Trees & tree removal across Nova Scotia
Do I need a permit to cut down a tree?
10 of 49 municipalities in Nova Scotia have an adopted bylaw on trees & tree removal on file. Each row links the municipality's answer page and, where transcribed, the full text of the document.
| Municipality | Adopted document | Key facts | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berwick Town |
Town of Berwick Bylaw – Streets
adopted 1963-07-09 |
permit required: yes · protected threshold: Ornamental trees; any tree, sapling or shrub planted for ornament or left growing in any street, highway, public square or park. · boulevard trees: All ornamental trees within street limits are under care/custody of Street Committee; no person shall damage/remove any tree in street/highway/public square/park without Committee permission. | 2026-09-27 |
| Bridgewater Town |
Town of Bridgewater Bylaw Chapter 14 – Care of Streets
adopted 1966-01-05 |
permit required: yes · applies to private property: no · protected threshold: any tree, sapling or shrub, planted for ornament or growing on any street or highway | 2026-09-27 |
| Cape Breton Regional municipality |
Cape Breton Regional Municipality Streets By-law (T1)
adopted 1995-11-21 |
boulevard trees: Permission from Director of Engineering & Public Works required to set out shade or ornamental tree within street limits. | 2026-09-27 |
| East Hants District municipality |
Municipality of East Hants Land Use Bylaw
adopted 2023-07-27 |
— | 2026-09-27 |
| Halifax Regional municipality |
Halifax Regional Municipality Tree By-law T-600
adopted 1998-11-17 |
permit required: yes · protected threshold: All public trees: "a tree of which the majority of the trunk is on public land within the Region"; no size/species threshold stated · replacement required: Deposit amount sufficient to replace a public tree removed/damaged or to effect corrective action | 2026-09-27 |
| Lunenburg Town |
Town of Lunenburg Land Use By-law, 2021
adopted 2021-07-27 |
— | 2026-09-27 |
| Mahone Bay Town |
Town of Mahone Bay Land Use Bylaw, 2024
adopted 2024-01-31 |
replacement required: submit a tree identification and replacement plan | 2026-09-27 |
| Middleton Town |
Town of Middleton Bylaws, Chapter 9 - Streets
+1 more adopted 1969-01-06 |
permit required: yes · protected threshold: Any tree, sapling, or shrub planted for ornament or growing on any street or highway · boulevard trees: No person shall break, bark, remove, root up, or damage street/highway trees without Committee permission; planting shade/ornamental trees requires application to Committee for location. | 2026-09-27 |
| New Glasgow Town |
Town of New Glasgow Tree Committee By-law (By-law No. 11)
adopted 1994-10-24 |
permit required: yes · applies to private property: yes · boulevard trees: Town may remove hazardous Town trees; no person may cut, deface or mutilate street/park/public trees without Mayor's written consent. | 2026-09-27 |
| Wolfville Town |
Town of Wolfville Land Use Bylaw
adopted 2026-05-13 |
— | 2026-09-27 |
Nothing on file for trees & tree removal
Absence here is explicit, not a gap: each municipality below was checked, and its status says why there is no document.
Other bylaws on file, none on this topic (39) — Amherst, Annapolis, Annapolis Royal, Antigonish, Antigonish, Argyle, Barrington, Chester, Clare, Clark's Harbour, Colchester, Cumberland, Digby, Digby, Guysborough, Inverness, Kentville, Kings, Lockeport, Lunenburg, Mulgrave, Oxford, Pictou, Pictou, Port Hawkesbury, Queens, Richmond, Shelburne, Shelburne, St. Mary's, Stellarton, Stewiacke, Trenton, Truro, Victoria, West Hants, Westville, Yarmouth, Yarmouth.