---
title: Kamloops tree removal rules and permits
question: "Do I need permission to cut down a tree on my property?"
place: Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/kamloops
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Kamloops
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kamloops/tree-removal/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kamloops/tree-removal.json"
---

# Kamloops tree removal rules and permits

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

**Short answer:** Usually not for a house lot. Kamloops' Tree Protection Bylaw 50-1 exempts owners of parcels under 2 hectares zoned Residential, so a Tree Cutting Permit mainly applies to larger or non-residential parcels. Never cut or prune a boulevard tree: only the City's Parks department may.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Kamloops, https://www.kamloops.ca)  
**Cost:** Tree Cutting Permit: $50 for five trees or fewer, $150 for six trees or more (non-refundable). No fee for a hazardous tree the City orders removed.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services (tree ownership and boulevard trees), 250-828-3551 (Number as printed in the bylaw; confirm before relying on it.)

## Key facts

- **When a permit is needed:** A Tree Cutting Permit is required to cut down or damage a tree unless exempt (s. 4.1). Owners of parcels under 2 ha zoned Residential are exempt (s. 5.1(d)), so the permit mainly applies to larger or non-residential parcels. The Director may refuse a permit for trees on slopes of 30% or more, in riparian areas, in a 7.5 m buffer next to an established neighbourhood, or for large clear-cuts.
  - Source: [Tree Protection Bylaw 50-1, ss. 4.1, 6.4](https://kamloops.civicweb.net/document/8156)
  - Official wording: "Cut Down any Tree or permit a Tree to be Cut Down; or" … "has first obtained a Tree Cutting Permit that specifically" … "the Trees are located on slopes of a grade of thirty percent (30%) or greater;" … "the Trees are within a seven and one half metre (7.5 m) wide buffer zone" … "Located on parcels of land less than two hectares (2 ha) in size and zoned" … "Residential in accordance with the City’s Zoning Bylaw;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Exemptions:** On your own private land, exempt trees include: hazardous trees that present an immediate danger or are likely to damage land (as determined by a Tree Risk Assessor); managed forest land; trees under 5 m tall and 10 cm across; any trees on parcels under 2 ha zoned Residential; trees an approved subdivision, development or building permit requires removed; Russian olive, Siberian elm, Tree of Heaven.
  - Source: [Tree Protection Bylaw 50-1, s. 5.1](https://kamloops.civicweb.net/document/8156)
  - Official wording: "Hazardous and present an immediate danger to the safety of Persons or are" … "Located on lands defined as “managed forest land” in the Assessment Act;" … "Less than five metres (5 m) in height and less than ten centimetres (10 cm) in" … "Located on parcels of land less than two hectares (2 ha) in size and zoned" … "Residential in accordance with the City’s Zoning Bylaw;" … "Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia);" … "likely to damage City Lands or Private Lands, as determined by a Tree Risk Assessor;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee:** $50 for five trees or fewer; $150 for six trees or more. The fee is non-refundable. No fee for a hazardous tree the City orders removed.
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw 44-14, Sch. T](https://kamloops.civicweb.net/document/204231/)
  - Official wording: "Tree Cutting Permit Application" … "Five Trees or less $50.00" … "Six Trees or more $150.00"
  - Source: [Tree Protection Bylaw 50-1, s. 6.1](https://kamloops.civicweb.net/document/8156)
  - Official wording: "non-refundable fee as outlined in Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 44-14." … "There shall be no Tree Cutting Permit fee charged in respect of Hazardous"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Replacement trees:** If a tree is cut down in contravention of the bylaw on private land, the person must plant two replacement trees per tree cut in about the same spot and maintain them for one year, within 21 days of written notice. Builders working next to City or boulevard trees must give security for the replacement cost.
  - Source: [Tree Protection Bylaw 50-1, s. 10.1; s. 2.1](https://kamloops.civicweb.net/document/8156)
  - Official wording: "shall, within twenty-one (21) days of receiving written notice from the Director:" … "plant Replacement Trees on those Private Lands; and" … "maintain those Replacement Trees for a period of one (1) year;" … "means two (2) replacement Trees for each Tree that is" … "Any Person undertaking construction adjacent to a Tree will be required to undertake" … "security for the Replacement Cost Amount of the Tree and Tree"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **City trees:** No one may cut down, plant, prune or spray a boulevard tree. Only the City's Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Services Department may do so. Owners must water boulevard trees next to their property. Call 250-828-3551 to find out if a tree is City-owned.
  - Source: [Tree Protection Bylaw 50-1, ss. 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, Sch. A](https://kamloops.civicweb.net/document/8156)
  - Official wording: "shall water the Trees on the Boulevard adjoining the Private Lands." … "No Person shall Cut Down, plant, prune, or spray any Tree or undertake any" … "only be undertaken by" … "Recreation, and Cultural Services Department at 250-828-3551."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** $1,000 ticket for cutting down or damaging a tree without a permit (s. 4.1), and $1,000 for cutting down or damaging a boulevard tree (s. 9.2). A court can fine $1,000 to $10,000 per offence.
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 43-15, Sch. S](https://kamloops.civicweb.net/document/71966)
  - Official wording: "Perform or permit Tree to be Cut Down or damaged 4.1 $1,000.00" … "Cut Down or damage Tree on Boulevard 9.2 $1,000.00"
  - Source: [Tree Protection Bylaw 50-1, s. 12.2(b)](https://kamloops.civicweb.net/document/8156)
  - Official wording: "not less than" … "One Thousand Dollars ($1,000) and not more than Ten Thousand Dollars"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Tree Protection Bylaw No. 50-1, 2017
  - Source: [Tree Protection Bylaw 50-1, s. 1](https://kamloops.civicweb.net/document/8156)
  - Official wording: "Tree Protection Bylaw No. 50-1, 2017." … "Effective Date – December 19, 2017"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Kamloops' [Tree Protection Bylaw 50-1](https://kamloops.civicweb.net/document/8156) requires a Tree Cutting Permit to cut down or damage a tree unless an exemption applies. Owners of parcels under 2 ha zoned Residential are exempt, so most house lots do not need a permit. Other exempt trees on private land:

- hazardous trees that present an immediate danger or are likely to damage land (as determined by a Tree Risk Assessor)
- managed forest land
- trees under 5 m tall and 10 cm across
- trees that an approved subdivision, development or building permit requires removed
- Russian olive, Siberian elm and Tree of Heaven
- trees removed under the City's Urban/Wildland Interface Policy, or in a watercourse with a watercourse permit

## Steps

1. Check whether your parcel is zoned Residential and under 2 ha (see zoning-lookup). If so, no permit is needed.
2. If not, apply to the City's Director with the fee.
3. Cut trees only as the permit allows.
4. For a street or boulevard tree, call Parks at 250-828-3551. Do not cut it yourself.

## Good to know

- The Director may refuse a permit for trees on slopes of 30% or more, in riparian areas, in a 7.5 m buffer next to an established neighbourhood, or for large clear-cuts.
- Cutting or damaging a tree without a permit is a $1,000 ticket, and so is cutting or damaging a boulevard tree. A court can fine $1,000 to $10,000 per offence. Each tree and each day is a separate offence.
- If a tree is cut in breach of the bylaw, the person must plant two replacement trees per tree cut in about the same spot and maintain them for one year, within 21 days of written notice.
- Only the City may cut, plant, prune or spray a boulevard tree. Owners must water boulevard trees next to their property. If the tree was not planted by the City, self-seeded, or straddles the property line, the City works only after a cost-sharing agreement with the adjacent owner.
- Builders working next to City or boulevard trees must give security for the replacement cost.

## Official forms and pages

- [Tree Protection Bylaw 50-1 (PDF)](https://kamloops.civicweb.net/document/8156)
- [Trees, Plants, and Gardens (City of Kamloops)](https://www.kamloops.ca/our-community/environment-sustainability/healthy-landscapes/trees-plants-gardens)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Tree removal permits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tree-removal.md)
- [Barriere](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/barriere/tree-removal.md)
- [Ashcroft](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ashcroft/tree-removal.md)
- [Merritt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/merritt/tree-removal.md)
- [Enderby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/enderby/tree-removal.md)
- [Spallumcheen](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/spallumcheen/tree-removal.md)
- [Armstrong](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/tree-removal.md)

## Sources

- [Tree Protection Bylaw 50-1 (PDF), City of Kamloops](https://kamloops.civicweb.net/document/8156) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw 44-14 (PDF), City of Kamloops](https://kamloops.civicweb.net/document/204231/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 43-15 (PDF), City of Kamloops](https://kamloops.civicweb.net/document/71966) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Trees, Plants, and Gardens, City of Kamloops](https://www.kamloops.ca/our-community/environment-sustainability/healthy-landscapes/trees-plants-gardens) (read 2026-11-05)

_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 City of Kamloops. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kamloops/tree-removal/_