Armstrong tree removal rules and permits

Do I need permission to cut down a tree on my property?

Armstrong, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

Short answer

The City of Armstrong has no bylaw regulating the cutting of private trees. A development permit is needed to remove vegetation, including trees, on land in an Official Community Plan Environmental or Hazard development permit area. City boulevard and park trees cannot be cut without permission. Confirm with Planning.

Key facts

When a permit is needed	No City bylaw regulates cutting private trees. A development permit is needed to remove or destroy vegetation, including trees, on land in an OCP development permit area: the Environmental area (mapped sensitive, wetland and riparian areas) or the Hazard area (slopes over 30%, floodplain). Check the DPA map or ask Planning.Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1932, 2024, Part 9, Applicable Activities; Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1932, 2024, Part 9.6 Environmental DPA, Exemptions · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording A development permit is required for any development occurring on land The removal, alteration, disruption or destruction of vegetation. The Environmental Development Permit Area applies to sensitive terrestrial areas, wetlands, Contain slopes in excess of 30% for a minimum horizontal distance of 10 meters or within Proposed developments located outside of a riparian assessment area, defined as the 30-metre strip on both sides of the stream measured
Exemptions	Hazard DPA (steep slopes, s. 9.7): trees a qualified arborist deems hazardous and an immediate threat to life or buildings. Environmental DPA (s. 9.6): emergency removal of dangerous trees on a qualified professional's advice, reported within 72 hours; normal farm practices in the ALR outside riparian or sensitive areas. Planting native trees is exempt.Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1932, 2024, Part 9.3 Hazard DPA, Exemptions; Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1932, 2024, Part 9.6 Environmental DPA, Exemptions; Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1932, 2024, Part 9, General Exemptions · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Removal of trees deemed to be hazardous by a qualified arborist that threaten the immediate safety of life and buildings. Activities limited to those indicated as “normal farm practices” as defined in the Farm Practices Protection (Right to Farm) Act on lands within the Agricultural Land Reserve the emergency removal of dangerous or hazardous trees or limbs as recommended by a qualified environmental professional by standard arboricultural practices. All actions must be reported to the City of Armstrong and the appropriate Federal or Provincial authorities within 72 hours. The development consists of the planting or replanting of native trees, shrubs or ground
Fee	No tree-cutting permit fee found. Where a development permit is needed, the fee is $700 (Development Permit or Amendment); a Minor Development Permit is $550.Rates, Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1916, 2023 (PDF, consolidated), Schedule 5, items 16 and 19 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Development Permit or Amendment $ 700.00 Minor Development or Minor Variance Permit $ 550.00
Replacement trees	No general replacement rule. In the Hazard (steep slope) permit area, trees and vegetation removed for site grading or other works should be replanted afterwards. In the Environmental permit area the City may require up to 90% survival of trees and shrubs planted, for up to two years.Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1932, 2024, Part 9.3 Hazard DPA, Guidelines; Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1932, 2024, Part 9.6 Environmental DPA, Guidelines · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording any tree and vegetation removal required for site grading or other works should be replanted after the works are completed. The City may require up to 90% survival of all trees and shrubs planted for a period of up to two years.
City trees	Nobody may cut down or remove trees planted or maintained by the City on a highway (including boulevards) without a permit, or deface, remove or damage any tree in a park or on public lands. The City may trim or remove boulevard trees for safety, infrastructure, aesthetics or insects.Traffic and Parking Regulation Bylaw No. 1370, Traffic and Parking Regulation Bylaw No. 1370, s. 10.1(b); Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 1473; Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 1829, 2018, Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 1829, s. 4.5 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Cause damage to, cut down or remove trees, grass, shrubs, plants, bushes and hedges, fences, signs or other things erected, planted or maintained by the City on the highway. No person shall deface, remove or otherwise damage any tree, shrub or other plant material growing in any park or public lands in the City. The City is empowered to trim or remove trees, shrubs, hedges or other plantings on a boulevard if the City considers it necessary for purposes of public safety
Fine	No ticket found for cutting a private tree. Municipal tickets: damaging or removing a tree, shrub or plant in a park, $100; damaging boulevard plants or improvements (Traffic bylaw s. 10.1(b)), $200.Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw, Schedule 7 (Parks Regulation Bylaw); Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw, Schedule 10 (Traffic and Parking Regulation Bylaw) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Damage or deface or remove tree, shrub or plant 3 $ 100.00 $ 100.00 Caused damage to boulevard plants/improvements 10.1 (b) $200.00 $200.00
Bylaw	No tree protection bylaw found. Private-land tree removal is controlled through the development permit areas in OCP Bylaw No. 1932, 2024, Part 9. Under Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 1829 s. 4.7 an officer may order an owner to trim or remove trees that damage public property or block sightlines.Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1932, 2024, Part 9; Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 1829, 2018, s. 4.7 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording This OCP establishes six Development Permit Areas (DPAs) to help manage the form and may issue an order for an owner, occupier or tenant of real property to remove or trim any tree, shrub, hedge or other planting on the real property if it is:

How it works

The City of Armstrong has no tree protection bylaw. Private-land tree removal is controlled through the development permit areas in Official Community Plan Bylaw 1932, 2024, Part 9. A development permit is needed to remove or destroy vegetation, including trees, on land in the Environmental area (mapped sensitive, wetland and riparian areas) or the Hazard area (slopes over 30% and floodplain). Which properties are inside is shown on the OCP development permit area maps, which were not read for this answer.

Steps

Ask Planning (planner@cityofarmstrong.bc.ca or 250-546-3023) whether your property is in a development permit area.
If it is, ask whether your removal needs a development permit, unless an exemption below applies.
For a tree on the boulevard or in a park, ask City Hall first.

Good to know

Exemptions: in the Hazard area, trees a qualified arborist deems hazardous and an immediate threat to life or buildings. In the Environmental area, emergency removal of dangerous trees on a qualified professional's advice, reported within 72 hours, and normal farm practices in the Agricultural Land Reserve outside riparian or sensitive areas. Planting native trees is exempt.
There is no fixed replacement rule. In the Hazard area, vegetation removed for grading or other works should be replanted. In the Environmental area the City may require up to 90% survival of planted trees and shrubs for up to two years.
Nobody may cut or remove trees planted or maintained by the City on a highway, including boulevards, without a permit, or damage any tree in a park or on public land. The City may trim or remove boulevard trees for safety, infrastructure, aesthetics or insects.
Under Good Neighbour Bylaw 1829, s. 4.7, an officer may order an owner to trim or remove trees that damage public property or block sightlines.
Municipal tickets: damaging or removing a tree, shrub or plant in a park is $100; damaging boulevard plants or improvements is $200. No ticket was found for cutting a private tree.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Spallumcheen · Enderby · Vernon · Coldstream · Lumby · Lake Country

Tree removal permits in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1932, 2024 (PDF), City of Armstrong (read 2026-11-05)
Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 1829, 2018 (PDF), City of Armstrong (read 2026-11-05)
Traffic and Parking Regulation Bylaw No. 1370 (PDF), City of Armstrong (read 2026-11-05)
Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 1473 (PDF), City of Armstrong (read 2026-11-05)
Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw (PDF), City of Armstrong (read 2026-11-05)
Rates, Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1916, 2023 (PDF, consolidated), City of Armstrong (read 2026-11-05)
Bylaw Enforcement, City of Armstrong (read 2026-11-05)

Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 7 of 7 facts was matched to the official text. How answers are checked.