{"title":"Lake Country tree removal rules and permits","question":"Do I need permission to cut down a tree on my property in Lake Country?","slug":"tree-removal","place":{"path":"ca/bc/lake-country","name":"Lake Country","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":"District of Lake Country","url":"https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca"},"short_answer":"Lake Country has no tree-cutting bylaw. But in a development permit area, destroying trees or vegetation counts as \"land alteration\" and needs a development permit under Bylaw 1227 unless the District confirms an exemption. Ask Planning at 250-766-6674 before cutting.","aliases":["tree removal lake country","cut down tree lake country","tree bylaw lake country","tree permit lake country"],"cost":"No separate tree-cutting fee. If a development permit area applies: exemption review $140; technical development permit $880; development permit needing Council $1,670.","how_long":"Not stated on the District's pages.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Planning Department","value":"250-766-6674"},{"type":"email","label":"Planning Department","value":"planning@lakecountry.bc.ca"},{"type":"in_person","label":"Municipal Hall","value":"10150 Bottom Wood Lake Road, Lake Country, BC V4V 2M1","note":"Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m."}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Development Approval Procedures Bylaw 1227, 2024 (PDF)","url":"https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/development-approval-procedures-bylaw-1227-2024"},{"title":"Official Community Plan Bylaw 1330, 2026 (PDF)","url":"https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/official-community-plan-2026-2046-bylaw-1330-2026"},{"title":"Planning Fees Information Bulletin (PDF)","url":"https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/planning-fees-information-bulletin"}],"related":[{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Lake Country zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Lake Country building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/building-permit/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/kelowna","name":"Kelowna","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kelowna/tree-removal/"},{"place":"ca/bc/vernon","name":"Vernon","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vernon/tree-removal/"},{"place":"ca/bc/coldstream","name":"Coldstream","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coldstream/tree-removal/"},{"place":"ca/bc/west-kelowna","name":"West Kelowna","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-kelowna/tree-removal/"},{"place":"ca/bc/lumby","name":"Lumby","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lumby/tree-removal/"},{"place":"ca/bc/peachland","name":"Peachland","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/peachland/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":"No tree-cutting bylaw. But under Development Approval Procedures Bylaw 1227 (s. 5.2) a development permit is needed before any land alteration, which includes destroying trees or vegetation, where an OCP development permit area applies, unless the District confirms an exemption. Ask Planning (250-766-6674).","short":"No, except development permit areas","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/official-community-plan-2026-2046-bylaw-1330-2026","title":"Official Community Plan Bylaw 1330, 2026-2046 (PDF), District of Lake Country","section":"OCP Glossary","quotes":["Development Any alteration of land or any construction."]},{"url":"https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-561-2007-consolidated","title":"https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-561-2007-consolidated","section":"Definitions, Alteration of land","quotes":["removal, alteration, disruption or destruction of vegetation;"]},{"url":"https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/official-community-plan-2026-2046-bylaw-1330-2026","title":"Official Community Plan Bylaw 1330, 2026-2046 (PDF), District of Lake Country","section":"Appendix F, 1.2 Natural Environment DPA","quotes":["This DPA applies to all land within areas shown on Map C11, unless exempted."]},{"url":"https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/development-approval-procedures-bylaw-1227-2024","title":"Development Approval Procedures Bylaw 1227, 2024 (PDF), District of Lake Country","section":"Bylaw 1227, ss. 3 (Land Alteration) and 5.2","quotes":["A development permit must be approved before any Land Alteration or development occurs unless","disruption or destruction of vegetation or trees, construction or alteration of retaining walls,"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"exemptions":{"label":"Exemptions","value":"Not 'land alteration': planting, landscaping, fire smarting (Bylaw 1227). Natural Environment DPA: exempt if land is no longer sensitive, approved mining or forestry, s. 219 covenant, or outside the DPA per a BC Land Surveyor survey. Wildland Fire DPA: also exempt where no building permit is needed. No hazard-tree exemption found.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/official-community-plan-2026-2046-bylaw-1330-2026","title":"Official Community Plan Bylaw 1330, 2026-2046 (PDF), District of Lake Country","section":"Appendix F, 1.2 Exemptions","quotes":["A Development Permit will not be required if the development consists of","Land is or has been used for mining or forestry-related","completed by a registered BC Land Surveyor."]},{"url":"https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/official-community-plan-2026-2046-bylaw-1330-2026","title":"Official Community Plan Bylaw 1330, 2026-2046 (PDF), District of Lake Country","section":"Appendix F, 1.3 Exemptions, item 5","quotes":["The removal of trees or other plant materials is done in"]},{"url":"https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/development-approval-procedures-bylaw-1227-2024","title":"Development Approval Procedures Bylaw 1227, 2024 (PDF), District of Lake Country","section":"Bylaw 1227 s. 3 (Land Alteration)","quotes":["construction or alteration of patios. For clarity, land alteration does not include planting, landscaping,"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fee":{"label":"Fee","value":"No separate tree-cutting fee. If a development permit area applies: Development Permit exemption review $140; technical development permit $880; development permit needing Council $1,670 (2026 Planning Fees Information Bulletin).","short":"No tree fee; $140 to $1,670 if development permit area","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/planning-fees-information-bulletin","title":"Planning Fees Information Bulletin (PDF), District of Lake Country","section":"2026 Planning Fees","quotes":["Development Permit - Exemption Review","Development Permit - Technical","Development Permit - Council"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"replacement":{"label":"Replacement trees","value":"Natural Environment DPA (guideline): replace trees in disturbed buffers by size, e.g. 3 trees for 152-304 mm, 8 for 610 mm+. If landscaping is a permit condition, security of 125% of the works (minimum $1,000) is required; environmental-damage security is set by the Director.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/official-community-plan-2026-2046-bylaw-1330-2026","title":"Official Community Plan Bylaw 1330, 2026-2046 (PDF), District of Lake Country","section":"Appendix F, 1.2 guideline 22.2","quotes":["22.2. Tree removal and replacement should occur according to the","152mm – 304mm dbh * 3 replacement trees (minimum","610mm + dbh * 8 replacement trees (minimum"]},{"url":"https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/development-approval-procedures-bylaw-1227-2024","title":"Development Approval Procedures Bylaw 1227, 2024 (PDF), District of Lake Country","section":"Bylaw 1227 s. 12.1, 12.2","quotes":["The Owner shall provide security where landscaping construction and planting is a condition of a","The Owner shall provide security for an unsafe condition or damage to the environment in the"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"city_trees":{"label":"City trees","value":"Damaging or removing any tree in a park or public recreation facility is prohibited, and cutting or damaging a District tree on a highway needs a permit from the District Engineer or Public Works Manager.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/parks-public-spaces-and-recreation-facilities-regulations-and-fees-bylaw-829-2012","title":"Parks, Public Spaces and Recreation Facilities Regulations and Fees Bylaw 829, 2012 (PDF), District of Lake Country","section":"s. 34","quotes":["No person shall break, injure or in any way damage or remove any tree, shrub, plant, turf, or"]},{"url":"https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/highways-bylaw-1189-2022-consolidated","title":"Highways Bylaw 1189, 2022 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Lake Country","section":"s. 15.1(e)","quotes":["Except as authorized by a Permit issued by the District Engineer or Public Works Manager, a person shall not:","any trees growing, planted, or maintained by the District, on a Highway;"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"No tree-specific ticket for private trees. Cutting in a development permit area without a permit is an offence under Bylaw 1227 s. 15.1 (up to $50,000 on conviction); 2022 schedules list the old Bylaw 1133 offence: bylaw notice $500, municipal ticket $1,000. District tree on a highway: $500.","short":"No private-tree ticket; up to $50,000 in court","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/bylaw-notice-enforcement-bylaw-760-2010-consolidated","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 760, 2010 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Lake Country","section":"Schedule A (Highways Bylaw), 15.1(e)(ii)","quotes":["Damage or cut down tree $500.00 $250.00 $625.00"]},{"url":"https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/municipal-ticket-information-bylaw-753-2010-consolidated","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw 753, 2010 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Lake Country","section":"Schedule 5 (Highways Bylaw), 15.1(e)(ii)","quotes":["Damage or cut down tree $500.00 $250.00"]},{"url":"https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/development-approval-procedures-bylaw-1227-2024","title":"Development Approval Procedures Bylaw 1227, 2024 (PDF), District of Lake Country","section":"Bylaw 1227 s. 15.1","quotes":["Every person who violates a provision of this bylaw commits an offence and is liable on summary","conviction to a penalty not exceeding fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) and the costs of prosecution."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"No tree bylaw. Development permit rules: Development Approval Procedures Bylaw 1227, 2024 (s. 5.2) and the development permit areas in Official Community Plan Bylaw 1330, 2026 (Appendix F).","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/development-approval-procedures-bylaw-1227-2024","title":"Development Approval Procedures Bylaw 1227, 2024 (PDF), District of Lake Country","section":"Bylaw 1227 s. 1.1, 5.2","quotes":["This Bylaw may be cited as “Development Approval Procedures Bylaw 1227, 2024”.","A development permit must be approved before any Land Alteration or development occurs unless"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":7,"stated":7,"matched":7,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe District of Lake Country has no bylaw that protects private trees. However, under [Development Approval Procedures Bylaw 1227](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/development-approval-procedures-bylaw-1227-2024) (s. 5.2), a development permit is needed before any \"land alteration\" where a development permit area in the [Official Community Plan](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/official-community-plan-2026-2046-bylaw-1330-2026) applies. Land alteration includes destroying trees or vegetation. The Natural Environment and Wildland Fire development permit areas are described in Appendix F of the plan. Farm land in the Agricultural Land Reserve is outside these rules only where exempt.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Find out whether your property is in a development permit area, using the District's GIS map or by calling Planning (250-766-6674).\n2. If it is, ask Planning whether your work is exempt, or apply for a permit. Fees: exemption review $140; technical development permit $880; development permit needing Council $1,670 (2026 Planning Fees Information Bulletin).\n3. Do not cut until you have the permit or written confirmation of an exemption.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- **Not land alteration:** planting, landscaping and fire smarting. Natural Environment area exemptions include land that is no longer sensitive, approved mining or forestry, a section 219 covenant, or land outside the area per a BC Land Surveyor survey. The Wildland Fire area also exempts work needing no building permit. The District may ask for a qualified professional's report. No hazard-tree exemption was found.\n- **Replacement (guidelines only):** in disturbed environmental buffers, replace trees by size, for example 3 trees for 152 to 304 mm and 8 for 610 mm or more. Landscaping permit conditions require security of 125% of the works (minimum $1,000).\n- **Penalty:** cutting in a development permit area without a permit is an offence under Bylaw 1227 s. 15.1 (up to $50,000 on conviction). The 2022 ticket schedules list the old Bylaw 1133 offence: bylaw notice $500; municipal ticket $1,000.\n- **District trees:** damaging or removing any tree in a park or public recreation facility is prohibited (Parks Bylaw 829, s. 34). Cutting or damaging a District tree on a highway needs a permit from the District Engineer or Public Works Manager. The ticket for a District tree on a highway is $500.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/development-approval-procedures-bylaw-1227-2024","title":"Development Approval Procedures Bylaw 1227, 2024 (PDF), District of Lake Country","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/official-community-plan-2026-2046-bylaw-1330-2026","title":"Official Community Plan Bylaw 1330, 2026-2046 (PDF), District of Lake Country","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/planning-fees-information-bulletin","title":"Planning Fees Information Bulletin (PDF), District of Lake Country","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/parks-public-spaces-and-recreation-facilities-regulations-and-fees-bylaw-829-2012","title":"Parks, Public Spaces and Recreation Facilities Regulations and Fees Bylaw 829, 2012 (PDF), District of Lake Country","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/highways-bylaw-1189-2022-consolidated","title":"Highways Bylaw 1189, 2022 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Lake Country","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/bylaw-notice-enforcement-bylaw-760-2010-consolidated","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 760, 2010 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Lake Country","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/municipal-ticket-information-bylaw-753-2010-consolidated","title":"Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw 753, 2010 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Lake Country","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-561-2007-consolidated","title":"https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-561-2007-consolidated","accessed":"2026-11-06"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-06","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 7 of 7 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/tree-removal/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/tree-removal.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/tree-removal.json"}}