---
title: Coldstream tree removal rules and permits
question: "Do I need permission to cut down a tree on my property in Coldstream?"
place: Coldstream, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/coldstream
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Coldstream
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coldstream/tree-removal/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coldstream/tree-removal.json"
---

# Coldstream tree removal rules and permits

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

**Short answer:** In Coldstream you need a District permit to cut a protected tree over 5 m tall on a parcel of 0.5 ha or more outside the Agricultural Land Reserve. A development permit is also needed to clear vegetation in a riparian area or within 30 m of a watercourse or wetland.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Coldstream, https://www.coldstream.ca)  
**Cost:** No tree cutting permit fee was found in the Tree Management Bylaw or the Miscellaneous Fees and Charges Bylaw.  
**How long:** Not stated in the bylaw. Ask Planning.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Planning and Development, 250-545-5304
- Email: Planning and Development, planner@coldstream.ca
- In person: Municipal Hall, 9901 Kalamalka Road, Coldstream, BC V1B 1L6 (Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **When a permit is needed:** A permit is needed to cut a protected tree over 5 m tall (Douglas-fir, ponderosa or lodgepole pine, western red cedar, western larch, western hemlock, subalpine fir, Engelmann spruce). Parcels under 0.5 ha and ALR land are exempt. On larger parcels up to 2 a year need no permit; on slopes over 25% any tree over 5 m needs one. A development permit is also needed to clear vegetation in a riparian area or within 30 m of a watercourse or wetland (OCP).
  - Source: [Tree Management Bylaw No. 1198, 1995, ss. 2, 3, 4, 5](https://coldstream.civicweb.net/document/1876/)
  - Official wording: "that is greater than five (5) meters in height;" … "No person shall cut down or caused to be cut down a protected tree without first obtaining a permit issued pursuant to this bylaw." … "any parcel less than 0.5 hectares in size;" … "a person may without a permit cut a maximum of two (2) protected trees in one calendar year on any parcel having an area in excess of 0.5 hectares." … "no person shall, without first obtaining a permit, cut down any tree greater than five (5) meters in height, growing on any parcel of land within a Steep Slope Area."
  - Source: [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1855, s. 17, OCP s. 17](https://coldstream.civicweb.net/document/31939/)
  - Official wording: "clearing of vegetation within a riparian area (unless otherwise exempt);" … "land within 30 m of a watercourse or wetland."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Exemptions:** Exempt: land in the Agricultural Land Reserve, parcels under 0.5 ha, trees posing an imminent danger or hazard to persons or property, diseased or infested trees that threaten other trees, parks, highways, District rights of way, and managed forest land.
  - Source: [Tree Management Bylaw No. 1198, 1995, s. 4.a](https://coldstream.civicweb.net/document/1876/)
  - Official wording: "to a tree on land that is included within the Agricultural Land Reserve" … "to any tree that constitutes an imminent danger or hazard to persons or property;" … "to any tree which is diseased or infested with parasites and which threatens the health of other trees." … "any parcel less than 0.5 hectares in size;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee:** Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read.
- **Replacement trees:** A tree cut or damaged in violation of the bylaw or a permit must be replaced within three months by a tree planted and maintained on the same parcel. A permit application needs an arborist or forester report, and protective barriers must be put up around retained trees.
  - Source: [Tree Management Bylaw No. 1198, 1995, ss. 6, 9](https://coldstream.civicweb.net/document/1876/)
  - Official wording: "that tree shall be replaced within three months by a tree planted and maintained on the same parcel." … "be accompanied by a report by an arborist or registered forester certifying that the proposed cutting down of protected trees" … "protective barriers surrounding trees to be retained shall be installed before tree cutting;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **City trees:** The Tree Management Bylaw does not apply to parks or highways. In a park, no one may cut, remove or damage a tree without a permit (Parks Bylaw s. 7.1). On a highway, trees may not be cut or removed without a road usage permit ($50). Planting trees in a boulevard needs the District's written permission. Branches must be 2.75 m above a highway.
  - Source: [Tree Management Bylaw No. 1198, 1995, s. 4.a(1), (4)](https://coldstream.civicweb.net/document/1876/)
  - Official wording: "to highways, the soil and freehold of which are vested in the Crown or title to which is registered in the name of the District;"
  - Source: [Traffic and Highway Regulation Bylaw No. 1549, 2009, ss. 14.b, 15.b](https://coldstream.civicweb.net/document/530/)
  - Official wording: "or cut down or remove trees or timber growing on a highway" … "cut down or remove trees, grass, shrubs, plants, bushes and hedges, fences, signs or other things erected by the District on a highway;" … "trees or shrubs on such property to extend over the highway at a height of less than 2.75"
  - Source: [Parks and Public Spaces Regulation Bylaw No. 1651, Parks and Public Spaces Regulation Bylaw No. 1651, s. 7.1(g)](https://coldstream.civicweb.net/document/87200/)
  - Official wording: "deface, cut, remove, destroy, or damage any tree, shrub, plant, object, structure, water" … "Except as authorized by a permit, and strictly in accordance with any conditions, restrictions,"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** A fine of up to $2,000 for each offence; each day is a separate offence and each tree cut is a separate offence. No fixed ticket amount for Bylaw No. 1198 appears in the District's ticketing schedules.
  - Source: [Tree Management Bylaw No. 1198, 1995, s. 10](https://coldstream.civicweb.net/document/1876/)
  - Official wording: "Every person who commits an offence against this bylaw is liable to a fine of not more than $2,000.00 for each offence." … "Where more than one tree is cut down, removed or damaged in violation of this bylaw, a separate offence is committed in respect of each tree."
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Utilization Bylaw No. 1598, Schedule 5](https://coldstream.civicweb.net/document/2314/)
  - Official wording: "BYLAW NO. 1549, 2009 SECTION FINE 1. Over-height tree/shrub/plant/fence 14.a. $100.00 2. Tree/shrub over highway 14.b. $100.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Tree Management Bylaw No. 1198, 1995
  - Source: [Tree Management Bylaw No. 1198, 1995, s. 1](https://coldstream.civicweb.net/document/1876/)
  - Official wording: "THE CORPORATION OF THE DISTRICT OF COLDSTREAM TREE MANAGEMENT BYLAW NO. 1198, 1995"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The District's [Tree Management Bylaw No. 1198](https://coldstream.civicweb.net/document/1876/) dates from 1995. Two sets of rules apply: the tree bylaw, and the development permit areas in the Official Community Plan (Bylaw 1855).

**Tree bylaw.** A permit is needed to cut a protected tree over 5 m tall: Douglas-fir, ponderosa or lodgepole pine, western red cedar, western larch, western hemlock, subalpine fir or Engelmann spruce. Parcels under 0.5 ha and land in the Agricultural Land Reserve are exempt. On larger parcels up to 2 trees a year need no permit, and permit-based cutting is limited to 10% of the parcel area per year. On slopes over 25%, any tree over 5 m needs a permit.

**OCP.** A development permit is also needed to clear vegetation in a riparian area or within 30 m of a watercourse or wetland. The Geotechnical Hazard area (slopes of 20% or more) asks for a tree management plan to remove mature trees.

## Steps

1. Check the species, height, parcel size and slope, and whether the land is in the ALR.
2. Call Planning on 250-545-5304 before cutting near water or on a slope.
3. Apply for a permit. The application needs an arborist or forester report, and protective barriers must go up around retained trees.
4. Replace any tree cut or damaged in violation of the bylaw or a permit, within three months, with a tree planted and maintained on the same parcel.

## Good to know

- Also exempt: trees posing an imminent danger or hazard to persons or property, diseased or infested trees that threaten other trees, parks, highways, District rights of way, and managed forest land.
- The bylaw does not apply to parks or highways. In a park, no one may cut, remove or damage a tree without a permit (Parks and Public Spaces Regulation Bylaw s. 7.1). On a highway, trees may not be cut or removed without a road usage permit ($50). Planting in a boulevard needs the District's written permission.
- The fine is up to $2,000 for each offence. Each day and each tree cut counts as a separate offence. No fixed ticket amount for this bylaw appears in the District's ticketing schedules.
- The bylaw refers to the old Zoning Bylaw No. 931, 1986, so confirm current rules with Planning.

## Official forms and pages

- [Tree Management Bylaw No. 1198, 1995](https://coldstream.civicweb.net/document/1876/)

## Related questions

- [Coldstream zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coldstream/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Coldstream fence rules: permits and height limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coldstream/fence-rules.md)
- [Coldstream bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coldstream/bylaw-fines.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Tree removal permits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tree-removal.md)
- [Vernon](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vernon/tree-removal.md)
- [Lumby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lumby/tree-removal.md)
- [Lake Country](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/tree-removal.md)
- [Spallumcheen](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/spallumcheen/tree-removal.md)
- [Armstrong](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/tree-removal.md)
- [Kelowna](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kelowna/tree-removal.md)

## Sources

- [Tree Management Bylaw No. 1198, 1995, District of Coldstream](https://coldstream.civicweb.net/document/1876/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1855, s. 17, District of Coldstream](https://coldstream.civicweb.net/document/31939/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Traffic and Highway Regulation Bylaw No. 1549, 2009, District of Coldstream](https://coldstream.civicweb.net/document/530/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Parks and Public Spaces Regulation Bylaw No. 1651, District of Coldstream](https://coldstream.civicweb.net/document/87200/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Utilization Bylaw No. 1598, District of Coldstream](https://coldstream.civicweb.net/document/2314/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Contact Directory, District of Coldstream](https://www.coldstream.ca/municipal-hall/contact-directory) (read 2026-11-06)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 7 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with District of Coldstream. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coldstream/tree-removal/_