--- title: Golden tree removal rules and permits question: "Do I need permission to cut down a tree on my property?" place: Golden, British Columbia, Canada place_path: ca/bc/golden category: Building, renovating and your property owner: municipal owner_body: Town of Golden sources_read: 2026-11-08 review: machine_checked canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/golden/tree-removal/" json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/golden/tree-removal.json" --- # Golden tree removal rules and permits **Question:** Do I need permission to cut down a tree on my property? **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. **Who handles it:** Municipal (Town of Golden, https://www.golden.ca) **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:** - Phone: Planning and Development, 250-344-2271 - Email: Director of Planning & Development, planner@golden.ca - In person: Town Hall, 810 9th Ave. South, Golden, BC ## Key facts - **When a permit is needed:** 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. - Source: [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1516, 2026, s. 6 and 6.5](https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2026-10/Bylaw%201516%202026%20Town%20of%20Golden%20Bylaw%20Official%20Community%20Plan%20PKG%20adopted.pdf) - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 - **Exemptions:** 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. - Source: [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1516, 2026, s. 6.5 Exemptions](https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2026-10/Bylaw%201516%202026%20Town%20of%20Golden%20Bylaw%20Official%20Community%20Plan%20PKG%20adopted.pdf) - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 - **Fee:** Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read. - **Replacement trees:** 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. - Source: [Zoning Bylaw No. 1294, 2011, s. 7.1(1), 7.2(6)](https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2022-01/Bylaw-No-1294%2C-2011-ToG-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf) - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 - **City trees:** 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. - Source: [Traffic, Parking and Streets Regulations Bylaw No. 1482, 2024, s. 11.6, 11.7](https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2024-04/Bylaw%201482%202024%20TOG%20Traffic%2C%20Parking%20%26%20Streets%20ADOPTED%20full%20document.pdf) - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 - **Fine:** 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. - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, Schedule F, Schedule F, s. 11.6](https://golden.civicweb.net/document/129117/) - Official wording: "11.6 Damage tree/shrub 100.00 80.00 120.00" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 - **Bylaw:** Traffic, Parking & Streets Regulations Bylaw No. 1482, 2024 (boulevard trees, s. 11.6); Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1516, 2026 (development permit areas) - Source: [Traffic, Parking and Streets Regulations Bylaw No. 1482, 2024, s. 11.6](https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2024-04/Bylaw%201482%202024%20TOG%20Traffic%2C%20Parking%20%26%20Streets%20ADOPTED%20full%20document.pdf) - Official wording: "11.6 A person must not at any time destroy or injure any tree, shrub, flower, foliage, or other" - Source: [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1516, 2026, s. 6](https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2026-10/Bylaw%201516%202026%20Town%20of%20Golden%20Bylaw%20Official%20Community%20Plan%20PKG%20adopted.pdf) - Official wording: "Development Permit Areas (DPA) are used to shape new development on a site-specific" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 ## How it works No 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. 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. The [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1516, 2026]() does not say plainly that cutting a tree alone counts as development, so ask Development Services. 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. ## Steps 1. Check whether your lot is within 30 m of a creek, lake or wetland. 2. If so, phone or email Development Services before cutting. 3. If the tree is on a boulevard, do not cut or injure it. ## Good to know - 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. - Under the [Traffic, Parking and Streets Regulations Bylaw No. 1482](), 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. - No fine for cutting a private tree was found. ## Official forms and pages - [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1516, 2026 (PDF)](https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2026-10/Bylaw%201516%202026%20Town%20of%20Golden%20Bylaw%20Official%20Community%20Plan%20PKG%20adopted.pdf) - [Traffic, Parking and Streets Regulations Bylaw No. 1482, 2024 (PDF)](https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2024-04/Bylaw%201482%202024%20TOG%20Traffic%2C%20Parking%20%26%20Streets%20ADOPTED%20full%20document.pdf) ## Related questions - [Golden zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/golden/zoning-lookup.md) - [Golden building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/golden/building-permit.md) - [Golden unsightly property rules and how to report](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/golden/unsightly-property.md) - [Golden bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/golden/bylaw-fines.md) ## The same question elsewhere - [Tree removal permits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tree-removal.md) - [Revelstoke](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/revelstoke/tree-removal.md) - [Radium Hot Springs](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/radium-hot-springs/tree-removal.md) - [Invermere](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/invermere/tree-removal.md) - [Nakusp](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nakusp/tree-removal.md) - [Canal Flats](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/canal-flats/tree-removal.md) - [Silverton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/silverton/tree-removal.md) ## Sources - [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1516, 2026 (PDF)](https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2026-10/Bylaw%201516%202026%20Town%20of%20Golden%20Bylaw%20Official%20Community%20Plan%20PKG%20adopted.pdf) (read 2026-11-08) - [Traffic, Parking and Streets Regulations Bylaw No. 1482, 2024 (PDF)](https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2024-04/Bylaw%201482%202024%20TOG%20Traffic%2C%20Parking%20%26%20Streets%20ADOPTED%20full%20document.pdf) (read 2026-11-08) - [Zoning Bylaw No. 1294, 2011 (PDF)](https://www.golden.ca/sites/default/files/2022-01/Bylaw-No-1294%2C-2011-ToG-Zoning-Bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-08) - [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, Schedule F (PDF)](https://golden.civicweb.net/document/129117/) (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. 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