Creston tree removal rules and permits

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

Creston, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-06

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.

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.Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1854, Part VI Development Permit Areas, introduction; Definitions; Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1854, DPA 1 s. 2.1; DPA 2 s. 3.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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 All development within those areas designated as Wildfire Protection DPA All development within those areas designated as Environmentally Sensitive Lands
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.Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1854, Part VI, Exceptions s. 1.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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
Fee	Development permit fee: $200 (value under $100,000) or $500 (over $100,000). No separate tree permit fee exists.Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1763 (PDF, consolidated to May 12, 2026), Schedule 7A · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Development Permit < $100,000 value $200.00 >$100,000 value $500.00
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.Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1854, OCP DPA 2 s. 3.3.6; Part VI Introduction · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Particular attention shall be given to vegetation or trees to be planted or
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).Traffic Regulations Bylaw No. 1546, Part 8, s. 24; Parks, Trails and Public Spaces Bylaw No. 2030, s. 6.3, 6.3.5 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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 deface, damage, break, destroy, or impair any property, structure, or natural
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.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1760, Schedule A, Traffic Regulations Bylaw No. 1546, Part 8 s. 24 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Remove trees or foliage $75.00 $50.00 $100.00
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.Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1854, s. 1.1; Traffic Regulations Bylaw No. 1546, Part 8, s. 24 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording This bylaw may be cited as “Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1854, 2017”. No person other than a duly authorized Officer or employee of the Town

How it works

The Town has no tree-cutting bylaw, and the zoning bylaw has no tree rules. The Official Community Plan No. 1854 (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

Ask Development Services (250-428-2214, communityservices@creston.ca) whether your lot is in a mapped development permit area.
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.
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). 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 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

The same question in other places

Kimberley · Cranbrook · Fruitvale · Nelson · Montrose · Castlegar

Tree removal permits in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1854 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
Development Permits, Town of Creston (read 2026-11-06)
Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1763 (PDF, consolidated to May 12, 2026) (read 2026-11-06)
Traffic Regulations Bylaw No. 1546 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
Parks, Trails and Public Spaces Bylaw No. 2030 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1760 (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. How answers are checked.