For tree service owners
What records should a tree service keep for licenses, insurance and safety?
Short answer
Keep copies of your licenses and registrations, insurance certificates, training records, tailgate meeting sheets, signed estimates and job tickets, and any incident reports. Store them in one place and note renewal dates. Ask your accountant how long to keep each.
By Umair Nawaz. Published October 25, 2026. General information, not legal, tax or insurance advice.
The longer answer
Good records protect you when a customer, an insurer or an inspector asks a question. A simple folder, paper or digital, is enough.
Keep: licenses and registrations with their renewal dates; certificates of insurance and policy papers; training and certification records for each worker; tailgate safety sheets from each job; signed estimates, contracts and job tickets; photos from the job; and incident reports if anything goes wrong.
How long to keep each record depends on the rules that apply to you, so ask your state office and your accountant. Our free templates cover the job ticket and tailgate sheet. Rules differ by state; see /tree-service-license for your state's official sources. This is a short explanation, not legal advice. Check with your state, county and city, and ask your own insurance agent or an attorney about your case.
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