CT DAS Announces Significant Changes to Crane and Hoisting Laws Take Effect October 1, 2026

The Connecticut Department of Administrative Services today announced that major regulatory changes impacting Connecticut’s arboriculture and tree care industry will go into effect on October 1, 2026, following the enactment of Public Act 26-12. The new law removes the longstanding statutory exemption that previously allowed individuals engaged in arboriculture to operate cranes without obtaining a Connecticut crane operator license or registering their crane equipment with the state.

Under the revised provisions of Connecticut General Statutes Sections 29-223a and 29-224, “arboriculture” has been removed from the list of occupations exempt from crane operator licensing and crane registration requirements. As a result, beginning October 1, all individuals operating cranes in arboriculture-related work must hold the appropriate state crane operator license. Additionally, crane owners will be required to maintain valid crane registrations in accordance with Connecticut regulations.

Implications for the Arboriculture and Tree Care Industry

Tree care companies, contractors, and professionals who utilize cranes in arboriculture operations should begin preparing now for the upcoming changes. Once the law takes effect:

• Crane operators performing covered work must obtain the required Connecticut crane operator license.
• Crane owners must secure and maintain proper Connecticut crane registration.
• Businesses should evaluate current crane operations to determine which employees and equipment fall under the new licensing and registration requirements.
• Employers must confirm that both operators and equipment are fully licensed and registered prior to conducting any covered crane operations.

The Connecticut Department of Administrative Services and the Examining Board for Crane Operators will oversee compliance with licensing and registration standards. The legislation also enhances inspection and enforcement capabilities, including provisions allowing the issuance of stop-work orders for violations involving cranes and hoisting equipment.

Preparing for the October 1 Deadline

Industry stakeholders are strongly encouraged to begin preparations well before the effective date. Companies should review their crane inventory, identify employees who operate cranes, determine applicable license classifications, and initiate the state registration and licensing process promptly.
These regulatory updates represent a significant shift for Connecticut’s tree care industry, aligning crane operations within arboriculture with the same licensing and registration requirements that apply to other crane activities statewide. Taking proactive steps now will help businesses avoid disruptions once the new requirements take effect.

Learn More

Businesses and operators should review Public Act 26-12 and Connecticut’s crane licensing requirements ahead of the October 1, 2026, implementation. For questions related to licensing and registration, please contact:

• John Naples, CT Demolition and Crane Operations Inspector
john.naples@ct.gov
• Matthew Dorso, CT Demolition and Crane Operations Inspector
matthew.j.dorso@ct.gov