Do I need a permit to cut down a tree?
In the City of Courtenay, British Columbia, trees & tree removal rules are set by Street Tree Planting Bylaw No. 1709, 1993 and 1 other bylaw, verified 2026-08-28. Fines: Up to $1,000 (Municipal Ticket); up to $10,000 (Offence Act proceeding). A permit is required. Boulevard trees: street trees be planted for all new streets or street extensions.
| boulevard trees | street trees be planted for all new streets or street extensions | s. 1 |
Requires street/boulevard trees to be planted for new streets and subdivisions per City schedules, spaced 15-22 m apart, within 60 days of a Notice to Proceed. Adopted August 1993; exact day illegible in scanned copy.
| permit required | yes | s. 5.2 |
| applies to private property | yes | s. 5.1 |
| protected threshold | Tree over 20cm Diameter at Breast Height or protected tree (public tree, any size in ESA/Riparian/slope >=30%, protected species >0.5m, covenant protected) | s. 5.2; s. 3 |
| replacement required | 1:1 hazardous, 3:1 protected species/ESA hazardous/greenfield density, 4:1 unpermitted removal; $300 cash-in-lieu for density target | s. 10.1; s. 9.1; s. 14.1(c) |
| boulevard trees | Defined as public trees and protected trees; permit required for removal. | s. 3; s. 5.2 |
| fine range | Up to $1,000 (Municipal Ticket); up to $10,000 (Offence Act proceeding) | s. 19.1 |
Regulates injury and removal of protected trees and requires tree planting associated with private development, aiming to protect a target tree density across City properties.