The bylaw came into effect on July 1, 2021 and applies to trees on private property, including those that are undergoing development.

The purpose of the Tree Protection Bylaw is to provide for the protection and preservation of trees on private property. If you would like to prune, remove, or work in the protect root zone of a bylaw protected tree, a permit may be required.

The Tree Protection Bylaw outlines the conditions where a tree permit may be issued to cut or remove a bylaw protected tree. Examples of when property owners may be granted permission to remove a bylaw protected tree include:

• The tree is a hazard tree and the risk cannot be mitigated other than by cutting or removing the tree, or the tree is dead
• The tree is a regulated invasive plant, or an unregulated invasive plant of concern in B.C.
• The trunk of the tree is located within the building envelope and the removal of the tree is necessary for the purpose of constructing a building, an addition to a building, or construction of an accessory building
• The tree is causing, or will in the near future cause, structure or infrastructure damage that cannot be mitigated other than by cutting or removing the protected tree

If permission is granted, property owners may have to pay a permit fee and/or security. These are outlined in Section 23-26 of the new bylaw. Where replacement trees or retention of protected trees are required as a condition of the tree permit, the applicant must provide to the City security in the form of cash or letter of credit.