{"title":"Grand Forks 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/grand-forks","name":"Grand Forks","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":"City of Grand Forks","url":"https://www.grandforks.ca"},"short_answer":"The City of Grand Forks has no tree protection bylaw, and no general permit for cutting a tree on private land was found. But in an Official Community Plan environmental development permit area, removing trees for development or access needs a development permit. Trees on City land are protected.","aliases":["cut down tree grand forks","tree bylaw grand forks bc","remove tree permit grand forks","boulevard tree grand forks"],"cost":"No tree permit fee found. If a development permit is needed, the fee is $200, non-refundable.","how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Planner, City of Grand Forks","value":"250-442-8266"},{"type":"email","label":"City of Grand Forks","value":"info@grandforks.ca"},{"type":"phone","label":"Public Works","value":"250-442-4148"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Park and Public Spaces Access Bylaw No. 2057, consolidated (PDF)","url":"https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/Bylaw2057Park-and-Public-Spaces-Access-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED.pdf"},{"title":"Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2089, Schedules","url":"https://www.grandforks.ca/document/bylaw2089-official-community-plan-schedules/"}],"related":[{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Grand Forks zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/grand-forks/zoning-lookup/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/rossland","name":"Rossland","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/rossland/tree-removal/"},{"place":"ca/bc/trail","name":"Trail","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/trail/tree-removal/"},{"place":"ca/bc/montrose","name":"Montrose","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/montrose/tree-removal/"},{"place":"ca/bc/castlegar","name":"Castlegar","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/tree-removal/"},{"place":"ca/bc/fruitvale","name":"Fruitvale","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fruitvale/tree-removal/"},{"place":"ca/bc/osoyoos","name":"Osoyoos","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/osoyoos/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 general permit for cutting trees on private land was found. But inside an OCP Environmental Development Permit Area (floodplain, steep slopes, riparian and sensitive ecosystems), land must not be altered without a development permit; alteration includes stripping and grading, including removing trees and vegetation, for development or access.","short":"No, except Environmental development permit area","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.grandforks.ca/document/bylaw2089-official-community-plan-schedules/","title":"Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2089, Schedules (PDF), City of Grand Forks","section":"Environmental DPAs, Requirements","quotes":["Land alteration includes, but is not limited to, the","stripping and grading including the removal of trees,","The OCP has the following Environmental DPA policy areas:"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"exemptions":{"label":"Exemptions","value":"In Environmental DPAs the OCP exempts removal of danger trees under direction of a qualified arborist, removal of invasive species, restoring or maintaining existing vegetation, and removal of flammable vegetation within 30 m of structures for FireSmart treatment.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.grandforks.ca/document/bylaw2089-official-community-plan-schedules/","title":"Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2089, Schedules (PDF), City of Grand Forks","section":"Environmental DPAs, Exemptions","quotes":["Removal of danger trees under direction of a","Removal of invasive species;","for the purposes of FireSmart treatment within 30"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fee":{"label":"Fee","value":"No tree permit fee exists. If a development permit is needed, the fee is $200, non-refundable.","short":"No tree fee; $200 if development permit needed","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/By1958Fees-and-Charges-CONSOLIDATED-through-A20.pdf","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1958, consolidated through A20 (PDF), City of Grand Forks","section":"Schedule P, Planning and Development Fees","quotes":["Issue permit $200.00 Non-refundable","(Development Permit) duplicated item lettering."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"replacement":{"label":"Replacement trees","value":null,"status":"unknown","reason":"not_found","sources":[]},"city_trees":{"label":"City trees","value":"No one may climb, debark, break, peel, cut, deface, remove, injure, root up, dig or otherwise destroy or damage any tree, or shrubs, flowers, roots, sod or grass planted or growing, on boulevards or in parks or public spaces.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/Bylaw2057Park-and-Public-Spaces-Access-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED.pdf","title":"Park and Public Spaces Access Bylaw No. 2057, consolidated (PDF), City of Grand Forks","section":"s. 13","quotes":["13.   A person shall not climb, debark, break, peel, cut, deface, remove, injure, root up, dig or","otherwise destroy or damage any tree, box, stake, or guard placed around any tree for","on boulevards, or in Parks or Public Spaces."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"No ticket for cutting a private tree without a permit is listed. Damaging a tree in a park, boulevard or public space (Park and Public Spaces Access Bylaw s. 13, 'Vandalism of tree'): $100 municipal ticket.","short":"No private-tree ticket; $100 for park tree","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/Bylaw2073Municipal-Ticket-Information-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED-2.pdf","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2073 (PDF, consolidated December 12, 2022), City of Grand Forks","section":"Schedule (Park and Public Spaces Access Bylaw No. 2057)","quotes":["Vandalism of tree $100.00"]},{"url":"https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/Bylaw2057Park-and-Public-Spaces-Access-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED.pdf","title":"Park and Public Spaces Access Bylaw No. 2057, consolidated (PDF), City of Grand Forks","section":"s. 13 ticket table","quotes":["Vandalism of tree 13 $ 100.00"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"No tree protection bylaw. Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2089, 2022 (Environmental Development Permit Areas) applies to land alteration; Park and Public Spaces Access Bylaw No. 2057 protects trees on City land.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.grandforks.ca/document/bylaw2089-official-community-plan-schedules/","title":"Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2089, Schedules (PDF), City of Grand Forks","section":"title","quotes":["Bylaw No. 2089, 2022"]},{"url":"https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/Bylaw2057Park-and-Public-Spaces-Access-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED.pdf","title":"Park and Public Spaces Access Bylaw No. 2057, consolidated (PDF), City of Grand Forks","section":"s. 13","quotes":["13.   A person shall not climb, debark, break, peel, cut, deface, remove, injure, root up, dig or"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":7,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":1},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nGrand Forks has no tree protection bylaw, and no general permit for cutting trees on private land was found. The [Official Community Plan (Bylaw 2089)](https://www.grandforks.ca/document/bylaw2089-official-community-plan-schedules/) does cover Environmental Development Permit Areas (floodplain, steep slopes, riparian areas and sensitive ecosystems). There, land must not be altered without a development permit, and alteration includes stripping and grading, including removing trees and vegetation, for development or access. The OCP maps show which parcels are in these areas.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Find out whether the tree is on your lot or on City land such as the boulevard.\n2. If your lot may be in a development permit area, ask the Planner (250-442-8266) before cutting.\n3. If the tree is on a boulevard or in a park, do not cut it. Contact the City.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- In these areas the OCP exempts removing danger trees under the direction of a qualified arborist, removing invasive species, restoring or maintaining existing vegetation, and removing flammable vegetation within 30 m of structures for FireSmart treatment.\n- No replacement planting or security requirement for tree removal was found.\n- On boulevards, in parks or public spaces, the [Park and Public Spaces Access Bylaw 2057](https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/Bylaw2057Park-and-Public-Spaces-Access-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED.pdf) (section 13) bars climbing, cutting, removing, injuring or damaging any tree. The municipal ticket is $100.\n- No ticket is listed for cutting a private tree without a permit.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/Bylaw2057Park-and-Public-Spaces-Access-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED.pdf","title":"Park and Public Spaces Access Bylaw No. 2057, consolidated (PDF), City of Grand Forks","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.grandforks.ca/document/bylaw2089-official-community-plan-schedules/","title":"Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2089, Schedules (PDF), City of Grand Forks","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/By1958Fees-and-Charges-CONSOLIDATED-through-A20.pdf","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1958, consolidated through A20 (PDF), City of Grand Forks","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.grandforks.ca/wp-content/uploads/Bylaw2073Municipal-Ticket-Information-Bylaw-CONSOLIDATED-2.pdf","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2073 (PDF, consolidated December 12, 2022), City of Grand Forks","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.grandforks.ca/development-engineering-planning/","title":"Development, Engineering & Planning, City of Grand Forks","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","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/grand-forks/tree-removal/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/grand-forks/tree-removal.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/grand-forks/tree-removal.json"}}