Oregon Tree Service Insurance
General liability, workers' comp, equipment, truck and license bond coverage for Oregon tree services and arborists, from a licensed broker who knows how tree work gets underwritten. Same-day certificates of insurance. Call our Oregon line: (971) 430-4717.
What License and Insurance Does an Oregon Tree Service Need?
In Oregon, tree removal, guying, pruning and stump removal require a license from either the Construction Contractors Board (CCB) or the Landscape Contractors Board (LCB). With the CCB, your minimums depend on your endorsement: Residential Specialty needs $300,000 per occurrence in liability and a $20,000 bond; Residential Limited $100,000 and a $15,000 bond; Residential General $500,000 and a $25,000 bond; Commercial Specialty Level 2 $500,000 and a $25,000 bond; Commercial Specialty Level 1 $1,000,000 aggregate and a $55,000 bond. With the LCB, every landscape contracting business has carried a $20,000 bond since January 1, 2026 ($15,000 for probationary licenses), with liability insurance on file. Property managers, HOAs and cities usually still require $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate, and a lapse in your bond or insurance can stop you from working.
One tree that drops the wrong way can take out a roof, a car and a power line in a single afternoon. Many "landscaping" policies quietly exclude tree removal, cap the height you can work at, or leave out the house you're working over, and tree services often find out only after a claim is denied. The Hard Hat Insurance team, the construction division of Bearstar Insurance Services, places Oregon tree care companies with carriers that actually write tree work, files your insurance and bond with the CCB or LCB, and reads the exclusions before you sign. Whether you run a pruning crew in Eugene, do storm removals around Portland, or clear lots and grind stumps in Bend and Medford, we match your coverage to your license, your equipment and your contracts.
Commercial General Liability
Tree Service General Liability
General liability pays when your work damages someone else's property or injures someone who isn't your employee. For tree services, the most common claims are limbs or trunks landing on houses, cars, fences and outbuildings; downed power or cable lines; damaged lawns, driveways and septic systems from heavy equipment; and passers-by hurt in the drop zone. That's why a policy written for tree work, with no height limit and no tree-removal exclusion, matters as much as the limit itself.
Limits matched to your CCB or LCB license.
Additional insured, waiver of subrogation and primary/non-contributory wording when a property manager, HOA or city requires it.
Surety Bonds
Oregon CCB or LCB License Bond
Every Oregon tree service must keep a surety bond on file with the CCB or LCB, and the CCB amount depends on your endorsement. We can often issue license bonds the same day, with a quick quote and no long application.
Bad credit programs available.
Bonds for CCB endorsements and LCB licenses.
Oregon tree work is rated under class code 0106, Tree Pruning, Spraying, Repairing, All Operations & Drivers, which also covers stump removal by a specialist contractor. Ground crew who support climbing or removal work generally go in 0106 too, and payroll that isn't tracked by job duty can be moved to the highest-rated code at audit. Office staff (8810) and outside sales or estimators (8742) should be reported separately. We compare SAIF with private carriers that write tree service. Oregon's average pure premium rises about 2.1% in 2027, so it's a good year to review your codes and experience mod.
Pay-as-you-go options available (helps cash flow).
Waivers of subrogation for commercial contracts.
Workers' Compensation
What We Cover
Commercial Auto
Work Truck & Fleet
Bucket trucks, chip trucks, dump trucks, grapple trucks and the trailers that pull chippers and grinders need commercial auto. A personal policy won't cover them, and a towed chipper needs to be listed so it isn't uninsured on the road. Commercial auto covers your trucks, trailers and the drivers you hire, with higher limits when a contract calls for them.
Contractor's Equipment
Chippers, stump grinders, saws, climbing and rigging gear and compact loaders aren't covered by general liability. An equipment floater covers theft, fire, vandalism and accidental damage on the job, in the yard or in transit.
Covers equipment on the job, in the yard and in transit.
Rented mini loaders and aerial lifts can be added.
Pesticide & Herbicide Liability: If you spray or inject trees, an applicator's policy covers drift and chemical claims that standard GL excludes.
Bid, Performance & Payment Bonds: For municipal and commercial tree contracts that require them.
Excess Liability (Umbrella): Commercial property managers, cities and utility-adjacent jobs often require $2M to $5M in total liability.
And More
Local Service Area
Serving all of Oregon. We insure tree service companies statewide.
Portland & the Valley: Portland, Salem, Eugene.
Central & Southern: Bend, Medford, Grants Pass.
Oregon line: (971) 430-4717
Jesus Galvan, licensed insurance broker, Oregon license #20617222. Se habla español.
Need a COI Today?
Property managers, HOAs and cities ask Oregon tree services for $1M/$2M GL with no height limit or removal exclusion, additional insured, waiver of subrogation, primary/non-contributory wording, an umbrella on larger contracts and proof of workers' comp. Send us the contract's requirements and we'll confirm your policy meets them.
5 Tree Service Exclusions That Can Leave You Uninsured
1. Height limitation
Excludes any work above a set height, often 15 or 20 feet. For a climbing crew, that can remove most of the coverage you're paying for.
2. Tree removal exclusion
Common on policies written for landscapers or lawn care. Pruning is covered, but felling and removal are not.
3. Care, custody or control
Excludes damage to property you're working on or in control of. If the customer's tree lands on their house, check how your policy treats it.
4. Crane, aerial device and independent contractor conditions
Some policies exclude claims involving cranes, bucket trucks or lifts. Others require every climber or sub to carry their own insurance and name you, and uninsured "1099" climbers are often charged to your workers' comp at audit.
5. Pesticide and herbicide exclusion
Excludes claims from spraying, injections or drift. If you treat trees, you may need a separate applicator's policy. We review these provisions before you sign and tell you plainly what's covered and what it would cost to fix.
Oregon Tree Service Insurance FAQ
Do I need a license to do tree work in Oregon?
Yes. Tree removal, guying, pruning and stump removal require a license from the Construction Contractors Board (CCB) or the Landscape Contractors Board (LCB), with a surety bond and liability insurance on file.
Does general liability cover a tree falling on a customer's house?
It can, if your policy is written for tree work and doesn't exclude removals, work above a certain height, or property in your care, custody or control. Check for those exclusions before you bind.
Are my chipper and stump grinder covered by general liability?
No. General liability covers damage you cause to others, not your own equipment. Chippers, grinders, saws and rigging need a contractor's equipment (inland marine) policy, and trucks and towed chippers need commercial auto.
Can I get insurance if I've had claims or I'm a new business?
Usually, yes. We work with specialty carriers that write new tree services and companies with prior claims, though pricing and terms vary.
What is the workers' comp class code for tree service in Oregon?
Tree work is rated under class code 0106, Tree Pruning, Spraying, Repairing, All Operations & Drivers. Ground crew supporting tree work usually fall in 0106 too, while office staff and estimators are classified separately.
Contact
Call
info@hardhatinsurance.net
Hard Hat Insurance is a specialized marketing division of Bearstar Insurance Services.
Insurance services provided by Bearstar Insurance Services.
Jesus Galvan is a licensed insurance broker in CA, NV, TX, AZ, OR, CO, and WA.
License numbers available upon request. Coverage availability varies by state.
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