---
title: Alert Bay tree removal rules and permits
question: "Do I need permission to cut down a tree on my property in Alert Bay?"
place: Alert Bay, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/alert-bay
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: Village of Alert Bay
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/alert-bay/tree-removal/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/alert-bay/tree-removal.json"
---

# Alert Bay tree removal rules and permits

**Question:** Do I need permission to cut down a tree on my property in Alert Bay?

**Short answer:** In Alert Bay, Tree Cutting Regulation Bylaw No. 763 covers trees over 31.5 cm in trunk circumference, plus wildlife trees and trees in the Hazard Boundary. Hazard-area tree removal may also need a development permit. Call the Village Office at 250-974-5213.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Village of Alert Bay, https://www.alertbay.ca)  
**Cost:** Not stated in the readable bylaw text.  
**How long:** Not stated.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Village Office, 250-974-5213
- In person: Municipal Hall, 15 Maple Road, Alert Bay, BC V0N 1A0 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **When a permit is needed:** Bylaw 763 covers trees over 31.5 cm in trunk circumference, plus wildlife trees and trees in the Hazard Boundary. The 2014 OCP also requires a development permit for tree removal in Natural Hazard Development Permit Area 4 (Map 22).
  - Source: [Tree Cutting Regulation Bylaw No. 763, 2015, ss. 3.1-3.4](https://alertbay.civicweb.net/document/3021/Bylaw%20763-%20Tree%20cutting%20bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "All trees having a trunk circumference greater than 31.5 centimeters" … "Except for Wildlife trees and trees located in the Hazard Boundary, this bylaw does not apply to" … "Applicants may be required to obtain a geotechnical review of the property" … "means any tree being used for nesting of Herons, Cranes and Eagles."
  - Source: [Official Community Plan 2014, OCP s. 11.5, Development Permit Area #4, guideline 1](https://alertbay.civicweb.net/document/2340/OCP%202014.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Development permits will be required for these areas for activities including construction, subdivision, land clearing, land grubbing, soil removal, soil deposit, and tree removal."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Exemptions:** Not covered (unless wildlife or Hazard Boundary trees): trees under 31.5 cm circumference; imminent danger or hazard trees; trees on parks, highways or utility rights of way; trees the Village requires cut under another bylaw; airport operations; fire department or Forest Service firefighting or fire prevention.
  - Source: [Tree Cutting Regulation Bylaw No. 763, 2015, s. 3.1](https://alertbay.civicweb.net/document/3021/Bylaw%20763-%20Tree%20cutting%20bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Having a trunk with a minimum circumference less than 31.5 centimeters measured at 1.5" … "That constitutes a an imminent danger or hazard to persons or property;" … "Required to be cut down or removed to facilitate airport operations;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fee:** Not confirmed. Part of the Village's tree bylaw cannot be read online, so this detail is not stated.
- **Replacement trees:** Not confirmed. Part of the Village's tree bylaw cannot be read online, so this detail is not stated.
- **City trees:** The bylaw does not apply to trees on any park, highway or utility right of way of the municipality or a public utility (unless wildlife or Hazard Boundary trees).
  - Source: [Tree Cutting Regulation Bylaw No. 763, 2015, s. 3.1(c)](https://alertbay.civicweb.net/document/3021/Bylaw%20763-%20Tree%20cutting%20bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "On any park, highway or utility right of way either of the municipality or of a public utility"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fine:** Not confirmed. Part of the Village's tree bylaw cannot be read online, so this detail is not stated.
- **Bylaw:** Alert Bay Tree Cutting Regulation bylaw No. 763, 2015
  - Source: [Tree Cutting Regulation Bylaw No. 763, 2015, s. 1](https://alertbay.civicweb.net/document/3021/Bylaw%20763-%20Tree%20cutting%20bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Alert Bay Tree Cutting Regulation bylaw No. 763, 2015"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The Village of Alert Bay's [Tree Cutting Regulation Bylaw No. 763](https://alertbay.civicweb.net/document/3021/Bylaw%20763-%20Tree%20cutting%20bylaw.pdf) (2015) applies to trees over 31.5 cm in trunk circumference, to wildlife trees, and to trees in the Hazard Boundary. The [Official Community Plan](https://alertbay.civicweb.net/document/2340/OCP%202014.pdf) (2014) also requires a development permit for tree removal in Natural Hazard Development Permit Area 4 (Map 22).

The bylaw does not cover trees under 31.5 cm in circumference, unless they are wildlife trees or in the Hazard Boundary. It also does not cover trees in imminent danger or hazard trees, trees on parks, highways or utility rights of way, trees the Village requires to be cut under another bylaw, airport operations, or firefighting and fire prevention by the fire department or Forest Service.

Part of the bylaw cannot be read online, so a permit fee, any replacement-planting rule and any fine are not stated here.

## Steps

1. Measure the trunk circumference and check whether your lot is in the Hazard Boundary or a development permit area.
2. Call the Village Office (250-974-5213) before cutting.
3. Ask what permit is needed, who approves it, and what it costs.

## Good to know

- Trees on Village parks and highways are not covered by the bylaw; ask the Village before touching one.

## Official forms and pages

- [Tree Cutting Regulation Bylaw No. 763 (PDF)](https://alertbay.civicweb.net/document/3021/Bylaw%20763-%20Tree%20cutting%20bylaw.pdf)
- [Official Community Plan 2014 (PDF)](https://alertbay.civicweb.net/document/2340/OCP%202014.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Alert Bay building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/alert-bay/building-permit.md)
- [Alert Bay zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/alert-bay/zoning-lookup.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Tree removal permits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tree-removal.md)
- [Port Hardy](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-hardy/tree-removal.md)
- [Port Alice](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alice/tree-removal.md)
- [Sayward](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sayward/tree-removal.md)
- [Tahsis](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tahsis/tree-removal.md)
- [Campbell River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/tree-removal.md)
- [Cumberland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/tree-removal.md)

## Sources

- [Tree Cutting Regulation Bylaw No. 763, 2015 (PDF), Village of Alert Bay](https://alertbay.civicweb.net/document/3021/Bylaw%20763-%20Tree%20cutting%20bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Official Community Plan 2014 (PDF), Village of Alert Bay](https://alertbay.civicweb.net/document/2340/OCP%202014.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Contact, Village of Alert Bay](https://www.alertbay.ca/contact) (read 2026-11-08)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 4 of 7 facts was matched to the official text; 3 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Village of Alert Bay. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/alert-bay/tree-removal/_