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

# Creston tree removal rules and permits

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

**Short answer:** Creston has no tree-cutting bylaw. But clearing land in the mapped wildfire and environmentally sensitive areas can need a development permit under the Official Community Plan. Ask Town staff before cutting even one tree.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Town of Creston, https://www.creston.ca)  
**Cost:** No tree permit fee. A development permit, if needed, costs $200 (value under $100,000) or $500 (over $100,000).  
**How long:** The Town states no processing time.  
**Where:**
- In person: Town Hall, 238 - 10th Ave. N., Creston, BC (Pay in person Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
- Phone: Town Hall, 250-428-2214
- Email: Development Services, communityservices@creston.ca

## Key facts

- **When a permit is needed:** The Town has no tree-cutting bylaw. But the OCP counts land alteration, which includes clearing (vegetation removal), as development needing a development permit in the Wildfire Protection and Environmentally Sensitive (Dodd's Creek, Glaser-King Creeks) areas shown on Schedule B, unless an exception applies. Ask staff about a single tree.
  - Source: [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1854, Part VI Development Permit Areas, introduction; Definitions](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/Official%20Community%20Plan-1854.pdf)
  - Official wording: "c) land within an area designated under Section 488 (1)(a) or (b) [natural environment, hazardous conditions] must not be altered;" … "clearing (the act of vegetation removal from the land surface)" … "shall be subject to approval for Development Permit in accordance"
  - Source: [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1854, DPA 1 s. 2.1; DPA 2 s. 3.1](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/Official%20Community%20Plan-1854.pdf)
  - Official wording: "All development within those areas designated as Wildfire Protection DPA" … "All development within those areas designated as Environmentally Sensitive Lands"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Exemptions:** In DPA 1 and 2, no permit is needed for: temporary emergency procedures against immediate threats to life or property (owner notifies the Town); removing invasive non-native vegetation without pesticides (owner notifies the Town); restoration planting; municipal works; ALR farm use with a farm plan. DPA 2 only: under 20% of the lot within 15 m of a watercourse and no land alteration within 60 m.
  - Source: [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1854, Part VI, Exceptions s. 1.1](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/Official%20Community%20Plan-1854.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Development Permits are not required for DPA 1 or DPA 2 under the following conditions:" … "Removal of invasive non-native vegetation provided that removal does not include the use of pesticides" … "For DPA 2 only, where less than 20% of the Property is located within 15m of the Natural Boundary" … "Temporary emergency procedures to" … "prevent, control or reduce flooding, erosion"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee:** Development permit fee: $200 (value under $100,000) or $500 (over $100,000). No separate tree permit fee exists.
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1763 (PDF, consolidated to May 12, 2026), Schedule 7A](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/Fees%20and%20Charges-1763.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Development Permit < $100,000 value $200.00 >$100,000 value $500.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Replacement trees:** No tree-specific replacement rule. A development permit in the environmentally sensitive area needs a landscape plan showing trees and vegetation to be planted or retained, and the Town may attach conditions including security.
  - Source: [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1854, OCP DPA 2 s. 3.3.6; Part VI Introduction](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/Official%20Community%20Plan-1854.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Particular attention shall be given" … "to vegetation or trees to be planted or"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **City trees:** On streets, only an authorized Town officer or employee may dig up, remove, injure or destroy trees, flowers or shrubbery. In parks and other public spaces no one may deface, damage or destroy a natural feature (Bylaw No. 2030 s. 6.3.5).
  - Source: [Traffic Regulations Bylaw No. 1546, Part 8, s. 24](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2025-12/Traffic%20Regulations-1546.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No person other than a duly authorized Officer or employee of the Town acting in pursuance of his duties shall dig up or in any manner remove, injure or destroy any trees, flower, foliage"
  - Source: [Parks, Trails and Public Spaces Bylaw No. 2030, s. 6.3, 6.3.5](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2025-12/Parks%20Trails%20and%20Public%20Spaces-2030.pdf)
  - Official wording: "deface, damage, break, destroy, or impair any property, structure, or natural"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Removing trees or foliage on a street: $75 bylaw notice ($50 if paid early, $100 late). No ticket specific to cutting trees on private land was found.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1760, Schedule A, Traffic Regulations Bylaw No. 1546, Part 8 s. 24](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2026-04/Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Remove trees or foliage $75.00 $50.00 $100.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** No tree bylaw. Development permit rules are in Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1854, 2017 (Part VI); street trees are covered by Traffic Regulations Bylaw No. 1546.
  - Source: [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1854, s. 1.1](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/Official%20Community%20Plan-1854.pdf)
  - Official wording: "This bylaw may be cited as “Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1854, 2017”."
  - Source: [Traffic Regulations Bylaw No. 1546, Part 8, s. 24](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2025-12/Traffic%20Regulations-1546.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No person other than a duly authorized Officer or employee of the Town"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The Town has no tree-cutting bylaw, and the zoning bylaw has no tree rules. The [Official Community Plan No. 1854](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/Official%20Community%20Plan-1854.pdf) (Part VI) counts "land alteration", which includes clearing (vegetation removal), as development needing a development permit in the Wildfire Protection area and the Environmentally Sensitive areas (Dodd's Creek and Glaser-King Creeks) shown on Schedule B, unless an exception applies. Whether one tree counts is a question for staff.

In those areas, no permit is needed for:

- temporary emergency steps against an immediate threat to life or property (the owner notifies the Town)
- removing invasive non-native vegetation without pesticides (the owner notifies the Town)
- restoration planting
- municipal works
- farm use in the ALR with a farm plan
- in the Environmentally Sensitive area only: under 20% of the lot within 15 m of a watercourse and no land alteration within 60 m

## Steps

1. Ask Development Services (250-428-2214, communityservices@creston.ca) whether your lot is in a mapped development permit area.
2. If it is, apply for a development permit. It needs a landscape plan showing trees and vegetation to be planted or retained, and the Town may attach conditions including security.
3. Cut only after the permit is issued.

## Good to know

- A development permit costs $200 (value under $100,000) or $500 (over $100,000). There is no separate tree permit fee.
- On streets, only an authorized Town officer or employee may dig up, remove, injure or destroy trees, flowers or shrubbery ([Traffic Regulations Bylaw No. 1546](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2025-12/Traffic%20Regulations-1546.pdf)). Removing trees or foliage on a street is a $75 bylaw notice ($50 if paid early, $100 late). In parks no one may deface, damage or destroy a natural feature ([Bylaw No. 2030](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2025-12/Parks%20Trails%20and%20Public%20Spaces-2030.pdf) s. 6.3.5).
- No ticket specific to cutting trees on private land was found. A conviction under the Building Bylaw is $2,500 to $10,000 but is not specific to trees.

## Official forms and pages

- [Development Permits, Town of Creston](https://www.creston.ca/development-permits)
- [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1854 (PDF)](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/Official%20Community%20Plan-1854.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Creston zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Creston building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/building-permit.md)
- [Creston unsightly property rules and how to report](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/unsightly-property.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Tree removal permits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tree-removal.md)
- [Kimberley](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/tree-removal.md)
- [Cranbrook](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cranbrook/tree-removal.md)
- [Fruitvale](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fruitvale/tree-removal.md)
- [Nelson](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nelson/tree-removal.md)
- [Montrose](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/montrose/tree-removal.md)
- [Castlegar](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/tree-removal.md)

## Sources

- [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1854 (PDF)](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/Official%20Community%20Plan-1854.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Development Permits, Town of Creston](https://www.creston.ca/development-permits) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1763 (PDF, consolidated to May 12, 2026)](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2026-06/Fees%20and%20Charges-1763.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Traffic Regulations Bylaw No. 1546 (PDF)](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2025-12/Traffic%20Regulations-1546.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Parks, Trails and Public Spaces Bylaw No. 2030 (PDF)](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2025-12/Parks%20Trails%20and%20Public%20Spaces-2030.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1760 (PDF)](https://www.creston.ca/sites/default/files/2026-04/Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement.pdf) (read 2026-11-06)

_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 Town of Creston. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/tree-removal/_