Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For accurate and up-to-date information, please consult local authorities.
Each city has its own bylaws regarding removing and pruning trees on private property. Accidentally breaking these laws can lead to hefty fines. For instance, the fine for a first offense is $1000 per tree illegally removed in Guelph. To help you avoid these fines, GreenCare Tree Services has created this guide to help you understand what you need to do before removing or pruning a tree.
Kitchener-Waterloo
In most cases, you do not need a permit to remove a tree on your property in Kitchener-Waterloo. The only exception is if your property is larger than 0.405 hectares (one acre), in which case a tree conservation permit may be required. For reference, 0.405 hectares is roughly the size of an American football field.
Though not necessary, you may apply for a woodland permit or a good practices permit if your property is located in a woodland,
No permit is required for pruning your tree.
For more information, please refer to the official Kitchener-Waterloo pages. I also included an email link where you can confirm with a city official if a permit will be required for your project. Just be sure to include the location, lot size, and tree type in your email.
Cambridge
In Cambridge, a permit is often required to remove a tree on your property. A permit is needed for any tree with a diameter greater than 20 cm (8 inches) measured at 1.4 m (chest height) above ground level. If you wish to remove 10 or more trees, you will need a special permit called a “site alteration permit.”
Special cases where a permit is not required but an arborist report is necessary include:
- Dead trees
- Hazardous trees
- Emergency work
Only a licensed arborist can write an arborist report, which must be approved by the city before you can remove dead or hazardous trees. In the case of emergency work, you must submit an arborist report within 48 hours of removing the tree.
For pruning, no permit is required.
For more information, visit the City of Cambridge’s official page.
Guelph
In Guelph, permits for tree removal are required in two scenarios:
- Your property is larger than 0.2 hectares (21,780 square feet) AND the tree measures 10 cm or more in diameter.
- The tree is a heritage tree or is located on a heritage lot.
Exceptions include:
- Small properties smaller than 0.2 hectares.
- Dead, dying, or diseased trees with an approved arborist report.
- Hazardous trees with an approved arborist report.
- Emergency work where the tree presents an immediate danger.
Since 0.2 hectares is roughly the size of two standard soccer fields, most homeowners will not have to worry about getting a permit.
When it comes to pruning, a permit is only required if you will be cutting more than 30% of the tree’s branches in a 3-year time span.
No permit is required for stump grinding in Guelph.
For boundary trees (trees that extend onto two owners’ properties), removal requires consent from both property owners. If you are unsure whether you, your neighbor, or the city owns the tree, Guelph provides a map to help identify tree ownership.
For more details, refer to the City of Guelph’s website.
Note: The City of Guelph plans to revise these bylaws in early 2025.
Brantford
In Brantford, you do not need a permit to remove a tree on your property, except in these cases:
- The tree is in a woodlot, wetland, or heritage area.
- The tree is a protected species.
Protected species include:
- Castanea dentata / American Chestnut
- Celtis tenuifolia / Dwarf Hackberry
- Gymnocladus dioica / Kentucky Coffee
- Fraxinus quadrangulata / Blue Ash
- Quercus prinoides / Dwarf Chinquapin Oak
- Quercus ellipsoidalis / Hills Oak
- Quercus schumardii / Schumard Oak
- Carya glabra / Sweet Pignut Hickory
- Magnolia acuminata / Cucumber Tree
- Morus rubra / Red Mulberry
- Ptelea trifoliata / Hop Tree
See the map below to check if your property is on these protected lands.
For more information, visit the City of Brantford’s page on tree removal laws.
Conclusion
Thank you for reading our guide on city private-tree bylaws. If you are considering getting your tree pruned or removed, contact GreenCare Tree Services for a free quote