Campbell River tree removal rules and permits

Do I need a permit to cut down a tree?

Campbell River, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

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.

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.Environmental Protection Bylaw 3551, 2014 (PDF, consolidated to 3852, 2022), s. 4.1, 4.5 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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.
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.Environmental Protection Bylaw 3551, 2014 (PDF, consolidated to 3852, 2022), s. 6.2 and definition · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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
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).Development Applications Procedures Bylaw No. 3856, s. 2.3(a)(iii); Schedule A fees · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Environmental development permit applications; and $2,000 base fee
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.Environmental Protection Bylaw 3551, 2014 (PDF, consolidated to 3852, 2022), s. 4.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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
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).Traffic and Highways Regulation Bylaw No. 3043, 2003 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 3852, 2022), s. 30, 31(1); Public Nuisance Bylaw No. 3543, 2014 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 3964, 2024), s. 7.6(a); Parks Control Bylaw No. 2498, 1996 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 3672, 2017), s. 3(a)(i) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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 willfully injure or damage any Boulevard or any tree, shrub, plant, bush or hedge on 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,
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.Ticketing for Bylaw Offences Bylaw No. 3322, 2007 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 4003, 2025), Schedules 29, 18, 11 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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
Bylaw	Environmental Protection Bylaw No. 3551, 2014; Traffic and Highways Regulation Bylaw No. 3043, 2003Environmental Protection Bylaw 3551, 2014 (PDF, consolidated to 3852, 2022), title; Traffic and Highways Regulation Bylaw No. 3043, 2003 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 3852, 2022), title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Environmental Protection Bylaw No. 3551, 2014 Traffic and Highways Regulation Bylaw No. 3043, 2003

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 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

Before cutting near a stream, ditch or large old tree, email planning@campbellriver.ca.
If a watercourse or eagle nest tree is involved, apply for the Development Permit the City tells you to.
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

The same question in other places

Courtenay · Cumberland · Comox · Powell River · Sayward · Port Alberni

Tree removal permits in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Environmental Protection Bylaw 3551, 2014 (PDF, consolidated to 3852, 2022) (read 2026-11-05)
Development Applications Procedures Bylaw No. 3856 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Traffic and Highways Regulation Bylaw No. 3043, 2003 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 3852, 2022) (read 2026-11-05)
Public Nuisance Bylaw No. 3543, 2014 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 3964, 2024) (read 2026-11-05)
Parks Control Bylaw No. 2498, 1996 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 3672, 2017) (read 2026-11-05)
Ticketing for Bylaw Offences Bylaw No. 3322, 2007 (PDF, consolidated to Bylaw 4003, 2025) (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.