{"title":"Gibsons tree removal rules and permits","question":"Do I need permission to cut down a tree on my property in Gibsons?","slug":"tree-removal","place":{"path":"ca/bc/gibsons","name":"Gibsons","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"building-and-renovating","name":"Building, renovating and your property"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"Town of Gibsons","url":"https://www.gibsons.ca"},"short_answer":"In Gibsons you need a Town Tree Cutting Permit to cut, remove or move a Protected Tree, which is any tree 30 cm across or larger, listed species at 20 cm, and any tree 10 cm on sloping land. The application fee is $50 for up to 3 trees. Replacement trees are required.","aliases":["tree cutting permit gibsons","remove tree gibsons","tree bylaw gibsons","protected trees gibsons"],"cost":"$50 application fee for up to 3 trees, non-refundable. No fee for a hazardous, dead, dying or unstable tree, or one that must go for an approved building permit or subdivision services. Replacement trees need $300 cash security each.","how_long":"No official page states a processing time.","where":[{"type":"online","label":"Tree removal, Town of Gibsons","value":"https://gibsons.ca/business/tree-removal/"},{"type":"email","label":"Questions about tree permits","value":"infrastructure@gibsons.ca"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Tree removal, Town of Gibsons","url":"https://gibsons.ca/business/tree-removal/"},{"title":"Tree Preservation Bylaw No. 1282, 2020 (PDF)","url":"https://gibsons.civicweb.net/filepro/document/92827/Tree%20Preservation%20Bylaw%20No.%201282,%202020.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Gibsons building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/building-permit/"},{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Gibsons zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"fence-rules","title":"Gibsons fence rules: permits and height limits","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/fence-rules/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/bowen-island","name":"Bowen Island","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/bowen-island/tree-removal/"},{"place":"ca/bc/west-vancouver","name":"West Vancouver","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/tree-removal/"},{"place":"ca/bc/lions-bay","name":"Lions Bay","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lions-bay/tree-removal/"},{"place":"ca/bc/sechelt","name":"Sechelt","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sechelt/tree-removal/"},{"place":"ca/bc/north-vancouver-district","name":"District of North Vancouver","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/tree-removal/"},{"place":"ca/bc/north-vancouver","name":"North Vancouver","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/tree-removal/"}],"topic":{"title":"Tree removal permits in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tree-removal/"},"facts":{"permit_needed":{"label":"When a permit is needed","value":"On all land in the Town, private or public, a Tree Cutting Permit is needed to cut, remove or move a Protected Tree: any tree 30 cm DBH or more; listed species (e.g. arbutus, Garry oak, Douglas fir, western red cedar, bigleaf maple) 20 cm or more; any tree 10 cm or more on sloping terrain; trees with protected nests; certain seedlings.","short":"Yes, for trees 30 cm DBH or more","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://gibsons.civicweb.net/filepro/document/92827/Tree%20Preservation%20Bylaw%20No.%201282,%202020.pdf","title":"Tree Preservation Bylaw No. 1282, 2020 (PDF), Town of Gibsons","section":"s. 3.1.1","quotes":["No person shall Cut, Remove, or move any Protected Tree","This Bylaw applies to all land within the Town."]},{"url":"https://gibsons.civicweb.net/filepro/document/92827/Tree%20Preservation%20Bylaw%20No.%201282,%202020.pdf","title":"Tree Preservation Bylaw No. 1282, 2020 (PDF), Town of Gibsons","section":"Definitions","quotes":["any Tree having a DBH of 10 cm or","a DBH of 30 cm or more.","any Tree listed in Schedule “A” with a"]},{"url":"https://gibsons.ca/business/tree-removal/","title":"Tree removal, Town of Gibsons","section":"Protected Trees","quotes":["Any of the following trees with a *DBH of 20 cm (8 in) or more:"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"exemptions":{"label":"Exemptions","value":"No permit needed where a DPA 1 or 2 development permit addresses the removal, or for normal pruning under sound arboricultural practice. An owner may cut a tree in imminent danger of falling first, but may not remove it from the lot until the Director confirms the danger.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://gibsons.civicweb.net/filepro/document/92827/Tree%20Preservation%20Bylaw%20No.%201282,%202020.pdf","title":"Tree Preservation Bylaw No. 1282, 2020 (PDF), Town of Gibsons","section":"s. 3.3.1","quotes":["A Development Permit under DPA 1 or 2 has been issued which","The Cutting or Removal constitutes normal pruning of Trees in"]},{"url":"https://gibsons.civicweb.net/filepro/document/92827/Tree%20Preservation%20Bylaw%20No.%201282,%202020.pdf","title":"Tree Preservation Bylaw No. 1282, 2020 (PDF), Town of Gibsons","section":"s. 3.4","quotes":["In the event that a Tree is in imminent danger of falling, the Owner may","The Owner shall not remove the Tree from the Lot until the Director has"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fee":{"label":"Fee","value":"$50 application fee for up to 3 trees, non-refundable. No fee for a hazardous, dead, dying or unstable tree, or a tree that must go for an approved building permit or subdivision services.","short":"$50 for up to 3 trees (non-refundable)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/96884/","title":"Rates, Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1196, Schedule J, Town of Gibsons","section":"Schedule J","quotes":["Tree Cutting Permit Application Fee $50 Up to 3 Trees"]},{"url":"https://gibsons.civicweb.net/filepro/document/92827/Tree%20Preservation%20Bylaw%20No.%201282,%202020.pdf","title":"Tree Preservation Bylaw No. 1282, 2020 (PDF), Town of Gibsons","section":"s. 4.2.1","quotes":["A non-refundable application fee in the amount applicable under the","The Tree is dead, dying, severely Damaged, unstable"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"replacement":{"label":"Replacement trees","value":"On single-family lots: 2 replacement trees for each protected tree 20 to 30 cm DBH, 3 for each 30 cm or more. Other lots: 2 per tree. Lots in DPA 1 or 2 with a development permit: 3 native trees per tree. $300 cash security per replacement tree, released 24 months after planting if healthy. None for hazardous trees.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://gibsons.civicweb.net/filepro/document/92827/Tree%20Preservation%20Bylaw%20No.%201282,%202020.pdf","title":"Tree Preservation Bylaw No. 1282, 2020 (PDF), Town of Gibsons","section":"s. 5.2.1","quotes":["two (2) Replacement Trees for each 20-","three (3) Replacement Trees for each 30 cm or greater DBH Protected"]},{"url":"https://gibsons.civicweb.net/filepro/document/92827/Tree%20Preservation%20Bylaw%20No.%201282,%202020.pdf","title":"Tree Preservation Bylaw No. 1282, 2020 (PDF), Town of Gibsons","section":"s. 5.2.4","quotes":["a security deposit in the amount of $300"]},{"url":"https://gibsons.civicweb.net/filepro/document/92827/Tree%20Preservation%20Bylaw%20No.%201282,%202020.pdf","title":"Tree Preservation Bylaw No. 1282, 2020 (PDF), Town of Gibsons","section":"s. 5.2.7","quotes":["Replacement Trees are not required for Tree Cutting a Hazardous Tree"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"city_trees":{"label":"City trees","value":"Every tree on Town-owned land, including parks, boulevards, roads and lanes, is a Protected Tree. Nobody may plant a tree or hedge on Town land without the Director's prior written authorization.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://gibsons.civicweb.net/filepro/document/92827/Tree%20Preservation%20Bylaw%20No.%201282,%202020.pdf","title":"Tree Preservation Bylaw No. 1282, 2020 (PDF), Town of Gibsons","section":"s. 3.2","quotes":["including, without limitation, a Tree in a park or on a Boulevard, road, lane","No person shall plant a Tree or Hedge on Town lands or cause Trees or"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Bylaw notice: $400 for cutting, removing or moving a protected tree without a permit ($350 if paid early, $500 if late). In court, up to $5,000 plus costs, with a separate offence for each tree.","short":"Notice $400 ($350 if paid early)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/104779/","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1125 (consolidated), Town of Gibsons","section":"Schedule A, Bylaw 1282","quotes":["Cut, remove, or move any 1282 3.1.1 $400 $350 $500 No Protected Tree"]},{"url":"https://gibsons.civicweb.net/filepro/document/92827/Tree%20Preservation%20Bylaw%20No.%201282,%202020.pdf","title":"Tree Preservation Bylaw No. 1282, 2020 (PDF), Town of Gibsons","section":"s. 7.1","quotes":["is liable on summary conviction to a fine of up to $5,000 in addition to the costs of prosecution."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Tree Preservation Bylaw No. 1282, 2020","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://gibsons.civicweb.net/filepro/document/92827/Tree%20Preservation%20Bylaw%20No.%201282,%202020.pdf","title":"Tree Preservation Bylaw No. 1282, 2020 (PDF), Town of Gibsons","section":"title","quotes":["TREE PRESERVATION BYLAW BYLAW No. 1282, 2020"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":7,"stated":7,"matched":7,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nUnder the [Tree Preservation Bylaw 1282](https://gibsons.civicweb.net/filepro/document/92827/Tree%20Preservation%20Bylaw%20No.%201282,%202020.pdf), on all land in the Town, private or public, a Tree Cutting Permit is needed to cut, remove or move a Protected Tree. That means:\n\n- any tree 30 cm DBH (diameter at breast height) or more;\n- listed species (for example arbutus, Garry oak, Douglas fir, western red cedar, bigleaf maple) at 20 cm or more;\n- any tree 10 cm or more on sloping terrain;\n- trees with protected nests, and certain seedlings.\n\nEvery tree on Town-owned land, including parks, boulevards, roads and lanes, is protected. Nobody may plant a tree or hedge on Town land without the Director's written authorization.\n\nNo permit is needed where a DPA 1 or 2 development permit addresses the removal, or for normal pruning under sound arboricultural practice. An owner may cut a tree in imminent danger of falling first, but may not remove it from the lot until the Director confirms the danger.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Check the tree's size and species against the list above.\n2. Apply online through Cloudpermit (the link is on the Town's tree removal page). Questions go to infrastructure@gibsons.ca.\n3. Pay the $50 fee, unless the tree is hazardous, dead, dying or unstable.\n4. Plant the replacement trees and provide the security.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Replacement on single-family lots: 2 trees for each protected tree 20 to 30 cm DBH, 3 for each tree 30 cm or more. Other lots: 2 per tree. Lots in DPA 1 or 2 with a development permit: 3 native trees per tree. Security is $300 per replacement tree, released 24 months after planting if the tree is healthy. None is required for hazardous trees.\n- The Town's page says \"under 30 cm\" where the bylaw says 20 to 30 cm.\n- Fine: a bylaw notice is $400 for cutting a protected tree without a permit ($350 if paid early, $500 if late). In court, up to $5,000 plus costs, with a separate offence for each tree.\n- Active bird nests are protected under the provincial Wildlife Act, per the Town's page.","sources":[{"url":"https://gibsons.civicweb.net/filepro/document/92827/Tree%20Preservation%20Bylaw%20No.%201282,%202020.pdf","title":"Tree Preservation Bylaw No. 1282, 2020 (PDF), Town of Gibsons","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://gibsons.ca/business/tree-removal/","title":"Tree removal, Town of Gibsons","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/96884/","title":"Rates, Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1196, Schedule J, Town of Gibsons","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://gibsons.civicweb.net/document/104779/","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 1125 (consolidated), Town of Gibsons","accessed":"2026-11-06"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-06","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 7 of 7 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/tree-removal/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/tree-removal.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/gibsons/tree-removal.json"}}