---
title: Campbell River tree removal rules and permits
question: "Do I need a permit to cut down a tree?"
place: Campbell River, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/campbell-river
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Campbell River
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/tree-removal/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/tree-removal.json"
---

# Campbell River tree removal rules and permits

**Question:** Do I need a permit to cut down a tree?

**Short answer:** Campbell River has no general permit for cutting ordinary trees on private land. But clearing vegetation counts as "development", so you need a Development Permit within a watercourse buffer zone or 30 m of a watercourse, and within 60 m of a Bald Eagle nest tree. Trees on City land are protected.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Campbell River, https://www.campbellriver.ca)  
**Cost:** No fee for cutting a tree itself. Where an environmental Development Permit is needed it is a Minor Development Permit, with a $2,000 base fee and a $450 pre-application meeting fee unless exempt.  
**How long:** The City's pages do not state a review time.  
**Where:**
- Email: Planning, planning@campbellriver.ca

## Key facts

- **When a permit is needed:** No general permit to cut ordinary trees on private land was found. But clearing vegetation counts as 'Development': a Development Permit is needed within a watercourse buffer zone or 30 m of a watercourse, and within 60 m of a Bald Eagle nest tree. Cutting an eagle nest tree needs any Provincial permit first and written notice to the City.
  - Source: [Environmental Protection Bylaw 3551, 2014 (PDF, consolidated to 3852, 2022), s. 4.1, 4.5](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/3551-environmental-protection-bylaw-2014-consolidated-bylaw-3852-2022)
  - Official wording: "No person shall cut down or remove a Bald Eagle Nest Tree or cause any such tree to be cut" … "any permit that may be required from the Province has been obtained;" … "No Person shall Develop within sixty (60) metres of a Bald Eagle Nest Tree without a" … "Development Permit." … "a. removal, alteration, disruption or destruction of vegetation;" … "No person shall Develop within a Watercourse Buffer Zone without a Development" … "High Water Mark of a Watercourse without a Development Permit."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Exemptions:** A Hazard Tree (identified in writing by a Qualified Environmental Professional) may be cut without a Development Permit if a certified letter naming the tree and hazard is given to the City first. Agricultural uses on ALR land or under the Farm Practice Protection Act do not need a Development Permit.
  - Source: [Environmental Protection Bylaw 3551, 2014 (PDF, consolidated to 3852, 2022), s. 6.2 and definition](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/3551-environmental-protection-bylaw-2014-consolidated-bylaw-3852-2022)
  - Official wording: "Cutting down, removal, pruning, topping or other modification of a Hazard Tree, situated in" … "the Owner of real property from which the Hazard Tree is to be cut down, removed or" … "modified shall provide to the City a certified letter prepared by a Qualified" … "6.7 Agricultural uses on lands within the Agricultural Land Reserve or under the Farm Practice" … "Hazard Tree, situated in"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee:** No fee for cutting a tree itself. Where an Environmental Development Permit is needed, it is a Minor Development Permit: $2,000 base fee. A $450 pre-application meeting fee applies unless exempt (eagle and heron nests and ditch setbacks are exempt).
  - Source: [Development Applications Procedures Bylaw No. 3856, s. 2.3(a)(iii); Schedule A fees](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/3856-development-applications-procedures-bylaw)
  - Official wording: "Environmental development permit applications; and" … "$2,000 base fee"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Replacement trees:** Bald Eagle nest tree cut for a reason other than being a Hazard Tree: a habitat compensation plan by a Qualified Environmental Professional before cutting, showing no net loss of habitat. Where a Development Permit is needed, security of 125% of the estimated cost of meeting its requirements is also required.
  - Source: [Environmental Protection Bylaw 3551, 2014 (PDF, consolidated to 3852, 2022), s. 4.2](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/3551-environmental-protection-bylaw-2014-consolidated-bylaw-3852-2022)
  - Official wording: "If the Bald Eagle Nest Tree is to be cut down or removed for a reason other than being a" … "Hazard Tree" … "how no net loss of Bald Eagle Nest Tree Habitat" … "iii) provide security to the City an amount equal to 125% of the cost estimated by a"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **City trees:** Cutting or removing trees growing on a highway needs a permit from the Engineering Services Manager (not for arterial highways). No one may willfully injure a boulevard tree or shrub. In a City park, no one may cut, remove or damage any tree (Parks Control Bylaw No. 2498, 1996, s. 3).
  - Source: [Traffic and Highways Regulation Bylaw No. 3043, 2003 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 3852, 2022), s. 30, 31(1)](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/3043-traffic-highways-regulation-bylaw-consolidated-3608-2016)
  - Official wording: "This Part does not apply to arterial highways." … "Except as authorized by a permit issued by the Engineering Services Manager pursuant to Part VIII" … "cut down" … "or remove trees or timber growing on a highway"
  - Source: [Public Nuisance Bylaw No. 3543, 2014 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 3964, 2024), s. 7.6(a)](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/3543-public-nuisance-bylaw-2014-consolidated-bylaw-3589-2015)
  - Official wording: "willfully injure or damage any Boulevard or any tree, shrub, plant, bush or hedge on"
  - Source: [Parks Control Bylaw No. 2498, 1996 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 3672, 2017), s. 3(a)(i)](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/2498-parks-control-bylaw-1996-consolidated-bylaw-3672-2017)
  - Official wording: "destroy, cut, mark, break, dig, pull-up, burn or in any other way damage, injure," … "any tree, flower bed, bush, shrub, plant, sod, grass or other vegetation, soil,"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** $125 for cutting or removing trees on a highway without a permit. $200 for damaging a boulevard tree or shrub. $1,000 for removing a Bald Eagle nest tree without Provincial approval; $500 if the City is not notified first. $500 for developing within 30 m of a watercourse, or within 60 m of an eagle nest tree, without a Development Permit.
  - Source: [Ticketing for Bylaw Offences Bylaw No. 3322, 2007 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 4003, 2025), Schedules 29, 18, 11](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/3322-ticketing-bylaw-offences-consolidated-bylaw-4003-2025pdf)
  - Official wording: "No permit for tree/timber removal 31(1) 125.00" … "Damage boulevard/tree/shrub 7.6(a) 200" … "Removal or other works on a Bald Eagle Nest Tree without 4.1(a) 1000.00" … "Removal of a Bald Eagle nest tree without notification to 4.1(b) 500.00" … "Developing within 30 metres of a Watercourse without a" … "Developing within 60 metres of a Bald Eagle Nest Tree"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Environmental Protection Bylaw No. 3551, 2014; Traffic and Highways Regulation Bylaw No. 3043, 2003
  - Source: [Environmental Protection Bylaw 3551, 2014 (PDF, consolidated to 3852, 2022), title](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/3551-environmental-protection-bylaw-2014-consolidated-bylaw-3852-2022)
  - Official wording: "Environmental Protection Bylaw No. 3551, 2014"
  - Source: [Traffic and Highways Regulation Bylaw No. 3043, 2003 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 3852, 2022), title](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/3043-traffic-highways-regulation-bylaw-consolidated-3608-2016)
  - Official wording: "Traffic and Highways Regulation Bylaw No. 3043, 2003"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The City of Campbell River has no general permit to cut ordinary trees on private land. However, the [Environmental Protection Bylaw No. 3551, 2014](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/3551-environmental-protection-bylaw-2014-consolidated-bylaw-3852-2022) treats clearing vegetation as "development". A Development Permit is needed within a watercourse buffer zone or 30 m of a watercourse, and within 60 m of a Bald Eagle nest tree. Cutting an eagle nest tree needs any Provincial permit first, and written notice to the City.

## Steps

1. Before cutting near a stream, ditch or large old tree, email planning@campbellriver.ca.
2. If a watercourse or eagle nest tree is involved, apply for the Development Permit the City tells you to.
3. For a Bald Eagle nest tree cut for a reason other than being a hazard, have a Qualified Environmental Professional prepare a habitat compensation plan before cutting, showing no net loss of habitat.

## Good to know

- A Hazard Tree, identified in writing by a Qualified Environmental Professional, may be cut without a Development Permit if you first give the City a certified letter naming the tree and the hazard. Agricultural uses on ALR land or under the Farm Practice Protection Act do not need a Development Permit.
- Where a Development Permit is needed, security of 125% of the estimated cost of meeting its requirements is also required.
- A $450 pre-application meeting fee does not apply to eagle and heron nests or ditch setbacks.
- Trees on City land: cutting or removing trees on a highway needs a permit from the Engineering Services Manager (not for arterial highways), and no one may willfully injure a boulevard tree or shrub. In a City park, no one may cut, remove or damage any tree.
- Fines (Ticketing Bylaw): $125 for cutting trees on a highway without a permit; $200 for damaging a boulevard tree or shrub; $1,000 for removing a Bald Eagle nest tree without Provincial approval, or $500 if the City is not notified first; $500 for developing within 30 m of a watercourse or within 60 m of an eagle nest tree without a Development Permit.

## Official forms and pages

- [Environmental Protection Bylaw 3551, 2014 (PDF)](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/3551-environmental-protection-bylaw-2014-consolidated-bylaw-3852-2022)
- [Development Resources](https://www.campbellriver.ca/building-development/development-applications/development-resources)

## Related questions

- [Campbell River building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/building-permit.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Tree removal permits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tree-removal.md)
- [Courtenay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/tree-removal.md)
- [Cumberland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/tree-removal.md)
- [Comox](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/tree-removal.md)
- [Powell River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/powell-river/tree-removal.md)
- [Sayward](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sayward/tree-removal.md)
- [Port Alberni](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alberni/tree-removal.md)

## Sources

- [Environmental Protection Bylaw 3551, 2014 (PDF, consolidated to 3852, 2022)](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/3551-environmental-protection-bylaw-2014-consolidated-bylaw-3852-2022) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Development Applications Procedures Bylaw No. 3856 (PDF)](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/3856-development-applications-procedures-bylaw) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Traffic and Highways Regulation Bylaw No. 3043, 2003 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 3852, 2022)](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/3043-traffic-highways-regulation-bylaw-consolidated-3608-2016) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Public Nuisance Bylaw No. 3543, 2014 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 3964, 2024)](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/3543-public-nuisance-bylaw-2014-consolidated-bylaw-3589-2015) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Parks Control Bylaw No. 2498, 1996 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 3672, 2017)](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/2498-parks-control-bylaw-1996-consolidated-bylaw-3672-2017) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Ticketing for Bylaw Offences Bylaw No. 3322, 2007 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 4003, 2025)](https://www.campbellriver.ca/media/file/3322-ticketing-bylaw-offences-consolidated-bylaw-4003-2025pdf) (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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Campbell River. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/tree-removal/_