Arbortech urges Connecticut homeowners to check tree crew licenses and insurance

Arbortech Tree Services is warning Connecticut homeowners to verify insurance, state contractor registration and arborist licensing before hiring a tree crew. The company says storm cleanup and fall demand create openings for uninsured or unlicensed operators.

Why it matters: - Tree work can damage homes, vehicles, fences and neighboring property if a crew is not properly insured. - Uninsured or unlicensed work can shift financial and legal risk to the homeowner. - Connecticut homeowners may lose access to the state Home Improvement Guaranty Fund if they hire an unregistered contractor. - State licensing also matters for pruning, cabling, bracing, fertilizing, insect and disease treatment, and tree health assessments.

What happened: - Arbortech Tree Services says a homeowner recently contacted the company after getting bids from three other tree crews for the same job. - None of the three crews could show both proper insurance and the state credentials Connecticut requires. - One crew presented an insurance certificate that looked legitimate, but the policy was no longer current. - Arbortech is urging homeowners to verify three credentials before any tree crew starts work or takes a deposit.

The details: - Homeowners should confirm current general liability insurance and workers’ compensation coverage. - General liability insurance covers damage a crew causes to a home, vehicle, fence or neighboring property. - Workers’ compensation covers crew members injured on the job. - Connecticut law requires employers with one or more employees to carry workers’ compensation. - If an uninsured worker is hurt on a homeowner’s property, the homeowner may face the claim. - Arbortech recommends having the contractor’s insurance agent send the certificate directly to the homeowner, with the homeowner named as the certificate holder. - Homeowners should check policy effective and expiration dates against the job date. - Homeowners should call the insurance agency listed on the certificate to confirm the policy is active. - Photocopies handed over by a crew member on site should raise concern. - Connecticut’s Home Improvement Act requires contractors doing work on residential property to register with the Department of Consumer Protection. - Tree work on a home’s property generally falls under that act. - The registration number must appear on contracts and in advertising. - Homeowners can verify registration at the state license portal. - A Connecticut arborist license from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is required for anyone who advertises, solicits or contracts to do arboriculture. - Arboriculture includes pruning, cabling and bracing, fertilizing, treating trees for insects or disease, and assessing tree health. - Arborist businesses must also register with DEEP. - Applicants must pass a state examination administered by DEEP through the State Tree Protection Examining Board. - Industry certifications from national organizations do not replace the Connecticut license. - Contracting for arboriculture without a license can bring civil penalties of $1,000 to $2,500 per day. - Homeowners can look up licensed arborists through DEEP’s online license lookup. - Arbortech says fall cleanup and storm damage from September’s nor’easter are increasing demand for tree work. - The company says that is when unqualified operators are most likely to go door to door. - Arbortech has served Tolland, Hartford and Windham counties since 2005. - Arbortech holds Connecticut arborist license S-6872 and HIC registration HIC.0651213.

Between the lines: - The warning reflects a broader pattern in storm season, when urgent repairs can make homeowners more vulnerable to rushed decisions. - The company is drawing a sharp line between national certifications and Connecticut-specific legal requirements. - The emphasis on insurance verification suggests certificate fraud or outdated coverage is a practical risk, not just a paperwork issue.

What's next: - Homeowners hiring tree crews should verify insurance, DCP registration and DEEP licensing before any work begins. - Arbortech says the safest approach is to confirm credentials before signing a contract or paying a deposit. - Connecticut homeowners can use state lookup tools to confirm both contractor registration and arborist licensing.

The bottom line: - In Connecticut, tree work is not just about price or appearance. It is about proving the crew is insured, registered and licensed before the first cut.