. The standard defines line clearance as work within 10 feet of electric supply lines. Appalachian Power says it doesn't trim trees threatening the service drop to your house; that's the owner's job. It asks for a call to 800-956-4237 at least two business days ahead so it can temporarily disconnect the line. More in who trims trees near lines and property lines.
Herbicide and stump treatment
VDACS says anyone who applies pesticides for compensation in Virginia needs a pesticide business license, which requires insurance and a certified applicator on staff. That covers stump treatments used to stop sprouting on trees like tree of heaven and Bradford pear. If a crew offers to treat stumps, ask whether it holds that license.
Arborist certification
ISA certification is voluntary, not a state license. The International Society of Arboriculture says certification shows an individual has the minimum knowledge and skill for the credential they hold, and that holders follow a code of ethics. Its Find an Arborist directory on TreesAreGood.org lets you verify a credential. Listing is voluntary, so a missing profile isn't proof of anything; ask for the certification number. An arborist can also help decide whether a tree needs to come down at all; see arborist risk assessment.
Before you sign
- Get the scope in writing: which trees, whether the stump is ground or left, and who hauls the wood and brush.
- Ask who calls 811. Virginia 811 says your contractor is responsible for calling before any digging, and needs at least 3 working days.
- Check permits separately. Licensing and permits are different questions; see the City of Roanoke and Roanoke County rules.
- Confirm insurance with the insurer or the commission's search.
Call (540) 904-1819 or use the form. Tell us the tree, what's under it and whether you want the stump ground.
Sources
- Virginia Board for Contractors, Interpretations and Policies guidance, amended effective Dec 9, 2025 (PDF, Virginia Regulatory Town Hall) (Checked Oct 12, 2026)
- 18VAC50-22-30, Board for Contractors definitions (Virginia Administrative Code) (Checked Oct 12, 2026)
- Code of Virginia § 54.1-1100, contractor definitions (Checked Oct 12, 2026)
- DPOR, License Lookup (Checked Oct 12, 2026)
- Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission, Employer FAQs (Checked Oct 12, 2026)
- Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission, Employers (links its Insurance Coverage Search) (Checked Oct 12, 2026)
- 16VAC25-73-10, VOSH tree care standard: purpose and scope (Checked Oct 12, 2026)
- 16VAC25-73-20, VOSH tree care standard: definitions (Checked Oct 12, 2026)
- 16VAC25-73-40, VOSH tree care standard: general safety requirements (Checked Oct 12, 2026)
- 16VAC25-73-50, VOSH tree care standard: electrical hazards (Checked Oct 12, 2026)
- Appalachian Power, report a tree problem (Checked Oct 12, 2026)
- VDACS, Pesticide Business License (Checked Oct 12, 2026)
- TreesAreGood.org (International Society of Arboriculture), Find an Arborist (Checked Oct 12, 2026)
- Virginia 811, homeowner FAQ (Checked Oct 12, 2026)
Common questions
Do you need a license to cut down trees in Virginia?
Not from the Board for Contractors. Its guidance says general landscape services, including trimming and tree removal, do not require a license issued by the board.
Does stump removal need a contractor license in Virginia?
Possibly. Virginia's landscape service contracting specialty covers excavation, clearing and grading and may remove stumps and roots below grade. DPOR's guidance doesn't address stump grinding alone, so ask DPOR or the company.
Do tree services need workers' comp in Virginia?
Employers that regularly employ more than two part-time or full-time employees must carry it, according to the Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission. Subcontractors' employees count toward that total.
How can I check if an arborist is ISA certified?
Use the Find an Arborist directory on TreesAreGood.org, which ISA runs to verify credentials. Listings are voluntary, so ask for the certification number too.
Can any tree crew work near power lines in Virginia?
No. Virginia's tree care standard allows only qualified line-clearance arborists, or trainees they supervise, to work where an electrical hazard exists.