Tree service contractor registration law added

Tree service companies soon will have to register with the city of Mentor to perform work there.

City Council this week passed an ordinance that states, “No person shall perform any work as a tree maintenance or tree removal contractor for hire on any tree that exceeds 6 inches diameter breast height … in the City without first having obtained a certificate of registration from the Chief Building Official.”

The certificate will cost $100 for the first application and $50 for annual renewal, similar to what is charged other contractors required to register.

The law — to take effect Jan. 1 — won’t apply to a homeowner performing work on his premises so long as the work is done by the homeowner or by others without compensation.

Violators could be charged with a fourth-degree misdemeanor.

Those who do work after their registration has been refused or revoked will be guilty of a third-degree misdemeanor

This ordinance requires tree contractors to provide proof of liability insurance with a minimum of $500,000 in coverage for bodily injury and $250,000 for property damage.

The city is to be listed on the insurance certificate so as to receive notice from the insurance company if there is a lapse in coverage.

“This isn’t a particularly pervasive provision, it’s really just registering contractors that deal with some pretty large jobs,” City Manager Ken Filipiak said. “I think, more than anything, this just gives some level of protection to those who are contracting for the service and those who are sometimes impacted. Oftentimes those are neighbors

by the performance of these services.”

Residents are encouraged to work with a contractor on the registered list, he added.

The information is available at city hall, 8500 Civic Center Blvd., or by calling 440-255-1100. City officials intend to make the list available online as well.

“The real benefit here is the ability to hand over information to a resident that’s been harmed as a result of these services being performed so that they have an insurance provider to look to, and for us to know who’s doing business in the community so that some better level of oversight can occur,” Filipiak said.

The city’s chief building official may refuse to issue or revoke a certificate of registration when he thinks a contractor has performed work in a careless or irregular manner resulting in repeated or continuing violations of city code or when he has evidence that the insurance has expired.

Any contractor whose application is refused or whose registration has been revoked may appeal to the Zoning Appeals Board.

Ward 1 Councilman Sean Blake thanked the administration for the legislation.

“I had one particular incident this spring that was very difficult for the homeowners to deal with, and … this is a tool that would have brought about a resolution to that problem,” he said.

Filipiak emphasized that tree size matters.

“It will be quite clear that if you are marginally involved in tree maintenance — landscapers and that — most of them probably will find themselves falling well outside of the need to register,” he said.

Mentor also registers general contractors, and those who do work involving heating, ventilation and air condition; plumbing; electrical; public rights-ofway; fire protection; and lawn sprinklers.