{"title":"Golden tree removal rules and permits","question":"Do I need permission to cut down a tree on my property?","slug":"tree-removal","place":{"path":"ca/bc/golden","name":"Golden","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 Golden","url":"https://www.golden.ca"},"short_answer":"In Golden no private-property tree-cutting bylaw was found, so cutting a tree alone does not appear to need a permit. Near creeks, lakes and wetlands, development needs a development permit and existing trees are to be kept where feasible. Trees on a boulevard are protected.","aliases":["tree removal golden bc","cut down tree golden","tree bylaw golden","boulevard tree golden"],"cost":"No tree permit fee is stated. Damaging a boulevard tree or shrub is a $100 bylaw notice ($80 if paid within 14 days, $120 after 28 days).","how_long":"Not stated. No tree permit exists in the documents we read.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Planning and Development","value":"250-344-2271"},{"type":"email","label":"Director of Planning & Development","value":"planner@golden.ca"},{"type":"in_person","label":"Town Hall","value":"810 9th Ave. South, Golden, BC"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1516, 2026 (PDF)","url":"https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2026-10/Bylaw%201516%202026%20Town%20of%20Golden%20Bylaw%20Official%20Community%20Plan%20PKG%20adopted.pdf"},{"title":"Traffic, Parking and Streets Regulations Bylaw No. 1482, 2024 (PDF)","url":"https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2024-04/Bylaw%201482%202024%20TOG%20Traffic%2C%20Parking%20%26%20Streets%20ADOPTED%20full%20document.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Golden zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/golden/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Golden building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/golden/building-permit/"},{"slug":"unsightly-property","title":"Golden unsightly property rules and how to report","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/golden/unsightly-property/"},{"slug":"bylaw-fines","title":"Golden bylaw fines and how tickets work","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/golden/bylaw-fines/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/revelstoke","name":"Revelstoke","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/revelstoke/tree-removal/"},{"place":"ca/bc/radium-hot-springs","name":"Radium Hot Springs","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/radium-hot-springs/tree-removal/"},{"place":"ca/bc/invermere","name":"Invermere","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/invermere/tree-removal/"},{"place":"ca/bc/nakusp","name":"Nakusp","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nakusp/tree-removal/"},{"place":"ca/bc/canal-flats","name":"Canal Flats","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/canal-flats/tree-removal/"},{"place":"ca/bc/silverton","name":"Silverton","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/silverton/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":"No private-property tree-cutting bylaw was found. In the Riparian development permit area (within 30 m of creeks, lakes and wetlands), new development including land alteration needs a development permit, and existing trees and native vegetation are to be retained where feasible.","short":"No, except within 30 m of creeks and lakes","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2026-10/Bylaw%201516%202026%20Town%20of%20Golden%20Bylaw%20Official%20Community%20Plan%20PKG%20adopted.pdf","title":"Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1516, 2026 (PDF)","section":"s. 6 and 6.5","quotes":["An owner of land located within a DPA must obtain a development permit before","The Riparian Development Permit Area applies to the lands identified on Schedule D.","Existing trees and native vegetation within the riparian assessment area are to be"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"exemptions":{"label":"Exemptions","value":"Riparian development permit area exemptions include emergency action on hazardous trees, repair of existing fences, small detached accessory buildings under 10 m², and farm use in the ALR.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2026-10/Bylaw%201516%202026%20Town%20of%20Golden%20Bylaw%20Official%20Community%20Plan%20PKG%20adopted.pdf","title":"Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1516, 2026 (PDF)","section":"s. 6.5 Exemptions","quotes":["hazardous trees, needed to protect","Any farm use as defined in the Agriculture Land Commission Act on land located in","The repair of existing fences or the construction of small, detached accessory"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"fee":{"label":"Fee","value":null,"status":"unknown","reason":"not_found","sources":[]},"replacement":{"label":"Replacement trees","value":"Where a development permit and landscaping are required, mature trees are to be kept; if that is not possible, removal, moving or replacement with comparable mature trees must satisfy the Manager of Development Services before removal.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2022-01/Bylaw-No-1294%2C-2011-ToG-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1294, 2011 (PDF)","section":"s. 7.1(1), 7.2(6)","quotes":["Mature trees are to be retained on site, however, should that not be possible, the removal,","comparable mature trees shall be in a manner,","Landscaping and Screening Regulations shall apply to Development requiring a Development Permit."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"city_trees":{"label":"City trees","value":"Nobody may destroy or injure any tree, shrub, flower or other growing thing on a boulevard. Owners must trim trees and shrubs on their property so they do not block the street, sidewalk or boulevard.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2024-04/Bylaw%201482%202024%20TOG%20Traffic%2C%20Parking%20%26%20Streets%20ADOPTED%20full%20document.pdf","title":"Traffic, Parking and Streets Regulations Bylaw No. 1482, 2024 (PDF)","section":"s. 11.6, 11.7","quotes":["A person must not at any time destroy or injure any tree, shrub, flower, foliage, or other","must cause all trees, shrubs or other"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Bylaw notice: $100 for damaging a tree or shrub on a boulevard ($80 if paid within 14 days, $120 after 28 days). No fine for cutting a private tree was found.","short":"No private-tree fine; $100 for boulevard tree","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://golden.civicweb.net/document/129117/","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, Schedule F (PDF)","section":"Schedule F, s. 11.6","quotes":["11.6 Damage tree/shrub 100.00 80.00 120.00"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Traffic, Parking & Streets Regulations Bylaw No. 1482, 2024 (boulevard trees, s. 11.6); Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1516, 2026 (development permit areas)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2024-04/Bylaw%201482%202024%20TOG%20Traffic%2C%20Parking%20%26%20Streets%20ADOPTED%20full%20document.pdf","title":"Traffic, Parking and Streets Regulations Bylaw No. 1482, 2024 (PDF)","section":"s. 11.6","quotes":["11.6 A person must not at any time destroy or injure any tree, shrub, flower, foliage, or other"]},{"url":"https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2026-10/Bylaw%201516%202026%20Town%20of%20Golden%20Bylaw%20Official%20Community%20Plan%20PKG%20adopted.pdf","title":"Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1516, 2026 (PDF)","section":"s. 6","quotes":["Development Permit Areas (DPA) are used to shape new development on a site-specific"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":7,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":1},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nNo private-property tree-cutting bylaw was found in the Town's Official Community Plan, Zoning Bylaw, Traffic Bylaw or bylaw list. Some rules still apply.\n\nIn the Riparian development permit area (within 30 m of creeks, lakes and wetlands), new development including land alteration needs a development permit, and existing trees and native vegetation are to be retained where feasible. The [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1516, 2026](<https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2026-10/Bylaw%201516%202026%20Town%20of%20Golden%20Bylaw%20Official%20Community%20Plan%20PKG%20adopted.pdf>) does not say plainly that cutting a tree alone counts as development, so ask Development Services.\n\nWhere a development permit and landscaping are required, mature trees are to be kept. If that is not possible, removal, moving or replacement with comparable mature trees must satisfy the Manager of Development Services before removal.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Check whether your lot is within 30 m of a creek, lake or wetland.\n2. If so, phone or email Development Services before cutting.\n3. If the tree is on a boulevard, do not cut or injure it.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Exemptions in the riparian area include emergency action on hazardous trees, repair of existing fences, small detached accessory buildings under 10 m², and farm use in the ALR.\n- Under the [Traffic, Parking and Streets Regulations Bylaw No. 1482](<https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2024-04/Bylaw%201482%202024%20TOG%20Traffic%2C%20Parking%20%26%20Streets%20ADOPTED%20full%20document.pdf>), nobody may destroy or injure any tree, shrub, flower or other growing thing on a boulevard.\n- Owners must trim trees and shrubs on their property so they do not block the street, sidewalk or boulevard.\n- No fine for cutting a private tree was found.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2026-10/Bylaw%201516%202026%20Town%20of%20Golden%20Bylaw%20Official%20Community%20Plan%20PKG%20adopted.pdf","title":"Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1516, 2026 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2024-04/Bylaw%201482%202024%20TOG%20Traffic%2C%20Parking%20%26%20Streets%20ADOPTED%20full%20document.pdf","title":"Traffic, Parking and Streets Regulations Bylaw No. 1482, 2024 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2022-01/Bylaw-No-1294%2C-2011-ToG-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf","title":"Zoning Bylaw No. 1294, 2011 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://golden.civicweb.net/document/129117/","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, Schedule F (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-08"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-08","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"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."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/golden/tree-removal/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/golden/tree-removal.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/golden/tree-removal.json"}}