Colwood tree removal rules and permits

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

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

Short answer

In Colwood you need a City Tree Management Permit to cut or remove a protected tree, such as an arbutus, Garry oak, Pacific dogwood or Pacific yew, or any tree 60 cm or more across. The application fee is $100 and replacement trees are required. Land in a development permit area may need a development permit too.

Key facts

When a permit is needed	A Tree Management Permit is needed to cut or remove a protected tree: arbutus, Garry oak, Pacific dogwood, Pacific yew (2 m tall or 4 cm thick); Douglas-fir, grand fir, bigleaf maple, western red cedar (30 cm DBH); any tree 60 cm DBH or more; wildlife trees. In an Environmental Development Permit Area you may also need a development permit before clearing land.Urban Forest Bylaw No. 1735 (consolidated to June 23, 2025), s. 4(1)(a), (f); Urban Forest Bylaw No. 1735 (consolidated to June 23, 2025), s. 1 'protected tree'; Tree Permits; Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1700 (consolidated to May 26, 2025), s. 18.2 General Regulations; s. 19.2 exemption (n) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording cut, damage, or remove any protected tree, or cause any protected tree to be cut, damaged or removed, except where permitted by and in accordance a tree of any of the following tree species that is 2.0 metres or more in height or 4.0 centimetres in diameter or more when measured 15 cm above natural grade a tree of any of the following tree species that has a DBH of 30 centimetres or more any tree having a DBH that is 60 centimetres or more a wildlife tree If the tree you are planning to remove is a protected tree, you will need to obtain a Tree Management Permit. Lands within an Environmental Development Permit shall not be cleared, blasted or built upon unless: removal of trees authorized by a tree management permit and is not located:
Exemptions	No permit needed for: a tree that is not protected; a hedge (five or more trees or shrubs under 5 m high, less than 1.25 m apart) on your parcel; normal pruning; farm operations; trees covered by a development permit; and a tree in danger of falling from natural causes (report to the City by the next business day with photos; replacement required).Urban Forest Bylaw No. 1735 (consolidated to June 23, 2025), s. 5(1); Urban Forest Bylaw No. 1735 (consolidated to June 23, 2025), s. 1 'hedge'; Urban Forest Bylaw No. 1735 (consolidated to June 23, 2025), s. 7(4) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording an owner is removing or pruning a hedge located on their parcel of land the tree cutting or removal is necessary for the purposes of farm operations as defined in the Farm Practices Protection (Right to Farm) Act a development permit has been issued which addresses the removal of the tree(s) means five or more trees or shrubs less than 5 metres high, and planted less than 1.25 metres apart the owner may cut the tree or have it cut, but shall report the cutting of the tree to the City within the next business day along with photographs of the tree prior to such cutting
Fee	$100 non-refundable application fee, credited against the permit fee. The fee is doubled if you cut or damage a protected tree before getting a permit. Replacement-tree security of $750 per tree is also required.Tree Permits; Urban Forest Bylaw No. 1735 (consolidated to June 23, 2025), Schedule A; Urban Forest Bylaw No. 1735 (consolidated to June 23, 2025), s. 8(2); Urban Forest Bylaw No. 1735 (consolidated to June 23, 2025), s. 12(4) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording The application fee for a Tree Management Permit is $100. Application Fee (non-refundable) $100 Security for Replacement Trees $750 per tree The application processing fee is non-refundable and shall be credited against the permit fee when the permit is issued. must pay an application fee equal to twice the amount prescribed in Schedule A upon applying for a tree management permit
Replacement trees	Replace 1:1 when removing 1 to 5 trees in a calendar year, 2:1 for more than 5, on the same lot. Replacement trees must be at least 1.5 m tall and native Coastal Douglas-fir species. Security is $750 per replacement tree, returned after the tree has survived a year. Cash in lieu is $750 per tree.Tree Permits, Planting replacement trees; Urban Forest Bylaw No. 1735 (consolidated to June 23, 2025), s. 9(2) Table 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording When removing one to five trees, they must be replaced at a 1:1 ratio. When removing more than five trees, they must be replaced at a 2:1 ratio. A security deposit of $750 per replacement tree is required. Replacement trees must be at least 1.5m in height and a native species found in Coastal Douglas-fir ecosystem. If replacement trees cannot be planted on the same lot, $750 cash in lieu per replacement tree is required 1 to 5 per calendar year 1:1 Required More than 5 per calendar year 2:1 Required
City trees	Do not cut or damage trees in a City park or on a beach unless City staff or authorized. Do not fasten signs to trees on City land or highways. If you wish to cut or remove a tree on public property, contact the City first. Report concerns about a City tree through Action Request or Public Works, 250-474-4133.Urban Forest Bylaw amendment, s. 4(1)(a); Urban Forest Bylaw No. 1735 (consolidated to June 23, 2025), s. 4(1)(e); Tree Permits · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Except for an employee of the City of Colwood in the performance of his or her duties, or any person authorized by the City, no person shall do any of the following in any park or on any beach cut, break, injure, remove or in any way destroy or damage any tree, sapling, shrub, plant, fasten any sign, notice or other object to, around, or through any tree or shrub If you are concerned about a City owned tree in a park or boulevard, use our online Action Request Form or call Colwood Public Works at 250-474-4133. If you wish to cut or remove a tree on public or private property, please contact the City first.
Fine	Urban Forest Bylaw, cut, damage or remove a protected tree. Bylaw notice: $500 per tree (no early-payment reduction; $500 per tree after 28 days). Municipal ticket: $1,000 per tree. A court can fine $1,000 to $10,000 per offence.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, Schedule B, Urban Forest Bylaw No. 1735; Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw, Schedule 19; Urban Forest Bylaw No. 1735 (consolidated to June 23, 2025), s. 13(3) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Cut, damage, or remove a 4(1)a $500.00 per N/N $500.00 per Cut, damage or remove a protected tree 4(1)a $1000 per tree a person shall be liable to pay a fine of not less than $1,000 and not more than $10,000
Bylaw	Urban Forest Bylaw No. 1735, 2018 (consolidated to June 23, 2025)Urban Forest Bylaw No. 1735 (consolidated to June 23, 2025), Whole bylaw · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording "Urban Forest Bylaw" No. 1735, 2018

How it works

Colwood's Urban Forest Bylaw 1735 requires a Tree Management Permit to cut or remove a protected tree, on private land and on City land (except City operations). Protected trees are:

Arbutus, Garry oak, Pacific dogwood and Pacific yew that are 2 m tall or 4 cm thick.
Douglas-fir, grand fir, bigleaf maple and western red cedar with a trunk diameter (DBH) of 30 cm or more.
Any tree with a DBH of 60 cm or more.
Wildlife trees.

DBH is the trunk diameter 1.4 m above the base.

The Official Community Plan adds a second layer. In an Environmental Development Permit Area you may need a development permit before clearing land. A tree removal authorized by a Tree Management Permit is exempt from that, unless the tree is in the Sensitive Ecosystem area or within 3 m of a slope of 30% or more in the Hillside area. Ask Planning whether your lot is affected.

Steps

Check whether your tree is protected. Call Development Services at 250-294-8153 or email planning@colwood.ca if unsure.
Prepare a Tree Site Plan (1 to 5 trees per calendar year) or a Tree Management Plan by a qualified professional (more than 5).
Submit the online application and pay the $100 fee.
Plant replacements on the same lot: 1 for 1 when removing 1 to 5 trees in a calendar year, 2 for 1 for more than 5. They must be native Coastal Douglas-fir species at least 1.5 m tall.
Pay $750 security per replacement tree. It is returned after the tree has survived a year.

Good to know

No permit is needed for a tree that is not protected, a hedge (five or more trees or shrubs under 5 m high, less than 1.25 m apart) on your parcel, farm operations, or trees covered by a development permit.
Normal pruning is exempt if done to sound arboricultural practice: no crown raising below 50% live crown ratio, no removal of more than 25% of the crown in a season, no topping and no structural root pruning.
A tree in danger of falling from natural causes needs no permit. Report it to the City by the next business day with photos; a replacement is required. The owner may be liable if the tree was not in danger of falling.
The application fee doubles if you cut or damage a protected tree before getting a permit.
Fines: a bylaw notice is $500 per tree; a municipal ticket is $1,000 per tree. A court can fine $1,000 to $10,000 per offence.
Do not cut or damage trees in a City park or on a beach. To remove a tree on public property, contact the City first. Report concerns about a City tree through Action Request or Public Works at 250-474-4133.

What you'll need

Tree Site Plan (1 to 5 trees per calendar year) or Tree Management Plan by a qualified professional (more than 5 trees)

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

View Royal · Esquimalt · Langford · Victoria · Metchosin · Highlands

Tree removal permits in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Tree Permits, City of Colwood (read 2026-11-05)
Urban Forest Bylaw No. 1735 (consolidated to June 23, 2025) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1700 (consolidated to May 26, 2025) (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Urban Forest Bylaw amendment (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)

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