City of Vancouver Private Property Tree Information

For information regarding trees on public property, please call the City of Vancouver Park Board (Street Trees) at 604.257.8600 or visit their website.

NEW Protection of Trees By-law

On November 19, 2009, Council approved the new Protection of Trees By-law [pdf] which combines the former Private Property Tree By-law and the Tree Retention, Relocation and Replacement Guidelines in a single document. The updates to the By-law clarify tree removal and replacement processes and requirements, as well as improve the City’s powers of enforcement.

There is no change to the number of trees that can be removed from a site or must be replaced. The key updates and changes to the By-law include the following:

Clarifies the requirements and processes to remove and replace a tree, including:

a tree permit is required in all cases of tree removal, not just when site development occurs;
a tree permit is required following an emergency removal;
breach of the by-law may result in a separate charge for each tree and a fine for continuing offences;
the right of an inspector to enter onto a property to inspect; and
the requirements for replacing a tree when it is removed.

A new requirement to post a tree permit in a visible location during tree removal;
Addition of an expiry date to a tree permit (valid for 6 months);
An enhanced provision for inspectors to order any person to discontinue work or to carry out work needed;
Addition and revision of a number of definitions to clarify roles and authority, including certification requirements for arborists, tree risk assessors, engineers, surveyors and plumbers;
Relocation of specific requirements from the Guidelines to the By-law, such as the care of retained trees during construction and the submission requirements for a tree permit; and
Additional fruit and nut trees have been added to the list of suitable replacement trees.

Note: For larger developments with approved landscape plans, there is a process to review and renew the landscape plan, in accordance with provisions from both the Protection of Trees By-law and the Zoning and Development By-law.

Background

Trees play an important role in our city, from the individual trees we plant in our yards to the great stands of firs and cedars in Stanley Park. Beginning with the old growth forests that first covered the land to our current urban forest of street trees, park trees and private property trees, trees are part of our west coast heritage. Before the 1850’s, the area we now call Vancouver was covered with trees that were over 300 feet tall and more than 1,000 years old. During the first decades of our city’s history most of these native trees were removed to make room for new houses and streets. In their place a new generation of trees was planted on both private and public lands. After more than one hundred years of tree planting, Vancouver’s urban forest is one of its most striking features.

Trees provide valuable social, economic and environmental benefits to our city. Trees play an important role in creating and maintaining a healthy ecosystem by cleaning the air, absorbing carbon dioxide, producing oxygen, absorbing stormwater, reducing erosion and providing habitat and food for wildlife. The urban tree canopy also cools the city, enriches and beautifies our neighbourhoods and increases property values, while fruit and nut trees provide a source of local food.

Provisions for the replacement of removed trees were first included in the Zoning and Development By-law in 1991. These regulations became the basis of the Private Property Tree By-law which was adopted by Council in 1994.

The Protection of Trees By-law [pdf] allows us to preserve, protect and strengthen our urban forest, while still providing some flexibility for tree removal in the event of property maintenance and development. With your help we can conserve our tree heritage.

The City of Vancouver provides information on tree removal permit requirements and the application for a permit on our Residential Tree Removal page.

For information regarding tree protection on boulevards or on your site during construction, visit the Construction and Development page. The Site Map lists an overview of all the pages for your convenience

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