---
title: Dawson Creek tree removal rules and permits
question: "Do I need permission to cut down a tree on my property?"
place: Dawson Creek, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/dawson-creek
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Dawson Creek
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dawson-creek/tree-removal/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dawson-creek/tree-removal.json"
---

# Dawson Creek tree removal rules and permits

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

**Short answer:** Dawson Creek has no bylaw that requires a permit to cut an ordinary private tree outside development permit areas. In the Natural Hazards area (flood-prone land, ravines, steep slopes) other cutting likely needs a development permit, so ask the City. City trees and park trees cannot be cut without permission.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Dawson Creek, https://www.dawsoncreek.ca)  
**Cost:** No fee specific to cutting a tree. If a development permit is needed, the fee is $489.16 in 2026, plus taxes.  
**Where:**
- Email: Parks, parks@dawsoncreek.ca
- Phone: 311 line (service requests and bylaw concerns), 311
- Phone: City Hall, 250-784-3600

## Key facts

- **When a permit is needed:** No bylaw requires a permit to cut an ordinary tree on private land outside development permit areas. In the Natural Hazards area (flood-prone land, ravines, steep slopes; Schedule J) a permit is needed for alteration of land, and only hazardous-tree and invasive-plant removal are exempt, so other cutting there likely needs one. Ask the City.
  - Source: [Official Community Plan Bylaw 4620, 2025, s. 10 intro](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/133605/)
  - Official wording: "the property owner is required to obtain a development permit prior to the subdivision of land, construction of, addition to or alteration of a building or structure on the land, or the alteration of land within a designated development permit area."
  - Source: [Official Community Plan Bylaw 4620, 2025, s. 10.1.1](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/133605/)
  - Official wording: "These include areas primarily prone to flooding, unstable or eroding lands extending along ravines, bluffs, rock faces and shorelines"
  - Source: [Development Permit Area Guidelines, August 2020, s. 1.1, 1.3(2)](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112553/)
  - Official wording: "Removal of a hazardous tree, as determined by a certified arbourist, that presents a danger to the safety of" … "The Local Government Act states that if a property is situated within a development permit area, the property owner"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Exemptions:** Per the August 2020 DPA Guidelines: in all development permit areas, a change in plant species or number with no loss of landscaped area needs no permit. In the Natural Hazards area, removing a hazardous tree (certified arborist) or invasive non-native vegetation replaced with native is exempt. Check the current exemptions with the City.
  - Source: [Development Permit Area Guidelines, August 2020, s. 1.3(2)](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112553/)
  - Official wording: "Removal of a hazardous tree, as determined by a certified arbourist, that presents a danger to the safety of person or is likely to damage public or private property" … "Removal of invasive, non-native vegetation provided it is replaced with native vegetation." … "f. Change in plant species or number which does not result in a loss of landscaped area; or" … "c. Removal of invasive, non-native vegetation provided it is replaced with native vegetation."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee:** No fee specific to cutting a tree. If a development permit is needed, the fee is $489.16 in 2026 ($498.95 in 2027), plus taxes.
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw 3932 (consolidated), Schedules E and F, Schedule L](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/136171)
  - Official wording: "Development Permit $479.57 $489.16 $498.95 $508.93"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Replacement trees:** No general replacement-tree rule for private land found. In the Natural Hazards area, replanting in riparian areas must be native species or follow the City Urban Forestry Policy, and removing invasive plants is exempt only if replaced with native vegetation.
  - Source: [Development Permit Area Guidelines, August 2020, s. 6.3.1 no. 18, 1.3(2)(c)](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112553/)
  - Official wording: "18. Any replanting in riparian areas must be native species or follow the City’s Urban Forestry Policy." … "c. Removal of invasive, non-native vegetation provided it is replaced with native vegetation."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **City trees:** No one may alter or injure a City tree (trim, remove, paint, change grade within the tree protection zone, etc.) without written permission from the City's Parks Manager. In a park, no one may cut, remove or damage any tree or shrub unless authorized by the Chief Administrative Officer.
  - Source: [Property Maintenance Bylaw 4190 (consolidated), s. 3.16](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112534)
  - Official wording: "No person will alter or injure a City tree in any way unless written permission is given by the City’s Parks Manager"
  - Source: [Parks Bylaw 4371 (consolidated), s. 11.1](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/134610)
  - Official wording: "a person must not deface, cut, remove, destroy or damage any tree, shrub, flower bed, or the grass, within a park."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** No ticket found for cutting a private tree without a permit. Damaging a City tree (Property Maintenance Bylaw s. 3.16): bylaw notice $175 ($150 if paid within 14 days; $250 late). Damaging park vegetation (Parks Bylaw s. 11.1): bylaw notice $150 ($100 early, $200 late); municipal ticket $1,000.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 4277, Schedule B](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112178)
  - Official wording: "4190 3.16 Damage a tree 175 150 250 No" … "4371 11.1 Damage vegetation 150 100 200 No"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw 4278, Schedule S](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112527)
  - Official wording: "4371 11.1 Damage vegetation 1000"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 4190, 2013 (City trees, s. 3.16-3.17); Parks Bylaw No. 4371, 2018 (s. 11); OCP Bylaw No. 4620, 2025 s. 10 and Development Permit Area Guidelines (August 2020) (development permit areas).
  - Source: [Property Maintenance Bylaw 4190 (consolidated), Title](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112534)
  - Official wording: "Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 4190, 2013"
  - Source: [Parks Bylaw 4371 (consolidated), Title](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/134610)
  - Official wording: "Parks Bylaw No. 4371, 2018"
  - Source: [Official Community Plan Bylaw 4620, 2025, Page footer](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/133605/)
  - Official wording: "City of Dawson Creek Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 4620, 2025"
  - Source: [Zoning Bylaw 4625, s. 2.2.2](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/143791)
  - Official wording: "The requirements of the Development Permit Areas included within the Official"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

No City bylaw we read requires a permit to cut an ordinary tree on private land outside development permit areas. The Natural Hazards development permit area (flood-prone land, ravines and steep slopes, mapped in Schedule J of the [Official Community Plan](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/133605/)) is different. A permit is needed there for alteration of land, and the [2020 guidelines](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112553/) exempt only removing a hazardous tree (certified by an arborist) or invasive non-native vegetation replaced with native plants. Other cutting there likely needs a development permit. The OCP says the current exemptions are in an appendix to the repealed Zoning Bylaw 4582, so the exemptions are unclear. Ask the City.

## Steps

1. Work out whether the tree is on your lot or on City land such as the boulevard.
2. For a City tree, email parks@dawsoncreek.ca before touching it.
3. For a tree on your lot, ask the City Planner (City Hall, 250-784-3600) whether your land is in a development permit area.

## Good to know

- No one may alter or injure a City tree (trim, remove, paint, change grade within its tree protection zone) without written permission from the Parks Manager ([Property Maintenance Bylaw 4190](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112534), s. 3.16). In a park, no one may cut, remove or damage any tree or shrub unless authorized by the Chief Administrative Officer ([Parks Bylaw 4371](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/134610), s. 11.1).
- Damaging a City tree: bylaw notice $175 ($150 if paid within 14 days, $250 late). Damaging park vegetation: bylaw notice $150 ($100 early, $200 late) or municipal ticket $1,000. No ticket was found for cutting a private tree.
- No general replacement-tree rule was found for private land. In the Natural Hazards area, replanting must be native species.
- Trees that obstruct public safety, traffic view or hydrants are banned (Bylaw 4190, s. 3.15).

## Official forms and pages

- [Property Maintenance Bylaw 4190 (PDF)](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112534)
- [Parks Bylaw 4371 (PDF)](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/134610)
- [Development Permit Area Guidelines, August 2020 (PDF)](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112553/)

## Related questions

- [Dawson Creek fence rules: permits and height limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dawson-creek/fence-rules.md)
- [Dawson Creek zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dawson-creek/zoning-lookup.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Tree removal permits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tree-removal.md)
- [Pouce Coupe](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/pouce-coupe/tree-removal.md)
- [Fort St. John](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-john/tree-removal.md)
- [Tumbler Ridge](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tumbler-ridge/tree-removal.md)
- [Prince George](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/tree-removal.md)
- [Fort St James](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-james/tree-removal.md)
- [Wells](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/wells/tree-removal.md)

## Sources

- [Property Maintenance Bylaw 4190 (consolidated)](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112534) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Parks Bylaw 4371 (consolidated)](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/134610) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Building and Renovating, City of Dawson Creek](https://www.dawsoncreek.ca/business-development/building-and-renovating/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Official Community Plan Bylaw 4620, 2025 (PDF)](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/133605/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Development Permit Area Guidelines, August 2020 (PDF)](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112553/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw 3932 (consolidated), Schedules E and F (PDF)](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/136171) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 4277, Schedule B](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112178) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw 4278, Schedule S](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/112527) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Zoning Bylaw 4625](https://dawsoncreek.civicweb.net/document/143791) (read 2026-11-05)

_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 City of Dawson Creek. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/dawson-creek/tree-removal/_