Who Handles Trees and Branches Near Power Lines in Ottawa vs. Gatineau?

Start with the situation, not the contractor

If a wire is down, there are sparks or smoke, or a tree is resting on electrical lines, stay away. Do not touch the tree, fence, vehicle, water, or other object connected to the line. In Ottawa, Hydro Ottawa says to call 9-1-1 immediately for a downed line, then call Hydro Ottawa, and remain at least 10 metres away from the wire and anything it touches.

For planned work, look from the ground without approaching or measuring near the wires. Consider the full movement of a branch, tree, ladder, pole tool, lift, rope, or piece being lowered. If the work could enter the electrical clearance area, the utility route comes before a private pruning booking.

• Downed line, fire, smoke, sparks, or immediate danger: call 9-1-1 and notify the utility.
• Tree or branch touching utility wires: stay away and contact the utility.
• Planned work that may approach wires: ask the utility which rules and roles apply.
• Ordinary private pruning outside the restricted area: define the pruning objective and written scope.

Ottawa: Hydro Ottawa provides the electrical safety direction

Hydro Ottawa states that all overhead power lines are dangerous and that lines at the top of hydro poles are not insulated. Electricity can arc through air, so direct contact is not required for a fatal shock. Its public guidance says to stay at least three metres from lines on poles within the city and at least six metres from lines on metal transmission towers. Those distances apply to people, tools, ladders, equipment, and tree branches being handled.

If you are unsure how far to stay back or need to work near power lines, Hydro Ottawa directs readers to contact it or a licensed electrical contractor for guidance. For an object near a line or damaged electrical equipment, use Hydro Ottawa's reporting and contact routes. Do not use a landscaping or tree quote as a substitute for that direction.

Once Hydro Ottawa's role and any electrical restrictions are resolved, the property owner can arrange the remaining pruning that is genuinely outside the restricted zone. The private scope should name the branches, clearance objective, access method, cleanup, and any utility condition that must be met before work starts.

• Plan non-utility pruning in Ottawa

Gatineau: Hydro-Québec uses a work-specific decision path

Hydro-Québec's public questionnaire separates several situations: material on the service drop to a home, a tree leaning on power-system wires, a tree that may fall onto those wires, sparks or smoke, climbing plants, and other tree work near electrical wires. Follow the result for the situation you actually have rather than assuming every wire or branch is handled the same way.

Hydro-Québec says that only an arborist authorized by Hydro-Québec may perform pruning or felling that might require a person, part of the tree, or a tool to come within three metres of electrical wires at any time. It instructs users to estimate visually from the ground and never put a tape measure or anything else within three metres of the wires.

Authorization must be checked through Hydro-Québec's process. Membership in an organization, an Ontario credential, or general tree-work experience is not the same as Hydro-Québec authorization. This article does not represent Hungry Beaver as authorized for that work. If Hydro-Québec's questionnaire says an authorized arborist is required, use the list and conditions Hydro-Québec provides.

• Review Hungry Beaver's Gatineau service-area conditions

Do not confuse scheduled utility vegetation work with a service request

Hydro-Québec publishes a map showing where vegetation-control activity is expected in coming months. It says right-of-way clearing is planned months in advance, performed by qualified companies mandated by Hydro-Québec, and subject to schedule changes due to weather.

The map is useful context, but it is not proof that a specific private tree is scheduled, that a crew has been dispatched, or that a homeowner can perform work in the same area. Use Hydro-Québec's safety questionnaire or reporting route for the actual tree. Do not wait for mapped work when there is an immediate electrical hazard.

Ownership still matters after the electrical question

A utility safety restriction does not settle tree ownership. If the tree is municipal, on public property, or affecting a public route, contact municipal 3-1-1. If it belongs to a neighbour, do not authorize removal or cutting as though it were yours. Hydro-Québec's guidance also tells users to notify the owner when the tree is not theirs and contact the municipality for a tree on public property.

For a private tree, the owner remains responsible for any municipal authorization required for pruning or removal. In Gatineau, a separate tree-cutting certificate question may apply even after Hydro-Québec has clarified the electrical work route. Utility direction and municipal permission answer different questions, and both may need to be resolved before a tree crew starts.

• Plan the non-utility parts of a tree removal

What to send when requesting ordinary private pruning

If the utility confirms that the requested work can proceed as ordinary private tree work, provide the exact address, safe wide-angle photos, the pruning objective, and any instructions or reference number the utility supplied. Photos should be taken from the ground and outside the restricted area. Never raise a tool, ladder, camera pole, or measuring device toward the lines.

Ask for a written scope that clearly excludes restricted utility work unless the provider has the exact authorization required for it. Confirm who will contact the utility if conditions differ on site. If the tree is split, recently moved, or dropping material, use urgent routing rather than a routine pruning form.

• Route an urgent tree and wire concern
• Request ordinary pruning after utility clearance