Tree Service Insurance

A single misplaced cut on a water oak can send a 2,000-pound limb through a client's roof. A climber's lanyard can fail 60 feet above a driveway. A chipper worth $45,000 can be stolen from a job site overnight. Tree care is one of the most physically dangerous trades in the country, and the insurance it demands reflects that risk. If you're running a tree service in Louisiana, whether it's a two-person crew in Mandeville or a full operation across the Greater New Orleans area, you need a specific set of policies working together. General liability, inland marine floaters, proper class codes, and workers comp each play a distinct role. Getting any one of them wrong can leave your business exposed to a loss that shuts the doors for good. Understanding what arborists need across these coverage lines, from felling exposure to aerial lift classifications, is the difference between operating with confidence and gambling with your livelihood.

Core Coverage: General Liability and the Tree Service Industry

General liability (GL) is your first line of defense against third-party claims. It covers bodily injury and property damage you cause to someone else while performing your work. For tree services, GL policies are rated under specific classification codes that reflect the extreme hazard profile of the trade.

A standard GL policy for a tree service company typically starts at $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate. But the premium you'll pay is significantly higher than what a landscaper or lawn care company faces. Insurers know that tree work involves falling objects, heavy machinery, and proximity to structures, power lines, and bystanders. Your GL rate per $1,000 of revenue can be three to five times what a general contractor pays.

One critical detail many arborists miss: your GL policy needs to explicitly cover tree removal, trimming, and stump grinding. Some carriers write landscaping policies that exclude tree felling operations entirely. If your policy doesn't match the work you actually do, a claim will be denied.

Addressing Felling and Struck-By Property Damage Exposure

Felling a tree near a structure is one of the highest-risk activities in the trade. A misjudged hinge cut, an unexpected gust, or a hidden cavity in the trunk can redirect a tree into a home, vehicle, or fence. These "struck-by" property damage claims are among the most common and costly for tree service companies.

Your GL policy should cover damage caused by falling trees, limbs, and debris during active operations. But pay attention to exclusions. Some policies exclude damage to property you're working on, which can create gaps if a tree you're removing damages the client's shed or landscaping. Ask your agent specifically about the "care, custody, and control" exclusion, because that's where many tree service claims get denied.

In Louisiana, where mature live oaks and cypress trees often sit just feet from historic homes, the professional liability risks for arborists are especially acute. A single felling incident can easily generate a six-figure property damage claim.

Completed Operations: Why Post-Job Liability Matters

Your liability doesn't end when the crew leaves the job site. Completed operations coverage protects you if something goes wrong after the work is finished. Say you prune a large branch, and two weeks later the remaining limb fails and falls on a parked car. That's a completed operations claim.

This coverage is included in most GL policies, but the limits and terms vary. Some carriers impose sublimits on completed operations that are lower than your per-occurrence limit. Others exclude certain types of post-job failures. Make sure your policy treats completed operations with the same limits as your general liability, because tree failures don't always happen on the day you're working.

Navigating High-Risk Class Codes for Climbing and Aerial Lifts

Insurance class codes determine how your business is rated and priced. For tree services, the wrong code can mean you're either overpaying or, worse, underinsured because your policy doesn't reflect the actual work being performed.

Understanding Workers Compensation Class Code 0106 vs. 6045

Workers comp class codes are where things get particularly tricky. Code 0106 covers tree pruning, trimming, and removal, and it carries one of the highest experience modification rates in the industry. Code 6045 typically applies to landscape gardening operations, which is a much lower-risk classification.

If your crew climbs trees and operates chainsaws at height, they belong under 0106. Misclassifying workers under a landscaping code might save money in the short term, but it's audit fraud. When the carrier audits your payroll and discovers climbers classified as ground-level landscapers, you'll face a massive retroactive premium adjustment and potential policy cancellation.

How Height and Equipment Usage Impact Your Premiums

Height is the single biggest factor driving your insurance costs. A crew that works exclusively from the ground with pole saws and a chipper will pay far less than a crew that sends climbers into canopies or operates bucket trucks. Aerial lift operations carry their own class code considerations and typically trigger higher premiums across both GL and workers comp.

The momentum building toward a dedicated OSHA tree care standard could reshape how insurers evaluate tree service operations. In June 2026, OSHA's Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health recommended a dedicated federal Tree Care Operations standard modeled after ANSI Z133 safety requirements. If adopted, this standard would create clearer benchmarks for safe operations, and carriers may begin offering premium credits to companies that demonstrate compliance.

Protecting Your Assets with Inland Marine and Equipment Floaters

Your trucks, chippers, stump grinders, and climbing gear represent a massive capital investment. A standard commercial auto or property policy won't cover specialized equipment that moves between job sites. That's where inland marine coverage and equipment floaters come in.

Coverage for Chippers, Stump Grinders, and Chainsaws

An inland marine floater covers mobile equipment and tools that travel with your crew. A quality chipper runs $30,000 to $80,000. A professional stump grinder can cost $15,000 to $50,000. Even your climbing saddles, ropes, and rigging gear add up to thousands of dollars per crew member.

Your floater should cover theft, vandalism, accidental damage, and equipment breakdown. Pay attention to whether the policy covers replacement cost or actual cash value, because a five-year-old chipper's depreciated value won't come close to what you'll spend replacing it.

Rented, Leased, or Borrowed Equipment Provisions

Many tree services rent crane trucks or aerial lifts for large removals rather than owning them outright. Your inland marine policy may or may not cover rented equipment. Some rental companies require you to carry a separate rented equipment floater, while others offer damage waivers at the point of rental.

Check your policy for "leased or rented equipment" provisions before you sign a rental agreement. If your floater doesn't cover it, you'll need to add an endorsement or purchase the rental company's coverage. Skipping this step can leave you liable for a $200,000 crane if it's damaged on your job site.

Why Workers Compensation Is the Non-Negotiable Foundation

Workers comp is the hardest line to place for tree service companies, and it's also the most essential. Tree care consistently ranks among the top five most dangerous occupations in the United States, and insurers price accordingly.

The Financial Reality of Tree Care Injury Claims

A single fall from height can generate medical bills exceeding $500,000. Chainsaw lacerations, struck-by injuries from falling limbs, and electrocution from power line contact are all common in this trade. Workers comp covers medical expenses, lost wages, and disability benefits for injured employees.

The average workers comp claim for a tree service injury runs significantly higher than claims in most other construction trades. That's why many standard carriers won't write tree service workers comp at all. You'll likely need to work with a specialty broker or a state-assigned risk pool to find coverage. An agency like Chabert Insurance: The Ehrhardt Agency, with deep knowledge of the Louisiana market, can help identify carriers that actually write this class of business rather than sending you through months of declinations.

OSHA's updated Heat National Emphasis Program also adds compliance considerations for tree crews working through Louisiana's brutal summers. Heat-related illness claims are rising across the industry, and having a documented heat safety program can both protect your workers and strengthen your position with underwriters.

State Mandates vs. Subcontractor Requirements

Louisiana requires workers comp for any business with one or more employees, with very limited exceptions. If you're using subcontractors who don't carry their own workers comp, your policy will pick up the cost, and your premium will be adjusted at audit to include their payroll.

This is a common and expensive mistake. Many tree service owners hire subcontract climbers without verifying their coverage, then get hit with a five-figure audit bill at the end of the policy term. Always collect certificates of insurance from every subcontractor before they set foot on a job site.

Coverage Comparison: General Liability vs. Inland Marine

This comparison highlights why you can't rely on a single policy. GL protects you from what you do to others; inland marine protects what belongs to you. Both are essential for a complete insurance program.

Finding the Right Insurance Partner for Your Tree Service

Placing insurance for tree care operations requires an agent who understands the industry's specific risks. A generalist agent may not know the difference between class code 0106 and 6045, or may not have access to the specialty markets that write tree service workers comp.

Working with a local agency that knows Louisiana's regulatory environment and has relationships with specialty carriers makes a real difference. Chabert Insurance: The Ehrhardt Agency works with tree service operators across New Orleans and the Northshore, helping match the right coverage to the actual scope of your operations. The right agent will review your operations in detail: what equipment you own, how many climbers you employ, whether you do crane work, and how close you work to structures and power lines.

Tree Care Insurance FAQs

Common Questions About Arborist Policies

Do I need insurance if I'm a solo tree trimmer with no employees? Yes. Even without employees, you need general liability to protect against property damage and injury claims from clients or bystanders. Many residential and commercial clients won't hire you without proof of coverage.

Can I use a landscaping insurance policy for tree work? Usually not. Landscaping policies often exclude tree removal and climbing operations. If your policy doesn't specifically cover felling, pruning at height, and stump removal, claims from those activities will likely be denied.

Why is workers comp so expensive for tree services? Tree care class code 0106 carries extremely high rates because of the frequency and severity of injuries. Falls, chainsaw accidents, and struck-by incidents drive claim costs well above the average for other trades.

What happens if my subcontractor doesn't have workers comp? Your policy will be charged for their payroll at audit. You'll owe the premium difference, which can be substantial. Always verify subcontractor coverage before work begins.

Does my auto policy cover my chipper while it's being towed? Your commercial auto policy covers the chipper while it's attached to a vehicle and in transit, but it typically won't cover theft from a job site or mechanical breakdown. You need an inland marine floater for that.

Making the Right Choice for Your Tree Business

Tree service insurance isn't a single policy you buy off the shelf. It's a combination of general liability, workers comp, equipment floaters, and sometimes commercial auto and umbrella coverage, all tailored to the specific risks your crew faces every day. The stakes are too high to guess at coverage or settle for a policy that doesn't match your operations.

Get your class codes right. Verify every subcontractor's coverage. Schedule your expensive equipment on an inland marine floater. And don't treat workers comp as optional, because in Louisiana, it isn't. The companies that survive long-term in this industry are the ones that take their insurance program as seriously as they take their climbing gear. If you're operating in the New Orleans or Mandeville area and need help building the right coverage package, reach out to a local agency that knows tree care risks firsthand. Your next claim shouldn't be the moment you discover a gap in your policy.