Frequently Asked Questions

Patrick Hannah, Certified Arborist LLC provides professional tree health care and risk assessment services in Hollywood, FL. As an ISA-certified arborist, Patrick Hannah delivers credential-backed evaluations that go beyond a general inspection, giving property owners defensible documentation for permits, insurance, and long-term tree management.

TRAQ is an advanced credential issued by the International Society of Arboriculture that qualifies an arborist to conduct standardized, defensible tree risk assessments. A TRAQ-qualified arborist follows ISA methodology to produce a formal written report that meets the documentation standards required by insurers, attorneys, municipalities, and courts.

A formal arborist report is typically required when applying for a tree removal or trimming permit, resolving an HOA or neighbor dispute involving a tree, completing due diligence during a property sale, or filing a storm damage insurance claim. Each of these situations calls for a written, credential-backed document rather than an informal verbal opinion.

A general tree inspection is an informal walkthrough that identifies obvious issues, while a Tree Risk Assessment is a structured evaluation conducted under ISA ANSI A300 Part 9 standards that formally rates likelihood of failure, consequence of failure, and overall risk level. Only the formal assessment produces a written report with legal and insurance standing.

Yes — a formal written arborist report prepared by an ISA-certified arborist carries legal standing and is accepted by the City of Hollywood, Broward County permitting offices, and insurance adjusters as documentation supporting a claim or permit application. The report must be a signed, written deliverable, not simply a verbal recommendation.

You can verify any arborist's ISA certification by searching the public credential lookup tool on the ISA website at treesaregood.org using the arborist's name or certification number. A legitimate ISA-certified arborist will readily provide their certification number and can show whether any additional credentials, such as TRAQ, are attached to their record.

A professional tree health care evaluation from a certified arborist typically covers species identification, structural integrity, signs of disease or pest infestation, root zone condition, and a recommended care plan. Because it is conducted by a credentialed professional, the findings can be documented in writing and referenced for future maintenance or liability purposes.

A certified arborist holds a credential issued by the International Society of Arboriculture that requires demonstrated knowledge of tree biology, risk evaluation, and industry standards, while a general tree trimming company has no credentialing requirement. Only a certified arborist can produce a report with the professional standing needed for permits, insurance claims, or legal disputes.

Yes — a signed, written report from an ISA-certified arborist is recognized as expert documentation in HOA disputes, neighbor boundary conflicts, and civil proceedings in Florida. Courts, HOA boards, and mediators give greater weight to a credentialed arborist's written findings than to informal opinions from unlicensed contractors.

A certified arborist in Hollywood, FL commonly assesses native and subtropical species such as live oaks, royal palms, gumbo limbos, and ficus, as well as trees damaged by hurricanes, affected by construction activity, or showing signs of decline near structures. South Florida's climate and soil conditions make credentialed local expertise especially important for accurate risk evaluation.

Under ISA ANSI A300 Part 9 standards, tree risk is rated by combining two factors: the likelihood that a tree or part of it will fail, and the likely consequence if failure occurs near people or structures. The result is a formal risk rating — low, moderate, high, or extreme — that guides recommended action and is defensible in documentation.

In many cases, yes — the City of Hollywood and Broward County require documentation from a qualified arborist to approve the removal of protected or canopy trees. A certified arborist can prepare the written report and species identification documentation that the permitting office needs to process your application.