---
title: Fraser Lake tree removal rules and permits
question: "Do I need permission to cut down a tree on my property in Fraser Lake?"
place: Fraser Lake, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/fraser-lake
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: Village of Fraser Lake
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fraser-lake/tree-removal/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fraser-lake/tree-removal.json"
---

# Fraser Lake tree removal rules and permits

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

**Short answer:** In Fraser Lake you need a Village permit to cut and dispose of any tree more than 10 cm in diameter, measured 1.4 m above the ground, on private or Village land. Trees 10 cm or less are exempt. The Village may require replacement trees.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Village of Fraser Lake, https://www.fraserlake.ca)  
**Cost:** No tree permit fee appears in the Village's Fees and Charges bylaw or on its Tree Cutting Permit page.  
**How long:** The bylaw and web page do not state a processing time.  
**Where:**
- Online: Tree Cutting Permit page, https://www.fraserlake.ca/node/529
- Phone: Village of Fraser Lake office, 250-699-6257 (Weekdays, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **When a permit is needed:** A permit is required to cut and dispose of any tree more than 10 cm in diameter (measured 1.4 m above the ground) on land under the Village's jurisdiction, and for any replacement tree. In the OCP development permit areas, removing vegetation also needs a development permit.
  - Source: [Bylaw 852, Tree Bylaw, ss. 1.3, 2.1, 3.3(b)](https://www.fraserlake.ca/media/345)
  - Official wording: "a permit is required for the cutting and disposal of" … "any Tree with a diameter greater than 10 centimetres or any Replacement Tree" … "This bylaw applies to all lands under the jurisdiction of the Village."
  - Source: [Tree Cutting Permit, Tree Cutting Permit page](https://www.fraserlake.ca/node/529)
  - Official wording: "Fraser Lake requires a permit to cut any tree greater than 10cm in diameter at 1.4m above the ground, except in case of an emergency."
  - Source: [Official Community Plan, Part 6, Applicable Activities](https://www.fraserlake.ca/media/419)
  - Official wording: "A development permit is required for any development occurring on land within the DPAs" … "The removal, alteration, disruption or destruction of vegetation."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Exemptions:** No permit for trees 10 cm or less in diameter; an emergency cut of a tree severely damaged by natural causes and in imminent danger of falling (disposal may still need a permit); Village staff duties; where a Development Approval is in place; some utility work. Hazard trees get a permit without applying.
  - Source: [Bylaw 852, Tree Bylaw, ss. 3.2, 4.1(c)](https://www.fraserlake.ca/media/345)
  - Official wording: "must be cut down on an emergency basis because it has been severely" … "A permit is not required where a Development Approval from the Village is in place." … "a permit to cut the Tree will be" … "issued without any application." … "must be cut down on an emergency basis because it has been severely damaged by natural causes and poses an imminent danger of falling" … "disposal of the Tree may require a permit under this Bylaw" … "a permit is required for the cutting and disposal of any Tree with a diameter greater than 10 centimetres or any Replacement Tree"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fee:** Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read.
- **Replacement trees:** The Village may require replacement trees: 2:1 for permitted cutting and 3:1 for unpermitted cutting, unless waived. Replacements must be at least 2 m tall or 7 cm in diameter and replaced if they die within one year.
  - Source: [Bylaw 852, Tree Bylaw, s. 4.2](https://www.fraserlake.ca/media/345)
  - Official wording: "At a ratio of 3:1 for the unpermitted cutting of or damage to any Tree" … "At a ratio of 2:1 for any permitted cutting of Trees" … "At least 2 metres tall and/or have a diameter of 7 centimetres." … "Replacement Trees that die within one year of being planted"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **City trees:** Cutting, damaging or disposing of a tree on Village property can mean replacement trees at the person's expense, plus a bylaw notice ($500).
  - Source: [Bylaw 852, Tree Bylaw, s. 4.2(h)](https://www.fraserlake.ca/media/345)
  - Official wording: "If a person cuts, damages, or disposes of a Tree on Village property, the" … "Village may require"
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Schedule A, Schedule A, Bylaw 852](https://www.fraserlake.ca/media/566)
  - Official wording: "4.2(h) Cutting or otherwise damaging $500 $450 $500 No"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice: cutting or damaging a tree over 10 cm without a permit $300 ($150 early; $500 late). Cutting a replacement tree $400 ($300; $500).
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Schedule A, Schedule A, Bylaw 852](https://www.fraserlake.ca/media/566)
  - Official wording: "3.3(b) Cutting or otherwise damaging $300 $150 $500 No" … "3.3(b) Cutting or otherwise damaging $400 $300 $500 No"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** Bylaw 852, Tree Bylaw
  - Source: [Bylaw 852, Tree Bylaw, s. 1.1](https://www.fraserlake.ca/media/345)
  - Official wording: "This bylaw may be cited as “Bylaw 852, Tree Bylaw”."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The [Bylaw 852, Tree Bylaw](https://www.fraserlake.ca/media/345) applies to private land and Village land. A permit is required to cut and dispose of any tree more than 10 cm in diameter (measured 1.4 m above the ground), and for any replacement tree. In the Official Community Plan development permit areas, removing vegetation also needs a development permit.

No permit is needed for:
- trees 10 cm or less in diameter;
- an emergency cut of a tree severely damaged by natural causes and in imminent danger of falling (disposal may still need a permit);
- Village staff duties, or where a Development Approval is in place;
- some utility work.

Hazard trees get a permit without applying.

## Steps

1. Measure the trunk 1.4 m above the ground.
2. If it is more than 10 cm across, see the [Tree Cutting Permit page](https://www.fraserlake.ca/node/529) or call the Village office at 250-699-6257.
3. If the Village requires replacement trees, plant them within one year and send photos to the Village within 30 days.

## Good to know

- Replacement trees: the Village may require 2 for each tree cut with a permit and 3 for each cut without one, unless waived. Each must be at least 2 m tall or 7 cm in diameter, and be replaced if it dies within one year.
- A bylaw notice for cutting or damaging a tree over 10 cm without a permit is $300 ($150 if paid early, $500 if late). Cutting a replacement tree is $400 ($300 early, $500 late).
- Cutting, damaging or disposing of a tree on Village property can mean replacement trees at the person's expense plus a bylaw notice of $500.

## Official forms and pages

- [Bylaw 852, Tree Bylaw (PDF)](https://www.fraserlake.ca/media/345)
- [Tree Cutting Permit, Village of Fraser Lake](https://www.fraserlake.ca/node/529)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Tree removal permits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tree-removal.md)
- [Vanderhoof](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vanderhoof/tree-removal.md)
- [Fort St James](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fort-st-james/tree-removal.md)
- [Houston](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/tree-removal.md)
- [Prince George](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/tree-removal.md)
- [Telkwa](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/telkwa/tree-removal.md)
- [Smithers](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/tree-removal.md)

## Sources

- [Bylaw 852, Tree Bylaw (PDF)](https://www.fraserlake.ca/media/345) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Tree Cutting Permit, Village of Fraser Lake](https://www.fraserlake.ca/node/529) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Official Community Plan, Village of Fraser Lake (PDF)](https://www.fraserlake.ca/media/419) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Schedule A (PDF)](https://www.fraserlake.ca/media/566) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Contact, Village of Fraser Lake](https://www.fraserlake.ca/contact) (read 2026-11-08)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 7 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Village of Fraser Lake. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fraser-lake/tree-removal/_