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Storm and tree damage in Pittsburgh

Arborists and roofers for storm damage.

67 pros in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh's storm damage tends to arrive with wind. After one severe round across Allegheny and Beaver counties, Duquesne Light reported gusts above 70 mph that brought down trees and power lines, with outages peaking at roughly 60,000 customers. That matters when you hire, because a fallen tree is often tangled with a line, and the utility has to deal with that part first. Before you hire anyone, find out who owns the tree. If it stands in the right-of-way or a City park, the Forestry Division handles it, and a private company working on a city-owned tree needs a tree work permit and an ISA arborist supervising the job. On private property, ask whether the contractor is registered under Pennsylvania's Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act, since registration is checked online through PA-HICRS. Ask for a written scope that covers clean-up and hauling, and keep photos for your insurer. The state also says claims can be denied for neglected dead or overhanging limbs.

Source: Duquesne Light Company (source, opens in a new tab)

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What to know in Pittsburgh

  • After Friday and weekend winds in March 2026, Duquesne Light crews were working to restore service to about 9,500 customers, and West Penn Power had about 3,500 outages in the nine-county region. The report was datelined Allison Park.

    WTAE (source, opens in a new tab)

  • The Pennsylvania Insurance Department says insurance policies may deny claims for damages caused by negligence, such as neglecting dead or overhanging limbs. It advises trimming tree branches before storms.

    Pennsylvania Insurance Department (source, opens in a new tab)

Before you hire

  1. For a tree near power lines, call your utility first: only a utility-certified arborist should work within 3 m of the wires.

    Source: bchydro.com (source, opens in a new tab)

  2. Ask which permits the job needs and who will get them; your municipal building department can tell you before work starts.

    Source: ised-isde.canada.ca (source, opens in a new tab)

  3. Ask about liability insurance and workers’ compensation cover before anyone works on your roof or property.

    Source: ised-isde.canada.ca (source, opens in a new tab)

Questions about hiring in Pittsburgh

Who do I call if the damaged tree is on a city street or in a park?

Trees in the right-of-way and City Parks are the responsibility of the City of Pittsburgh Forestry Division. To request work on a city-owned tree, call 311 or fill out the online request form. Do this before you book a private company, since the city may be able to make other arrangements. City of Pittsburgh (source, opens in a new tab)

Can I hire a private company to work on a city-owned tree?

Possibly, but not as a first step. Call the Forestry Division first to see if other arrangements can be made. If you go ahead, you complete a tree work permit application and pay the fees, and all the work must be supervised by an ISA arborist. City of Pittsburgh (source, opens in a new tab)

Does a Pennsylvania contractor need to be registered?

Under the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act, contractors doing home improvements above a yearly threshold must register. Registration, renewal and updates are done online through PA-HICRS. Ask any roofer or contractor repairing storm damage for their registration number and check it before you sign anything. PA Office of Attorney General (source, opens in a new tab)

What should a written quote for storm clean-up include?

Ask for the address and the exact trees or roof sections covered, the work to be done, whether stump grinding and debris removal are included, who handles permits, proof of insurance, a start date and the payment terms. Get at least two quotes in the same format so you can compare them line by line.

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