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

# Kimberley tree removal rules and permits

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Kimberley, https://www.kimberley.ca)  
**How long:** The City's pages do not give a timeline.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Planning Services, 250-427-5311
- Email: Planning Services, planning@kimberley.ca
- Phone: Operations (boulevard and park trees), 250-427-9660

## Key facts

- **When a permit is needed:** 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.
  - Source: [Tree Cutting Bylaw No. 2170, 2002, s. 2-3](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/330/)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Tree Cutting Bylaw No. 2170, 2002, s. 2](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/330/)
  - Official wording: "a development permit area designated in the Kimberley Alpine Village" … "any lot or portion thereof having a tree cutting covenant registered"
  - Source: [6.0 Development Permit Areas, Official Community Plan, OCP s. 6.5.4](https://www.kimberley.ca/ocp/development-permit-areas)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Exemptions:** 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).
  - Source: [Tree Cutting Bylaw No. 2170, 2002, s. 8-9](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/330/)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee:** $50 non-refundable application fee for cutting up to one hundred trees, plus $50 for each additional hundred trees or portion.
  - Source: [Tree Cutting Bylaw No. 2170, 2002, s. 4(b)(v)](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/330/)
  - Official wording: "a non-refundable permit application fee of $50 for the cutting" … "and removal of the first one-hundred trees or portion thereof"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Replacement trees:** 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.
  - Source: [Tree Cutting Bylaw No. 2170, 2002, s. 6](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/330/)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **City trees:** 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.
  - Source: [Streets and Traffic Bylaw No. 1877, 1995, s. 511-512](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/126)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** None set. Kimberley's Tree Cutting Bylaw sets only court penalties and lists no ticket amount.
- **Bylaw:** Tree Cutting Bylaw No. 2170, 2002.
  - Source: [Tree Cutting Bylaw No. 2170, 2002, s. 1](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/330/)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited as "Tree Cutting Bylaw No. 2170, 2002.""
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

[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.

## Steps

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. If a qualified person's report says replacement trees or site reinstatement are needed, post the security deposit before work begins.
4. If the tree is on a boulevard, call Operations rather than cutting it.

## Good to know

- 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).
- Emergency removal of a hazardous tree is exempt, but tell the City within 72 hours. The City may require replacement.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.

## Official forms and pages

- [Tree Cutting Bylaw No. 2170, 2002 (PDF)](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/330/)
- [Official Community Plan, 6.0 Development Permit Areas (City page)](https://www.kimberley.ca/ocp/development-permit-areas)
- [Streets and Traffic Bylaw No. 1877, 1995 (PDF)](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/126)

## Related questions

- [Kimberley zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/zoning-lookup.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Tree removal permits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tree-removal.md)
- [Cranbrook](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cranbrook/tree-removal.md)
- [Canal Flats](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/canal-flats/tree-removal.md)
- [Fernie](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fernie/tree-removal.md)
- [Creston](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/creston/tree-removal.md)
- [Kaslo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kaslo/tree-removal.md)
- [Sparwood](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sparwood/tree-removal.md)

## Sources

- [Tree Cutting Bylaw No. 2170, 2002 (PDF), City of Kimberley](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/330/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [6.0 Development Permit Areas, Official Community Plan, City of Kimberley](https://www.kimberley.ca/ocp/development-permit-areas) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Streets and Traffic Bylaw No. 1877, 1995 (PDF), City of Kimberley](https://kimberley.civicweb.net/document/126) (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 is recorded as not set. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Kimberley. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kimberley/tree-removal/_