MD LICENSED TREE EXPERTS LTE # 2446 | ISA CERTIFIED ARBORISTS # MA-7129A
Why Hire a Licensed & Insured Tree Company?
To obtain a license, the following is required:
To obtain a license, the following is required:
State law requires written estimates (verbal agreements put you at risk).
READ the entire estimate before signing.
Under Maryland law, anyone who advertises or does tree-care work (for trees over 20 feet tall) must be a licensed tree expert. Using an unlicensed person for professional tree work is illegal. That means if someone claims to be a tree service professional but doesn’t have an LTE license, they’re operating outside state regulations.
LTEs are required to carry liability and property-damage insurance. If there’s damage (to your property or someone else’s) or an injury during tree work and the contractor is uninsured, you could be on the hook for costs. There are also documented cases of unlicensed operators scamming homeowners (e.g., taking money and not doing the work).
To qualify for a license, LTEs must meet education and experience requirements. They must pass an exam administered by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. They also need to maintain continuing education (CEUs) to renew their license. LTEs are bound by professional conduct standards: they must act carefully, protect health/safety/property, and adhere to ANSI tree-care standards.
Because LTEs are licensed by the state, if something goes wrong (negligent work, fraud, etc.), there’s a regulatory body (Maryland DNR) that can investigate and take action. Violations can lead to license suspension or revocation. You also have more structured recourse if work isn’t done as agreed (written contracts, license number, etc.).
Tree work is inherently risky (falling limbs, working at height, heavy equipment). Hiring someone trained and licensed reduces the risk of accidents. Licensed experts are required to ensure safe operation of equipment. They also have to carry workers’ compensation insurance if they supervise a business, which helps protect both workers and property owners.
A licensed expert is more likely to do high-quality, code-compliant work (pruning, removal, diagnosis). Because they are held to professional standards, they’re more likely to follow “best practices” rather than cut corners. They are more likely to use proper tree-care techniques that preserve tree health, not just remove or damage trees unnecessarily.
