Many of the local tree contractors in the Moorhead area have been annually licensed with the City for several years. These firms generally know the City regulations and guidelines that concern tree contractors. A scan of the newspaper service directory and yellow pages indicate there are several firms who advertise but are not or have not been licensed with the City of Moorhead. The following information will outline some of the City of Moorhead policies pertaining to tree contractors.

1. A tree contractor needs to be licensed with the City of Moorhead. The licensing includes submitting an application, paying a $50 license fee, obtaining a $1000 performance bond, and providing a Certificate of Liability Insurance in the amount of $600,000 single limit liability. The City Clerk (218-299-5304), located at City Hall, is designated with processing the paperwork for those interested in obtaining a tree contractor license.
2. The licensed tree contractor specializes in tree and woody shrub removals, pruning and trimming, cabling and bracing, and mechanical stump removal. A person or business that is compensated for performing these services is required to be licensed with the City of Moorhead on an annual basis.
3. As a general policy, a tree contractor will not be removing or trimming any trees growing on the City boulevards or in the City parks. The City of Moorhead Forestry Department is tasked with the maintenance and removal of the trees on City rights-of-way, boulevards, and in the Parks system. A tree contractor should advise a Moorhead resident asking for tree work on a City tree to call the Moorhead Forestry Department (218-299-5430) so the tree can be examined and any work necessary scheduled through the City department. Power line clearance is performed through Moorhead Public Service (218-299-5400). Moorhead Public Service will often hire a licensed tree contractor to perform power line clearance during the winter months.
4. Tree contractors are required to haul away waste wood they've cut from a homeowner's lot. The reason for this guideline is that there are instances where a tree contractor has performed a tree removal or trimming service and left the wood to be cleaned away by the homeowner. This becomes an issue of concern with the City of Moorhead when the homeowner is informed by the contractor that the City branch chipping crew will collect the branches if the homeowner brings them out to the curb. To be clear, the tree contractor is required to haul away and clean up after they perform a service. The City branch collection policy is not intended to be used as a clean up service for tree contractors. The City branch collection policy is intended to assist homeowners when they have removed small amounts of brush during routine maintenance tasks around their home. Brush brought to the curb that was cut by a tree contractor will not be collected by City staff. The tree contractor will be expected to return to remove the brush or the homeowner will have to make arrangements to haul the brush away. If a tree contractor chooses to ignore this City branch collection policy their license will be revoked after the first confirmed instance.
5. Licensed tree contractors are hired by the City of Moorhead Forestry Department to remove tagged elm trees from private property. This service is done during the Dutch Elm disease season, from June through the fall months. Homeowners are given two weeks to have a tagged elm removed, after which the tree is abated by the City. A bidding process is used by the City to choose a licensed contractor to perform the removal work.

Licensed tree contractors perform many valuable and often dangerous services for the residents of Moorhead. They are often called upon after a storm or in an emergency situation. The licensed tree contractor list has the names and contact information for those firms which have obtained a license for the given year. The tree contractor list is available on-line or from the Forestry Department office at 218-299-5430.