---
title: Highlands tree removal rules and permits
question: "Do I need permission to cut down a tree on my property in Highlands?"
place: Highlands, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/highlands
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Highlands
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/tree-removal/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/tree-removal.json"
---

# Highlands tree removal rules and permits

**Question:** Do I need permission to cut down a tree on my property in Highlands?

**Short answer:** In the District of Highlands you need a tree cutting permit for protected species, large trees, trees near lot lines, roads, creeks and lakes, and some steep-slope cutting. It costs $25 for each 50 trees or portion thereof. Hazardous trees get a permit at no charge.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Highlands, https://www.highlands.ca)  
**Cost:** $25 for each 50 trees or portion thereof. No charge for a permit for a hazardous tree or work ordered under section 12 of the bylaw.  
**How long:** The District's pages and bylaw do not state a processing time.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Building Official / Bylaw Enforcement Officer, 250-474-1773
- Email: Building Official, cleek@highlands.ca
- In person: Municipal Hall, 1980 Millstream Road, Victoria, BC V9B 6H1

## Key facts

- **When a permit is needed:** A tree cutting permit is needed for: protected trees (Garry oak, arbutus, Pacific dogwood, yew, cascara, manzanita, Douglas fir over 60 cm, any tree over 80 cm across); trees within 20 m of a road or trail lot line or 10 m of other lot lines; trees near creeks and lakes; more than 2 trees a year on a slope over 30%; logging. Development permit areas may also apply.
  - Source: [Tree Management Bylaw No. 10, 1994, s. 1(i), 3, 5, 6, 7](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1417)
  - Official wording: "No person shall, without first obtaining a tree cutting permit, cut down a" … "within 20 metres of any lot line adjacent to or abutting a highway or road, or trail, right-of-way; or" … "within 10 metres of any other lot line." … "within 30 metres of the natural boundary of Millstream Creek or within 15" … "cut down more than 2 trees in any one calendar year growing on any steep slope" … "A Douglas Fir tree (Pseudotsuga menziesii), having a diameter greater than 60 centimetres (24 inches)."
  - Source: [Tree Management, Tree Cutting Permits](https://www.highlands.ca/sustainability-and-climate-action/tree-management)
  - Official wording: "A tree cutting permit is necessary when removing a protected tree or any tree located near a watercourse, lake, or steep slope area."
  - Source: [https://www.highlands.ca/sites/31/files/2025-02/277%20-%20OCP%202007_Consolidated_Schedule%20A_to%20Bylaw%20418_202501131717224860.pdf, OCP s. 11.2 Development Permit Areas - General](https://www.highlands.ca/sites/31/files/2025-02/277%20-%20OCP%202007_Consolidated_Schedule%20A_to%20Bylaw%20418_202501131717224860.pdf)
  - Official wording: "In Highlands, Development Permits are obtained at the same time as other permits such as tree cutting,"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Exemptions:** Emergency: a tree or limb severely damaged by a natural cause and in imminent danger of falling and injuring persons or property may be cut without a permit. Dead, dying, unstable or dangerous trees, and trees too near utility wires, can get a permit at no charge. 'Logging' excludes cutting up to 3 trees per 0.4 ha in 12 months and dead, diseased or damaged trees. Trees blocking a watercourse are exempt from the watercourse buffer rule.
  - Source: [Tree Management Bylaw No. 10, 1994, s. 14, 13 and 1(g)](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1417)
  - Official wording: "a person may cut down a tree or limb of a tree prohibited from removal under this by-law if:" … "There shall be no charge for a permit issued under this section." … "The cutting down of trees which are dead, diseased or damaged by a natural cause." … "except where a tree or the roots of a tree are blocking a watercourse or reducing its drainage capacity."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fee:** $25 for each 50 trees or portion thereof. No charge for a permit for a hazardous tree or work ordered under section 12.
  - Source: [Tree Management Bylaw No. 10, 1994, s. 10(a), 12(e), 13(b)](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1417)
  - Official wording: "The fee shall be $25.00 for each 50 trees or portion thereof except as otherwise permitted in this bylaw." … "there shall be no application fee charged."
  - Source: [Tree Cutting Permit application, Form A](https://www.highlands.ca/sites/31/files/2025-05/Tree%20Cutting%20Permit%20FILLABLE%202025.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Application fee ($25 for each 50 trees or portion thereof"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Replacement trees:** A person who cuts or damages a tree against the bylaw or a permit must plant a replacement of the same species near the same spot, maintain it, and give security of 120% of the cost of replacing and maintaining it for 3 years. Steep-slope permits may need a geotechnical report and a surety of 120% of the works.
  - Source: [Tree Management Bylaw No. 10, 1994, s. 15 and s. 11(b)](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1417)
  - Official wording: "Plant a replacement tree of the same species in approximately the same" … "Provide to the municipality security in the amount of 120% of the total" … "the applicant provides to the municipality a surety deposit or bond in favour of the municipality in the amount of 120% of the cost of the works"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **City trees:** No person other than authorized District staff may, without a Council resolution, dig up or injure or destroy any tree, flower, foliage or shrubbery on a road right-of-way. In parks, removing natural park features needs written permission from the Chief Administrative Officer.
  - Source: [Roads and Traffic Bylaw No. 300, s. 6.25 (Roads and Traffic Bylaw No. 300)](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1448)
  - Official wording: "No person other than a duly authorized officer or employee of the District" … "acting in pursuance of his/her duties shall without the authority of a resolution" … "of the Council dig up or in any manner injure or destroy any tree, flower,"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 478, Appendix 4](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1635)
  - Official wording: "Damage tree/ flower/ foliage shrubbery 6.25 $200.00"
  - Source: [Parks Management Bylaw No. 470, 2025, Parks Management Bylaw No. 470, 2025, s. 7(a)](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1594)
  - Official wording: "shall remove any natural park feature or engage in excavation, digging, cutting, or any other"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice (Bylaw 475): no tree cutting permit $200 ($160 if paid within 14 days, $240 after 28 days); logging without permit $500 ($400 / $600); cutting in the 20 m buffer or on a steep slope $200. Municipal ticket (Bylaw 478): $200 for no permit; $1,000 for the 10 m buffer, watercourse or lake buffer, environmental protection area or against a development permit.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 475, 2025, Schedule A, Tree Management Bylaw](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1623)
  - Official wording: "No tree cutting permit 3(a) $200.00 $160.00 $240.00" … "Logging without tree cutting permit 3(d)(i) $500.00 $400.00 $600.00" … "Cut down tree in 20 metre buffer 3(e)(i) $200.00 $160.00 $240.00" … "Tree cutting on steep slope 7(a) $200.00 $160.00 $240.00"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 478, Appendix 12](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1635)
  - Official wording: "No tree cutting permit 3(a) $200.00" … "Cut down tree in 10 metre buffer 3(e)(ii) $1000.00" … "Cut down tree in watercourse buffer area 5 $1000.00" … "Cut down tree in lake buffer area 6 $1000.00" … "Cut down tree in environmental protection area 3(b) $1000.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** District of Highlands Tree Management Bylaw No. 10, 1994
  - Source: [Tree Management Bylaw No. 10, 1994, Title and s. 19](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1417)
  - Official wording: "DISTRICT OF HIGHLANDS TREE MANAGEMENT BYLAW NO. 10, 1994" … "It includes amendments up to October 15, 2001 (Bylaw No. 167)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The District regulates tree cutting under its [Tree Management Bylaw No. 10](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1417). A tree is 5 m or more tall or 10 cm or more in diameter. You need a permit to cut:

- protected trees: Garry oak, arbutus, Pacific dogwood, yew, cascara, manzanita, Douglas fir over 60 cm, and any tree over 80 cm across;
- trees within 20 m of a road or trail lot line, or 10 m of other lot lines;
- trees near creeks and lakes (the lake buffer is 30 m for Teanook, Matson, Fizzle, Fork, Eagles, Mitchell, Second, Third and Pease Lakes, and 15 m for others);
- more than 2 trees a year on a slope over 30%;
- logging.

Trees on the Significant Tree list (Schedule A of the bylaw) cannot be cut. Cutting in a development permit area also needs a development permit.

An emergency exemption applies to a tree or limb severely damaged by a natural cause and in imminent danger of falling and injuring persons or property. Dead, dying, unstable or dangerous trees, and trees too near utility wires, can get a permit at no charge. "Logging" excludes cutting up to 3 trees per 0.4 ha in 12 months and dead, diseased or damaged trees.

## Steps

1. Check whether your tree is protected or within a buffer, and whether you are in a development permit area.
2. Fill out the Tree Cutting Permit application and submit it to the District.
3. Pay the fee. If a permit is not issued, the part of the fee over $25 is refunded.
4. Cut only once the permit is issued.

## Good to know

- Anyone who cuts or damages a tree against the bylaw or a permit must plant a replacement of the same species near the same spot, maintain it, and give security of 120% of the cost of replacing and maintaining it for 3 years.
- A bylaw notice for no tree cutting permit is $200 ($160 if paid within 14 days, $240 after 28 days); logging without a permit is $500 ($400 or $600). A municipal ticket for no permit is $200, and $1,000 for the 10 m buffer, watercourse or lake buffer, environmental protection area or against a development permit. The bylaw allows a fine of up to $10,000 on conviction.
- On District roads, only authorized District staff may, without a Council resolution, dig up or injure or destroy any tree, flower, foliage or shrubbery on a road right-of-way. In parks, removing natural park features needs written permission from the Chief Administrative Officer.
- The page says a permit may still be needed for dead or dying trees under the bylaw, a development permit area or a land title covenant.

## Official forms and pages

- [Tree Management, District of Highlands](https://www.highlands.ca/sustainability-and-climate-action/tree-management)
- [Tree Cutting Permit application (PDF)](https://www.highlands.ca/sites/31/files/2025-05/Tree%20Cutting%20Permit%20FILLABLE%202025.pdf)
- [Tree Management Bylaw No. 10 (PDF)](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1417)

## Related questions

- [Highlands bylaw fines and how tickets work](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/bylaw-fines.md)
- [Highlands zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Highlands building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/building-permit.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Tree removal permits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tree-removal.md)
- [Langford](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/langford/tree-removal.md)
- [View Royal](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/view-royal/tree-removal.md)
- [Central Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/central-saanich/tree-removal.md)
- [Colwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/colwood/tree-removal.md)
- [Esquimalt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/esquimalt/tree-removal.md)
- [Saanich](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/saanich/tree-removal.md)

## Sources

- [Tree Management, District of Highlands](https://www.highlands.ca/sustainability-and-climate-action/tree-management) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Tree Management Bylaw No. 10, 1994 (PDF)](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1417) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Tree Cutting Permit application (PDF)](https://www.highlands.ca/sites/31/files/2025-05/Tree%20Cutting%20Permit%20FILLABLE%202025.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 478 (PDF)](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1635) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 475, 2025 (PDF)](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1623) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Roads and Traffic Bylaw No. 300 (PDF)](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1448) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Parks Management Bylaw No. 470, 2025 (PDF)](https://www.highlands.ca/media/1594) (read 2026-11-08)
- [https://www.highlands.ca/sites/31/files/2025-02/277%20-%20OCP%202007_Consolidated_Schedule%20A_to%20Bylaw%20418_202501131717224860.pdf](https://www.highlands.ca/sites/31/files/2025-02/277%20-%20OCP%202007_Consolidated_Schedule%20A_to%20Bylaw%20418_202501131717224860.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 7 of 7 facts was matched to the official text. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with District of Highlands. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/highlands/tree-removal/_