Tree work rules in Colorado
What the state says about tree work, with the page each rule comes from. It's a summary of the published rules, not legal advice, and your city or county can have rules of its own.
Checked September 26, 2026
Licensing
Colorado has no state tree license. Denver requires a Tree Contractor License for any tree maintenance in the city, and getting one takes written and field exams.1
Tree removal permits
Cities and counties in Colorado set their own tree rules. Denver licenses tree contractors under its own code.1
Trees near power lines
If a tree is touching the power line to your house, keep clear and call your utility first. Clearing the line is the utility's job, and a tree company can't start until it's done.
Colorado law requires keeping 10 feet from high voltage overhead lines. Anyone working closer must promptly notify the utility and complete the clearance measures agreed with it first.2
811 and stump work
Colorado's one-call law doesn't name stump or root removal, but Colorado 811 lists tree root removal and stump grinding among the activities that need notice. The law excludes routine maintenance of existing planted landscapes, and farm land clearing only when it involves no deep root removal of trees.2-3
Spraying and treating trees
Anyone applying pesticides for hire in Colorado needs a Commercial Applicator license. Category 207 Ornamental Pest Control covers ornamental trees and shrubs.4-5
Get quotes from companies in your county
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Sources
What tree work costs in Colorado
Published national ranges for removal, trimming, stump grinding and arborist visits, and a planning estimate for your own job.
Companies in Colorado
Colorado has 717 tree service companies listed, and 532 of them hold an active USDOT registration. Browse them by county, or ask for quotes and we'll pass your job to companies near you.
Cite this page
“Tree work rules in Colorado.” InspecTree, updated September 26, 2026. https://inspectree.com/co/rules/