Magistrates in Bristol were told that the failure to comply with agreed protection measures resulted in the death of seven trees and damage to a further 40.
The trees were poplars, field maple, ash and beech.
KingsOak was fined £1700 with £940 costs after if it admitted one count of damaging trees. Barratt was fined £14,700 with £1060 costs.
Council officials said the damage was entirely avoidable and was the result of a decision to allow work to go ahead underneath protected trees, which caused root damage.
The head of park development at Bristol council said: "Although the council is keen to encourage sustainable and appropriate development across the city, this must be done in the correct way."
He added that tree protection during construction was not always a high priority for developers. He said the conviction and fine ought to send a strong message to other developers that they needed to improve their performance.
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