{"title":"Clearwater tree removal rules and permits","question":"Do I need permission to cut down a tree on my property?","slug":"tree-removal","place":{"path":"ca/bc/clearwater","name":"Clearwater","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"building-and-renovating","name":"Building, renovating and your property"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"District of Clearwater","url":"https://www.districtofclearwater.com"},"short_answer":"Clearwater has no tree-cutting bylaw for private land. A development permit is needed to remove vegetation inside a development permit area in the Official Community Plan, such as steep slopes, floodplain or environmental areas. Trees on a boulevard or public land need District approval.","aliases":["tree removal clearwater","cut down tree clearwater","tree bylaw clearwater","boulevard tree clearwater"],"cost":"No tree-cutting fee found. If a development permit is needed, $250 if staff decide it or $500 if Council considers it.","how_long":"Not stated.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"TNRD Planning (contracted by the District)","value":"250-377-8673","note":"Email planning@tnrd.ca."},{"type":"phone","label":"District of Clearwater office","value":"250-674-2257","note":"209 Dutch Lake Road. Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m."}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Official Community Plan (PDF, 2026), development permit areas","url":"https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/107122/"},{"title":"Traffic and Use of Highways Bylaw No. 160, 2017 (consolidated)","url":"https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/28336/"},{"title":"Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 221, 2019 (consolidated)","url":"https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/28332/"}],"related":[{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Clearwater zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clearwater/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"secondary-suite","title":"Clearwater secondary suite and carriage house rules","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clearwater/secondary-suite/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/barriere","name":"Barriere","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/barriere/tree-removal/"},{"place":"ca/bc/100-mile-house","name":"100 Mile House","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/100-mile-house/tree-removal/"},{"place":"ca/bc/kamloops","name":"Kamloops","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kamloops/tree-removal/"},{"place":"ca/bc/enderby","name":"Enderby","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/enderby/tree-removal/"},{"place":"ca/bc/revelstoke","name":"Revelstoke","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/revelstoke/tree-removal/"},{"place":"ca/bc/armstrong","name":"Armstrong","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/tree-removal/"}],"topic":{"title":"Tree removal permits in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tree-removal/"},"facts":{"permit_needed":{"label":"When a permit is needed","value":"No District tree-cutting bylaw was found. A development permit is needed to remove or destroy vegetation inside a development permit area in the 2026 OCP (DPA 4 Hazard Lands: steep slopes and floodplain; DPA 5 Environmental; and the centre DPAs 1 to 3), but only for the part of the lot inside the DPA boundary (OCP Maps 7 and 8).","short":"No, except inside development permit areas","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/107122/","title":"Official Community Plan (PDF, 2026), District of Clearwater","section":"s. 4.1.4, 4.5.2, 4.6.2, 4.6.3","quotes":["A development permit is required in accordance with Section 489 of the Local Government Act, for any","Removal, alteration, disruption, or destruction of vegetation.","DPA 4 guidelines apply to all lands identified as Steep Slopes or Floodplain, as shown on Map 7.","DPA 5 guidelines apply to all lands identified as Environmentally Sensitive Areas (Blue Listed Species","For clarity, these requirements apply only to the portion of the parcel located within the DPA boundary."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"exemptions":{"label":"Exemptions","value":"No development permit is needed to remove danger trees identified by a qualified arborist, to remove invasive plants, or for FireSmart work within 30 m of a structure (OCP s. 4.1.5). DPA 5 also exempts clearing of land for agricultural purposes; DPA 4 exempts removal of hazardous trees on steep slopes.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/107122/","title":"Official Community Plan (PDF, 2026), District of Clearwater","section":"s. 4.1.5 General Exemptions","quotes":["danger trees as identified by a qualified arborist and removal of invasive plant species.","FireSmart vegetation management: within 30 metres of a structure, where conducted in","5. Removal of: danger trees as identified by a qualified arborist and removal of invasive plant species.","b. Clearing of land for agricultural purposes.","c. Removal of trees deemed hazardous by a Qualified Arborist that threaten the immediate"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"fee":{"label":"Fee","value":"No tree-cutting permit or fee was found. Where a development permit is needed, the fee is $250 if issuance is delegated to staff or $500 if considered by Council (Bylaw 118, Schedule A).","short":"No tree fee; $250 or $500 if development permit needed","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/24118/","title":"Development Procedures Bylaw No. 118 (PDF), Schedule A fees","section":"Schedule A","quotes":["Development Permit where issuance is delegated $250","Development Permit where considered by Council $500","Development Permit where issuance is delegated","Development Permit where considered by Council"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"replacement":{"label":"Replacement trees","value":"No general tree replacement rule. In a development permit area the District may require a security deposit of 125% of a qualified professional's cost estimate; on steep slopes (DPA 4) replanting must occur promptly where removal is needed for grading or construction.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/107122/","title":"Official Community Plan (PDF, 2026), District of Clearwater","section":"ss. 4.1.8, 4.5.6","quotes":["be calculated at 125% of the cost estimate prepared by the Landscape Architect, Designer, Professional","Where removal is necessary for grading or construction, replanting must occur promptly"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"city_trees":{"label":"City trees","value":"A person must not cut, prune, top or remove trees, hedges, shrubs or other plantings from a boulevard, road allowance, park or other public place unless Council or the Public Works Manager authorizes it.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/28336/","title":"Traffic and Use of Highways Bylaw No. 160, 2017 (PDF, consolidated)","section":"s. 5.1(j)","quotes":["5.1 Except as specifically authorized, directed or permitted by Council, the Public Works","(j) alter or remove any fence or guardrail, or cut, prune, top or remove any trees,","hedges, shrubs or other plantings from a boulevard, road allowance, park or other public place;"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Boulevard trees: municipal ticket $100 ($75 if paid within 30 days) for topping or removing trees or plants on a boulevard without a permit. No ticket was found for cutting trees on private land.","short":"Ticket $100 for boulevard; none found for private land","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/28332/","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 221, 2019 (PDF, consolidated to September 2024)","section":"Schedule 8; s. 3.1","quotes":["Top or remove trees, plants, on boulevard without","5.1 (j) 100 75","the discounted fines pursuant to section 265(2) of the Community Charter for the"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"No tree bylaw found. Development permit areas: Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 331, 2026; boulevard trees: Traffic and Use of Highways Bylaw No. 160, 2017","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.districtofclearwater.com/developers/planning-department/","title":"Planning Department, District of Clearwater","section":"District Planning page","quotes":["Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 331 2026 (OCP)"]},{"url":"https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/28336/","title":"Traffic and Use of Highways Bylaw No. 160, 2017 (PDF, consolidated)","section":"s. 1.1","quotes":["District of Clearwater Traffic and Use of Highways Bylaw No. 160, 2017"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":7,"stated":7,"matched":7,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nWe found no District bylaw that protects trees or requires a permit to cut them on private land. The one exception is a **development permit area (DPA)** in the 2026 [Official Community Plan](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/107122/). A development permit is needed to remove or destroy vegetation inside a DPA, but only for the part of the lot inside the DPA boundary. The DPAs are:\n- DPA 4, Hazard Lands (steep slopes and floodplain)\n- DPA 5, Environmental\n- DPAs 1 to 3, the centre areas\n\nCheck OCP Maps 7 and 8 to see if your lot is in one.\n\n**Public land:** under the [Traffic and Use of Highways Bylaw No. 160](https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/28336/), no one may cut, prune, top or remove trees, hedges, shrubs or other plantings from a boulevard, road allowance, park or other public place unless Council or the Public Works Manager authorizes it.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Check OCP Maps 7 and 8 for your lot, or ask TNRD Planning (250-377-8673).\n2. If the tree is in a DPA, apply for a development permit through the District. The fee is $250 if issuance is delegated to staff or $500 if Council considers it (Development Procedures Bylaw No. 118, Schedule A).\n3. For a boulevard tree, ask the District office (250-674-2257) first.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- No development permit is needed to remove danger trees identified by a qualified arborist, to remove invasive plants, or for FireSmart work within 30 m of a structure. DPA 5 also exempts clearing land for agricultural purposes, and DPA 4 exempts removing hazardous trees on steep slopes.\n- There is no general tree replacement rule. In a DPA the District may require a security deposit of 125% of a qualified professional's cost estimate. On steep slopes, replanting must happen promptly where removal is needed for grading or construction.\n- **Fine:** topping or removing trees or plants on a boulevard without a permit is a municipal ticket of $100 ($75 if paid within 30 days). We found no ticket for cutting trees on private land.\n- The Bylaw 118 fees are from a 2014 schedule with a 2019 amendment, so a newer fee may apply.","sources":[{"url":"https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/107122/","title":"Official Community Plan (PDF, 2026), District of Clearwater","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.districtofclearwater.com/developers/planning-department/","title":"Planning Department, District of Clearwater","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/28336/","title":"Traffic and Use of Highways Bylaw No. 160, 2017 (PDF, consolidated)","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/28332/","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 221, 2019 (PDF, consolidated to September 2024)","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://districtofclearwater.civicweb.net/document/24118/","title":"Development Procedures Bylaw No. 118 (PDF), Schedule A fees","accessed":"2026-11-08"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-08","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 7 of 7 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clearwater/tree-removal/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clearwater/tree-removal.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clearwater/tree-removal.json"}}