What to do BEFORE pruning or cutting down a tree near a power lines

Does the tree to be pruned or cut down belong to you?

You must own any tree you prune or cut down.

You can’t prune or cut down a tree that doesn’t belong to you. Plus, if there are any power lines nearby, there’s a real danger of a serious accident.

For safety reasons, the law requires some work to be done by arborists authorized by Hydro-Québec.

Notify the owner so he or she can have the work done. If the tree is on public property, get in touch with your municipality.

Thank you for taking the time to learn about safety concerns BEFORE going ahead: safety is everyone’s business.

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Is anybody or anything (tool, ladder or branch) liable to get within 3 m of any of the wires shown while the work is being done?

Think about the way a cut branch or tree would fall. And consider that you could lose control of a tool or ladder you’re using.

Safety warning

LOOK UP FROM THE GROUND. STAY AWAY FROM THE LINES AND DON’T LET ANYBODY OR ANYTHING (TOOL, LADDER, TAPE MEASURE OR ANYTHING ELSE) GET WITHIN 3 M OF THEM.

What type of lines are they? Select the picture that looks like most like the situation that concerns you, then click on Continue at the bottom of the page.

Three or more bare wires at the very top of the pole; a bare wire at the very top of the pole; wires near a transformer.
Three stacked or twisted wires.
A wire with a insulating sheath, connected to my home; a big black cable with an insulating sheath, about halfway up the pole.

You have selected MEDIUM-VOLTAGE lines.

What to do

For safety reasons, you must hire an arborist authorized by Hydro-Québec.

By law, only an arborist authorized by Hydro-Québec is allowed to carry out tree pruning or felling work that might require a person, part of a tree or a tool to come within 3 m of a medium-voltage line at any time.

To help your arborist estimate the job, send photos. And be sure to obtain any permits required: they are mandatory in many municipalities.

Select the region where the work is to be done.

List of arborists in your region authorized by Hydro-Québec to work near power lines (in French)

(All are members of the Société internationale d’arboriculture Québec inc., the Québec chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture)

If you are concerned by one of these situations, let us know.

A tree or big branch is leaning on a wire.
A tree or big branch looks like it may fall onto a wire.
A climbing plant is twining around a wire.
There are sparks or arcing between branches and wires.

Report a hazard involving vegetation near power lines

You have selected low-voltage lines.

Do you see either of these situations?

The sheathing is obviously damaged.
The three stacked wires are bare.

If the insulating sheath is obviously damaged, or if the three stacked wires are bare, stay away from the lines and don’t let anybody or anything (tool, ladder, tape measure or anything else) get within 3 m of them.

For safety reasons, the law requires trees in such situations to be pruned or felled by arborists authorized by Hydro-Québec.

To help your arborist estimate the job, send photos. And be sure to obtain any permits required: they are mandatory in many municipalities.

Select the region where the work is to be done.

List of arborists in your region authorized by Hydro-Québec to work near power lines (in French).

(All are members of the Société internationale d’arboriculture Québec inc., the Québec chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture)

If you are concerned by one of these situations, let us know.

A tree or big branch is leaning on a wire.
A tree or big branch looks like it may fall onto a wire.
A climbing plant is twining around a wire.
There are sparks or arcing between branches and wire.

Report a hazard involving vegetation near power lines

Low-voltage wires (120–600 V) are a serious shock hazard, even though they have a insulating sheath, because they can carry thousands of amps. As a precaution, never touch them directly or indirectly, because the sheathing may be damaged, even if it doesn’t look like it.

We advise you not to try to prune or fell trees yourself. We recommend that you contact an arborist who is a member of the Société internationale d’arboriculture Québec (Québec chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture).

To help your arborist estimate the job, send photos. And be sure to obtain any permits required: they are mandatory in many municipalities.

Select the region where the work is to be done.

Display the list of arborists who are SIAQ members in this region (in French).

You have selected telecommunications wires.

If you want to prune or cut down a tree near this type of line, we recommend you call an arborist who is a member of SIAQ (Société internationale d’arboriculture Québec, the Québec chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture).

Select the region where the work is to be done.

Display the list of arborists who are SIAQ members in this region (in French).