Grand Forks tree removal rules and permits

Do I need permission to cut down a tree on my property?

Grand Forks, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

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.

Key facts

When a permit is needed	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.Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2089, Schedules, Environmental DPAs, Requirements · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording 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:
Exemptions	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.Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2089, Schedules, Environmental DPAs, Exemptions · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Removal of danger trees under direction of a Removal of invasive species; for the purposes of FireSmart treatment within 30
Fee	No tree permit fee exists. If a development permit is needed, the fee is $200, non-refundable.Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1958, consolidated through A20, Schedule P, Planning and Development Fees · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Issue permit $200.00 Non-refundable (Development Permit) duplicated item lettering.
Replacement trees	Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read.
City trees	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.Park and Public Spaces Access Bylaw No. 2057, consolidated, s. 13 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording 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.
Fine	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.Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2073 (PDF, consolidated December 12, 2022), Schedule (Park and Public Spaces Access Bylaw No. 2057); Park and Public Spaces Access Bylaw No. 2057, consolidated, s. 13 ticket table · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Vandalism of tree $100.00 Vandalism of tree 13 $ 100.00
Bylaw	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.Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2089, Schedules, title; Park and Public Spaces Access Bylaw No. 2057, consolidated, s. 13 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Bylaw No. 2089, 2022 13. A person shall not climb, debark, break, peel, cut, deface, remove, injure, root up, dig or

How it works

Grand Forks has no tree protection bylaw, and no general permit for cutting trees on private land was found. The Official Community Plan (Bylaw 2089) 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.

Steps

Find out whether the tree is on your lot or on City land such as the boulevard.
If your lot may be in a development permit area, ask the Planner (250-442-8266) before cutting.
If the tree is on a boulevard or in a park, do not cut it. Contact the City.

Good to know

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.
No replacement planting or security requirement for tree removal was found.
On boulevards, in parks or public spaces, the Park and Public Spaces Access Bylaw 2057 (section 13) bars climbing, cutting, removing, injuring or damaging any tree. The municipal ticket is $100.
No ticket is listed for cutting a private tree without a permit.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Rossland · Trail · Montrose · Castlegar · Fruitvale · Osoyoos

Tree removal permits in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Park and Public Spaces Access Bylaw No. 2057, consolidated (PDF), City of Grand Forks (read 2026-11-05)
Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2089, Schedules (PDF), City of Grand Forks (read 2026-11-05)
Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1958, consolidated through A20 (PDF), City of Grand Forks (read 2026-11-05)
Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 2073 (PDF, consolidated December 12, 2022), City of Grand Forks (read 2026-11-05)
Development, Engineering & Planning, City of Grand Forks (read 2026-11-05)

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. How answers are checked.