Cumberland tree removal rules and permits
Do I need permission to cut down a tree on my property?
The Village of Cumberland has no tree protection bylaw, and its Official Community Plan lists adopting one as an action. Inside a development permit area, land cannot be altered without a development permit, so ask Planning whether your lot is in one.
Key facts
| When a permit is needed | No tree protection bylaw (the OCP lists adopting one as an action). Inside OCP development permit areas, such as DPA 1 (30 m strips along streams, sensitive ecosystems, connectivity areas, Map E), land cannot be altered without a development permit; arborist-certified hazardous trees are exempt. Ask Planning if your lot is in one.Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1230, 2025, OCP s. 11, DPA 1; Bylaw Directory · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingLand within the DPA 1 designated area must not be subdivided or altered, and the construction of, addition to or alteration of a building or other structure must not be started unless the owner has obtained an environmental protection development permit or unless one or several of the following Adopt a Tree Protection Bylaw to increase tree retention and replacement on private property. for a stream, a 30 metre strip on both sides of the stream measured from the high water mark; Removal of trees deemed hazardous by a certified Arborist or Registered Professional Forester Please email Village staff for assistance or call 250-336-2291 for copies of bylaws not listed here. |
|---|---|
| Exemptions | In DPA 1: removal of trees judged hazardous by a certified arborist or Registered Professional Forester that pose an imminent threat to buildings or life safety (a hazard tree with an eagle or heron nest also needs a Wildlife Act permit); normal farm practices; forest management on forest-classed land.Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1230, 2025, OCP DPA 1, D. Exemptions s. 7; Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1230, 2025, OCP DPA 1, D. Exemptions s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingRemoval of trees deemed hazardous by a certified Arborist or Registered Professional Forester that pose an imminent threat to buildings or life safety. Normal farm practices under the Farm Practices Protection (Right to Farm) Act. |
| Fee | Not confirmed. The Village's site does not state a tree-cutting fee or fine. |
| Replacement trees | Only where a DPA 1 development permit applies: disturbed areas in the streamside protection area, restricted development areas and buffers must be restored under a restoration plan from a qualified environmental professional, replanting native trees, shrubs and groundcover. Replacement trees must be native or approved by the Village.Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1230, 2025, OCP s. 11.5 DPA 1, Guidelines 5 (Ecosystem Restoration and Enhancement) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingmust be restored in accordance with a restoration plan provided by a QEP. Replacement trees must be species native to the area or as approved by the Village. |
| City trees | The Village's Building brochure says boulevard and street trees must be protected during construction, and that Village bylaws make the adjacent property owner responsible for their care and liable for damage to them.Building brochure, Building in Cumberland brochure (2025), Protection of Boulevards and Street Trees · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingand street trees need to be protected. in the hands of the adjacent property owner |
| Fine | Not confirmed. The Village's site does not state a tree-cutting fee or fine. |
| Bylaw | Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1230, 2025 (development permit areas)Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1230, 2025, Title page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingVillage of Cumberland Official Community Plan Bylaw No.1230, 2025 |
How it works
The Village has no separate tree protection or tree removal bylaw listed in its Bylaw Directory. The Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1230 lists adopting one as an action.
The plan does set development permit areas. Inside one, such as DPA 1 (30 m strips along streams, sensitive ecosystems and connectivity areas on Map E), land cannot be altered without a development permit. The plan says activities such as tree removal "may be subject to Village bylaws", so whether cutting a tree counts is for staff to say.
In DPA 1 these are exempt: removing trees judged hazardous by a certified arborist or Registered Professional Forester that pose an imminent threat to buildings or life safety; normal farm practices; and forest management on forest-classed land. A hazard tree with an eagle or heron nest also needs a Wildlife Act permit.
Steps
- Ask Planning (planning@cumberland.ca or 250-336-2291) whether your lot is in a development permit area. Maps are on the Official Community Plan page.
- If it is, ask whether the tree work needs a development permit.
- For a hazardous tree, get an arborist's written assessment first.
Good to know
- Where a DPA 1 permit applies, disturbed areas must be restored under a plan from a qualified environmental professional, replanting native trees, shrubs and groundcover. Replacement trees must be native or approved by the Village.
- The Village's Building brochure says boulevard and street trees must be protected during construction, and that Village bylaws make the adjacent property owner responsible for their care and liable for damage.
- The site does not state a tree-cutting fee or fine.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Courtenay · Comox · Campbell River · Powell River · Port Alberni · Qualicum Beach
Sources
- Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1230, 2025 (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
- Bylaw Directory, Village of Cumberland (read 2026-11-08)
- Building brochure, Village of Cumberland (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 7 facts was matched to the official text; 2 could not be confirmed. How answers are checked.