Fernie tree removal rules and permits

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

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

Short answer

The City of Fernie has no readable City-wide tree permit rule. Under its Official Community Plan, cutting trees counts as development, so a development permit is needed in watercourse areas (15 m, or 30 m on named creeks) and in hazard lands, including avalanche and flood areas. Park trees are protected.

Key facts

When a permit is needed	No City-wide tree permit was found, but the OCP counts tree cutting and vegetation removal as 'development'. A development permit is needed in watercourse protection areas (15 m, or 30 m on the Elk River, Coal Creek, Lizard Creek and Fairy Creek) and in Hazard Lands areas: steep slopes, avalanche (Schedule K) and flood (Schedule L).Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2231, 2014, Definitions; 9-C.1; 9-C.1.1; 9-C.2.2; Development Permits, When a Development Permit is required · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Development: includes, but is not limited to: d) tree cutting; a) site clearing or removal of vegetation; All development, including any disturbance to or clearing of existing soils and vegetation, within the watercourse protection area (see Table 3) requires a Watercourse Protection Development Permit. A Hazard Lands Development Permit is required for any development within 15 metres from either the toe or crest of a steep slope greater than 15% 9-C.2.19 No development is permitted on lands designated in Schedule ‘K’ without a Hazards Lands 9-C.2.21 No development of lands designated in Schedule ‘L’ permitted unless in accordance with 2) for parcels located on or adjacent to the Elk River, Coal Creek, Lizard Creek or Fairy Creek, The Official Community Plan (OCP) includes a series of maps (Schedules I to P) highlighting seven Development Areas that require a permit for construction or land alteration.
Exemptions	Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read.
Fee	No tree-removal permit fee is set. If a development permit is needed: Watercourse Protection permit $600 (parcel 1,400 m² or less) or $1,000 (larger); Hazard Lands steep slope or avalanche permit $600 (minor) or $1,000 (major).Land Use Application Procedures and Fees Bylaw No. 2530, 2025, Appendix A · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Watercourse Protection Development Permit (Minor) $600.00 Watercourse Protection Development Permit (Major) $1000.00 Hazard Lands Development Permit – Steep Slopes or Avalanche (Minor) $600.00 Hazard Lands Development Permit – Steep Slopes or Avalanche (Major) $1000.00 The fee for a Development Permit (Retroactive) shall be double the applicable fee as
Replacement trees	No set replacement-tree rule. In a watercourse protection permit, the City may require trees or vegetation to be planted or retained, or riparian replanting, as conditions. It may also require security to ensure landscaping conditions are met.Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2231, 2014, 9-C.1.7; 9-C.1.9(4); 9-C.v · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording jurisdiction may require vegetation or trees to be planted or retained in order to control that the development permit applicant provide security to ensure that conditions respecting
City trees	Parks and municipal facilities: no person may deface, cut, remove, destroy or damage a tree or shrub in any park or municipal facility (Bylaw 2484, s. 9.1(b)). No boulevard tree rule was found; trees or shrubs placed on City land are encroachments needing an Encroachment Agreement.Encroachment Bylaw No. 2460, 2022, Definitions; Prohibitions; Municipal Facilities and Parks User Regulation and Fees Bylaw No. 2484, 2023, Part 9, s. 9.1(b) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Shrubs, trees, or other organic materials means collectively or individually, a road, reserve Parcel, or City owned parcel All Encroachments within the City of Fernie shall be deemed to be prohibited and unauthorized unless an Encroachment Agreement is in place b) Deface, cut, remove, destroy, or damage a tree, shrub, structure, building, or other things,
Fine	Not confirmed. No ticket amount for cutting a private tree without a development permit is listed.
Bylaw	Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2231, 2014 (development permit areas, where tree cutting counts as development). The City also lists Dangerous Tree Removal Bylaw No. 1397, 1985, whose text could not be read.Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2231, 2014, Title page; Bylaws, Bylaws list · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording BYLAW NO. 2231, 2014 Dangerous Tree Removal Bylaw No. 1397, 1985

How it works

The City of Fernie lists no tree protection bylaw that could be read. The one tree bylaw on its list, Dangerous Tree Removal Bylaw No. 1397 (1985), is a scanned document whose text could not be read, so this answer does not describe it. The Official Community Plan (a policy bylaw) counts tree cutting and vegetation removal as "development". A development permit is therefore needed in:

Watercourse protection areas: 15 m from a watercourse, or 30 m on the Elk River, Coal Creek, Lizard Creek and Fairy Creek.
Hazard Lands areas: steep slopes, avalanche areas (OCP Schedule K) and flood areas (Schedule L).

Steps

Check OCP Schedules I (watercourses), J (slope), K (avalanche) and L (flood) to see whether your lot is in a Development Permit Area.
If it is, contact Planning (planning@fernie.ca) before cutting and apply for the development permit.
If it is not, no City-wide tree permit was found. Ask Bylaw Services (250-423-2244) before you cut, including for any hazard tree.

Good to know

Fees: the sources set no fee for cutting a tree. A permit applied for after work has begun is a retroactive permit at double the fee. Floodplain permits are $400 (minor) or $600 (major).
Replacement: there is no set replacement-tree rule. In a watercourse permit the City may require trees or vegetation to be planted or kept, or riparian replanting, and may require security to ensure landscaping conditions are met.
Park trees: under Bylaw 2484 s. 9.1(b), no one may deface, cut, remove, destroy or damage a tree or shrub in a park or municipal facility. The municipal ticket under Bylaw 2041 is $1,000.
City boulevards: no boulevard tree rule was found. Trees or shrubs placed on City land are encroachments needing an Encroachment Agreement. Contact Bylaw Services before cutting or planting there.
No ticket amount for cutting a private tree without a development permit is listed.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Sparwood · Cranbrook · Elkford · Kimberley · Canal Flats · Creston

Tree removal permits in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2231, 2014 (PDF), City of Fernie (read 2026-11-05)
Development Permits, City of Fernie (read 2026-11-05)
Land Use Application Procedures and Fees Bylaw No. 2530, 2025 (PDF), City of Fernie (read 2026-11-05)
Municipal Facilities and Parks User Regulation and Fees Bylaw No. 2484, 2023 (PDF), City of Fernie (read 2026-11-05)
Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw 2041 (PDF), City of Fernie (read 2026-11-05)
Encroachment Bylaw No. 2460, 2022 (PDF), City of Fernie (read 2026-11-05)
Bylaw Services, City of Fernie (read 2026-11-05)
Bylaws, City of Fernie document library (read 2026-11-05)

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.