{"title":"Kimberley 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/kimberley","name":"Kimberley","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 Kimberley","url":"https://www.kimberley.ca"},"short_answer":"In Kimberley a permit under Tree Cutting Bylaw 2170 is needed to cut a tree in a Kimberley Alpine Village development permit area, on a lot with a tree cutting covenant, or on a slope over 26%. Elsewhere, the Environmental Protection area bars removing trees without a development permit. The fee is $50.","aliases":["tree cutting permit kimberley","tree bylaw kimberley","remove tree kimberley bc","boulevard tree kimberley"],"cost":null,"how_long":"The City's pages do not give a timeline.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Planning Services","value":"250-427-5311"},{"type":"email","label":"Planning Services","value":"planning@kimberley.ca"},{"type":"phone","label":"Operations (boulevard and park trees)","value":"250-427-9660"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Tree Cutting Bylaw No. 2170, 2002 (PDF)","url":"https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/330/"},{"title":"Official Community Plan, 6.0 Development Permit Areas (City page)","url":"https://www.kimberley.ca/ocp/development-permit-areas"},{"title":"Streets and Traffic Bylaw No. 1877, 1995 (PDF)","url":"https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/126"}],"related":[{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Kimberley zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/zoning-lookup/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/cranbrook","name":"Cranbrook","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cranbrook/tree-removal/"},{"place":"ca/bc/canal-flats","name":"Canal Flats","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/canal-flats/tree-removal/"},{"place":"ca/bc/fernie","name":"Fernie","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/tree-removal/"},{"place":"ca/bc/creston","name":"Creston","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/tree-removal/"},{"place":"ca/bc/kaslo","name":"Kaslo","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kaslo/tree-removal/"},{"place":"ca/bc/sparwood","name":"Sparwood","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sparwood/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":"Bylaw 2170: a permit is needed to cut, remove or damage trees in a tree cutting permit area: a Kimberley Alpine Village development permit area, a lot with a tree cutting covenant, or any slope over 26%. Elsewhere, the OCP Environmental Protection development permit area bars removing trees or vegetation without a development permit unless exempt.","short":"Some zones: tree permit areas and slopes over 26%","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/330/","title":"Tree Cutting Bylaw No. 2170, 2002 (PDF), City of Kimberley","section":"s. 2-3","quotes":["TREE CUTTING PERMIT AREA means","any lot or portion thereof having any slope greater than 26%.","No person shall cut, remove or damage or allow to be cut, removed or damaged","trees on any property in a tree cutting permit area"]},{"url":"https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/330/","title":"Tree Cutting Bylaw No. 2170, 2002 (PDF), City of Kimberley","section":"s. 2","quotes":["a development permit area designated in the Kimberley Alpine Village","any lot or portion thereof having a tree cutting covenant registered"]},{"url":"https://www.kimberley.ca/ocp/development-permit-areas","title":"6.0 Development Permit Areas, Official Community Plan, City of Kimberley","section":"OCP s. 6.5.4","quotes":["All development, including disturbance to or removal of soils, water, trees and other vegetation, within the environmental protection area is prohibited unless a development permit has been issued, unless specifically exempted."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"exemptions":{"label":"Exemptions","value":"Exempt from Bylaw 2170: removal or pruning of dead, diseased or damaged trees by standard arboricultural practices; municipal cutting; emergency removal of hazardous trees (City must be told within 72 hours and may require replacement); cutting to reduce fuel loading or prevent disease (a geotechnical report may be required).","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/330/","title":"Tree Cutting Bylaw No. 2170, 2002 (PDF), City of Kimberley","section":"s. 8-9","quotes":["emergency removal of dangerous or hazardous trees and branches","provided the City is","notified within seventy-two (72) hours of removal;","removal or pruning of dead, diseased or damaged trees by","cutting or removal of trees necessary to reduce fuel loading and","bird nesting purposes during bird","provided that the City may require such trees to be replaced in accordance with the"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fee":{"label":"Fee","value":"$50 non-refundable application fee for cutting up to one hundred trees, plus $50 for each additional hundred trees or portion.","short":"$50 for up to one hundred trees","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/330/","title":"Tree Cutting Bylaw No. 2170, 2002 (PDF), City of Kimberley","section":"s. 4(b)(v)","quotes":["a non-refundable permit application fee of $50 for the cutting","and removal of the first one-hundred trees or portion thereof"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"replacement":{"label":"Replacement trees","value":"If a qualified person's report says replacement trees or site reinstatement are required, the applicant must post a security deposit (cash or irrevocable letter of credit) of 100% of the replacement and restoration cost, with 10% held back for one year after completion. The permit lapses if work is not substantially complete within one year.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/330/","title":"Tree Cutting Bylaw No. 2170, 2002 (PDF), City of Kimberley","section":"s. 6","quotes":["The amount of the security shall be 100% of the value of all","There shall be a 10% holdback of the security deposit for a period","within one year after the date of issuance, the tree cutting permit"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"city_trees":{"label":"City trees","value":"On a boulevard, no one may plant a tree (other than grass) or injure, cut down or remove trees or timber growing there without a Street Occupancy Permit from the Director of Operations. Owners must keep trees at least 5 m above the roadway and sidewalk and not let them damage City works.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/126","title":"Streets and Traffic Bylaw No. 1877, 1995 (PDF), City of Kimberley","section":"s. 511-512","quotes":["Except as authorized by a Street Occupancy Permit issued by the Director of","injure, cut down or remove trees or timber","growing on a boulevard;","remain at a height less than 5 metres (16.4 feet) above the"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":null,"status":"none","note":"Kimberley's Tree Cutting Bylaw sets only court penalties and lists no ticket amount.","sources":[{"url":"https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/330/","title":"Tree Cutting Bylaw No. 2170, 2002 (PDF), City of Kimberley"}]},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Tree Cutting Bylaw No. 2170, 2002.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/330/","title":"Tree Cutting Bylaw No. 2170, 2002 (PDF), City of Kimberley","section":"s. 1","quotes":["This Bylaw may be cited as \"Tree Cutting Bylaw No. 2170, 2002.\""]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":7,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":1,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\n[Tree Cutting Bylaw 2170](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/330/) requires a permit to cut, remove or damage trees in a tree cutting permit area: a Kimberley Alpine Village development permit area, a lot with a tree cutting covenant, or any slope over 26%. Outside those areas, the Official Community Plan's Environmental Protection development permit area (s. 6.5.4) bars removing trees or vegetation without a development permit unless exempt.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Find your lot on the City's web map and ask Planning Services whether it is in a permit area, has a covenant, or is in the Environmental Protection area.\n2. If so, apply for the tree cutting permit (or development permit) before cutting. The Tree Cutting Bylaw application fee is $50, non-refundable, for up to one hundred trees, plus $50 for each additional hundred or portion.\n3. If a qualified person's report says replacement trees or site reinstatement are needed, post the security deposit before work begins.\n4. If the tree is on a boulevard, call Operations rather than cutting it.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Exempt from Bylaw 2170: removing or pruning dead, diseased or damaged trees by standard arboricultural practice, municipal cutting, and cutting to reduce fuel loading or prevent disease (a geotechnical report may be required).\n- Emergency removal of a hazardous tree is exempt, but tell the City within 72 hours. The City may require replacement.\n- Security: 100% of the replacement and restoration cost, in cash or an irrevocable letter of credit, with 10% held back for one year after completion. The permit lapses if work is not substantially complete within one year.\n- On a boulevard, no one may plant a tree (other than grass) or injure, cut down or remove trees there without a Street Occupancy Permit from the Director of Operations. Owners must keep trees at least 5 m above the roadway and sidewalk.\n- Fines: the Tree Cutting Bylaw sets only court penalties (Offence Act) and lists no ticket amount. For boulevard trees, ask the City about the Streets and Traffic Bylaw penalty.","sources":[{"url":"https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/330/","title":"Tree Cutting Bylaw No. 2170, 2002 (PDF), City of Kimberley","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.kimberley.ca/ocp/development-permit-areas","title":"6.0 Development Permit Areas, Official Community Plan, City of Kimberley","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/126","title":"Streets and Traffic Bylaw No. 1877, 1995 (PDF), City of Kimberley","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 is recorded as not set."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/tree-removal/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/tree-removal.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/tree-removal.json"}}