Delivery Season
Deliveries run from the weekend before Thanksgiving through December 20.

No deliveries on Thanksgiving Day or the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.

Service Areas
Chicago (Core Zone): 7 days a week
Select Suburbs: Available on specific days each week

Removal Season
Tree removals run December 27 – January 10 (excluding New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day).

Delivery Shifts
Weekdays:
• 1st Shift: 9:00am – 5:00pm
• 2nd Shift: 5:00pm – 9:30pm
• Flexible Shift: 9:00am – 9:30pm

Weekends:
• 1st Shift: 8:00am – 2:00pm
• 2nd Shift: 2:00pm – 8:00pm
• Flexible Shift: 8:00am – 8:00pm

Weather Policy
Deliveries may be rescheduled in the event of unsafe weather conditions.

Day-of Contact
On delivery day, our crew will call or text (from a different number) when they are on the way. Please monitor your phone during your delivery window.

If You’re Not Home
Please provide a detailed safe location where the tree may be left (e.g., porch, front yard, with a neighbor, or via doorman access if authorized in advance).

Without Setup Service
If no setup was purchased and no instructions are provided, our crew will leave the tree in a safe location at their discretion.

With Setup Service
If setup was purchased and no one is home, the crew will need to return another day to complete delivery and setup. In this case, the order may be refunded minus a $25 no-show fee.

Redelivery Fees
If multiple attempts are required, a $25 redelivery fee may apply.

For everyone’s security and consistency, we do not accept cash payments. All purchases — including same-day add-ons like upgrading your tree, adding a stand, or choosing extra décor — are handled through a quick, secure credit card invoice. This ensures your order is processed properly and you receive full support from our team. Our delivery crews are not authorized to accept cash.

Cash may be used for optional gratuity

• Delivery Windows
  When you place your order, you’ll choose from three delivery windows. One day before delivery, we’ll narrow that window to a 3-hour time slot. Please confirm your delivery by replying to the confirmation text or email.
  
  Tip: If you cannot receive text messages, let us know in advance.
  
• Day-of Communication
  On delivery day, our crew will call from a different phone number 15–30 minutes before arrival. Please keep an eye out for unknown numbers and respond promptly. If there are any delays that push us outside your 3-hour slot, we’ll notify you right away.
  
• Routing & Timing
  We do our best to accommodate customers, but we cannot guarantee specific time requests due to truck routing. Start and end times may also vary depending on delivery volume.
  
• Included Service
  Standard Delivery: Fresh cut on your tree and dropped off inside your home.
  
• Optional Setup: Crew places the tree in your stand (not provided), removes netting, does a basic broom sweep, and waters the tree.
  
• Customer Satisfaction
  If something isn’t right, let our crew know immediately — they can often resolve issues on the spot (tree swaps, extra products from the truck, additional cleanup, etc. - product fees apply, CASH NOT ACCEPTED).
  
• Support
  For further assistance, contact us at CustomerService@CityTreeDelivery.com or call 312-GRN-XMAS.
  

Our staff are paid a living wage, and the price of your tree includes all necessary fees. While tipping is never required, it is always appreciated.

• Cash Tips: You may tip your crew directly at delivery.
  
• Phone Tips: If you don’t have cash, call us and we can process your tip over the phone. Tips collected this way go into our employee tip pool and are split equally among the operations crew based on days worked.
  
• Advance Tips: Optional gratuities can also be added when you place your order. If you need to adjust or refund this amount after delivery, please email CustomerService@CityTreeDelivery.com.
  

Note: If you did not purchase advanced setup when ordering, the crew may be able to provide this service upon arrival. Any special requests will be handled in person.

Please take a few minutes to prepare for your tree delivery. This helps ensure a smooth, safe, and timely experience for everyone:

• Review Your Order
  Tree orders do not include a stand or removal service unless purchased separately.
  
• Clear a Safe Path
  Make sure there is a wide, obstacle-free path from your door to the desired tree location. Please shovel steps, clear ice, snow, or water, and remove any tripping hazards.
  
• Pets
  Kindly secure pets during delivery to keep them (and our crew) safe.
  
• High-Rise Deliveries
  If you live in a high-rise, please check with your building about delivery requirements. Provide our crew with details such as parking instructions, freight elevator access, and any time restrictions. This information greatly helps us stay on schedule.
  
• Tree Stands
  A stand must be rented, purchased, or provided. Not all stands are equal—we strongly recommend our Cinco Express stands for maximum stability and tree health. For trees 12ft & above, we recommend our Goliath stands.
  
• Tree Removal & Recycling
  We highly recommend scheduling removal/recycling at the time of purchase. Availability is limited, and prices increase after Christmas. Suburban removals will be placed at the curb for local municipal pickup/recycling.

If you live in a high rise, please contact your building to understand any requirements and provide the delivery crew with specifics such as where to park, details around the freight elevator, time restrictions, etc. This information greatly helps the crew and assists with timely delivery for all.

Stands must be rented, purchased, or provided. Not all stands are equal and we strongly recommend our Cinco Express stands for the stability and health of your tree.

We highly recommend purchasing tree removal/recycling in advance. Availability is limited and the price increases after Christmas. Trees removed in the suburbs will be left on the curb for pickup / recycling by the local municipality.

In Home / Oversized removal requires a tree purchase. Curbside can be added after Christmas subject to availability.

New for 2025

In-Home / Oversized Tree Removal is only available to customers who purchased their tree from us.

Curbside Pickup may be ordered by anyone after Christmas (subject to capacity).

Important Notes
Tree removal is NOT included with your tree purchase.

We strongly recommend purchasing removal at the time of your order.

Orders placed after Christmas are subject to availability and higher pricing:
• $49.90 for curbside
• $99.90 for in-home removal

Customer Preparation
All trees must be undecorated (lights, ornaments, garland, hooks, and tinsel removed) prior to removal.

Removal Options
Curbside Removal — $29.95/tree
We pick up your undecorated tree from outside and take it to be recycled.

Available only in our Core Chicago Zones — please refer to our [Zoning Map].

In-Home Removal — $49.95/tree
Our crew removes the undecorated tree from the stand, provides a basic cleanup, and prepares it for recycling.

• In Chicago, we take the tree directly to a recycling facility.
• In the suburbs, we place the tree at the curb for municipal recycling.

Alternate Removal Dates

• Removal prior to Christmas is based on staffing / capacity. If you are traveling over the holidays and need service prior to Dec 27, contact us to and we will try to accommodate your needs.

Need to make a change? No problem.

• How to request changes
  Reply to your order confirmation or email CustomerService@CityTreeDelivery.com.
  
  Please include your order number and the changes you’d like (date/time window, products, phone number, address, delivery notes, etc.).
  
• What we can update
  Delivery date/window • Add-on products • Contact info • Delivery address • Order notes/special instructions
  
• Availability
  We’ll work with you to find a convenient time based on current availability. Same‑day changes are not guaranteed.

At City Tree, we’ve been pioneers in online Christmas tree delivery since 2009 — and in all that time, we’ve never had an unresolved customer complaint. Here’s what sets us apart:

• Locally Rooted, Fairly Paid
  We’re a Chicago-based business that pays a living wage. Our seasonal team includes firefighters, students, freelancers, and musicians — many of whom return year after year for the good pay, flexibility, and fun environment.
  
• Premium Quality, Hand-Selected
  Every tree is chosen for its shape, freshness, and sustainability. We deliver inside your home with insured professionals, offering setup, removal, and premium accessories for a truly hassle-free holiday.
  
• Sustainable & Zero Waste
  We carefully manage inventory, repurpose clippings into wreaths and garland, and recycle/donate every tree at season’s end to reduce landfill waste.
  
• Trust & Accountability
  We accept credit cards, collect local sales tax, and stand behind everything we sell. Unlike faceless online retailers, we’re accountable neighbors serving our own community.
  
• The Difference From Competitors
  Some vendors cut costs by mixing lower-grade trees, selling cheap accessories, or ignoring waste management. Even Amazon sells boxed trees — but without the service, care, or guarantees we provide.
  

✨ With City Tree, you’re not just buying a tree — you’re investing in premium service, sustainable practices, and local livelihoods.

Our crew delivers rain or shine. In severe weather conditions, please be flexible on delivery times.

Taking safety in account, our delivery team will make all reasonable attempts to complete your delivery on time.

In extreme conditions, our crew will work with you to arrange an alternative date that works with you. If another date does not work, we will refund your order.

We exclusively offer USDA Premium trees, carefully selected to ensure top quality—you’ll never receive a “Charlie Brown” tree from us. Every tree we deliver meets the same high standard we’d want in our own homes.

While our trees are natural (not artificially shaped or mass-produced), we guarantee they’ll be freshly cut, full, and beautiful with only minimal natural blemishes. If for any reason you’re not satisfied, we’ll work with you to make it right.

Please note: tree widths and fullness can vary each season due to natural growing conditions. If the size isn’t quite right, we can usually offer a replacement in a larger or smaller size and adjust the price accordingly.

Our promise: you’ll always end up with a tree you’re proud to display in your home.

At City Tree, we only sell USDA Premium and #1 Grade Fir trees (or better). These are the highest-quality Christmas trees available, selected for their freshness, shape, and fullness. We’ve worked with trusted vendors for years to source the best locally grown trees, so you’ll always receive one we’d be proud to have in our own homes.

About USDA Grading:

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) created national standards in 1989 to grade Christmas trees by quality. The main categories are:

• U.S. Premium (Snowfresh): Fresh, clean, healthy, heavy density, nearly perfect shape with only one minor blemish per face.
  
• U.S. #1 (Choice): Fresh, healthy, medium density, good shape, with a few minor blemishes allowed.
  
• U.S. #2 (Standard) Fair quality trees with noticeable imperfections.
  
• Cull: Trees that do not meet minimum standards.
  

We only carry Premium and #1 Grade trees, which means:

• Freshly cut with green, pliable needles that stay attached
• Full, well-shaped, and properly trimmed
• Healthy, vibrant appearance with natural density
• Minimal to no visible defects
  

Bottom line: your tree will be far superior to those found at big box retailers or roadside stands.

📖 For more details, you can view the official USDA standards here.

Cutting starts in November and varies based on shipping times. We typically get multiple shipments during the season.

We do not sell potted trees. The Fraser and Balsam Firs our customers love don’t grow well in Illinois, and successfully transplanting them would require extremely heavy root balls, special soil conditions, and precise timing before the ground freezes. In short, it’s not practical—or sustainable—at scale.

Instead, we believe the best approach is to support local farms that replant their tree crops each year and to recycle every tree after the season. This ensures a renewable, eco-friendly cycle without the challenges (and high failure rates) of trying to replant potted trees.

In the past, we tested selling potted Norwegian Spruce trees. Unfortunately, demand was very low, and most ended up donated or sold at a loss—showing us that this option isn’t what our customers truly want.

Bottom line: the most sustainable choice is a fresh-cut Fraser or Balsam Fir, responsibly farmed and fully recycled after the holidays.

We do not typically install lights or do any decorating of the tree. Under special circumstances, we may be able to work with you, pending availability, for an hourly labor charge (2hr minimum). Setting expectations in advance, this would be performed by delivery crew, not decorators / designers.

We do not rent trees, however you can rent stands, lights, and purchase tree removal prior to Christmas.

The tree storage conditions during rental are unknown and trees can frequently be damaged during handling.

Many events request delivery one day prior to an event so the tree can settle and we pick up the tree the day after the event. Other events have us deliver smaller trees and send the tree home as a door prize for one of the attendees.