---
title: Lake Country tree removal rules and permits
question: "Do I need permission to cut down a tree on my property in Lake Country?"
place: Lake Country, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/lake-country
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Lake Country
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/tree-removal/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/tree-removal.json"
---

# Lake Country tree removal rules and permits

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Lake Country, https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca)  
**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:**
- Phone: Planning Department, 250-766-6674
- Email: Planning Department, planning@lakecountry.bc.ca
- In person: Municipal Hall, 10150 Bottom Wood Lake Road, Lake Country, BC V4V 2M1 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **When a permit is needed:** 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).
  - Source: [Official Community Plan Bylaw 1330, 2026-2046, OCP Glossary](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/official-community-plan-2026-2046-bylaw-1330-2026)
  - Official wording: "Development Any alteration of land or any construction."
  - Source: [https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-561-2007-consolidated, Definitions, Alteration of land](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-561-2007-consolidated)
  - Official wording: "removal, alteration, disruption or destruction of vegetation;"
  - Source: [Official Community Plan Bylaw 1330, 2026-2046, Appendix F, 1.2 Natural Environment DPA](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/official-community-plan-2026-2046-bylaw-1330-2026)
  - Official wording: "This DPA applies to all land within areas shown on Map C11, unless exempted."
  - Source: [Development Approval Procedures Bylaw 1227, 2024, Bylaw 1227, ss. 3 (Land Alteration) and 5.2](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/development-approval-procedures-bylaw-1227-2024)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Exemptions:** 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.
  - Source: [Official Community Plan Bylaw 1330, 2026-2046, Appendix F, 1.2 Exemptions](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/official-community-plan-2026-2046-bylaw-1330-2026)
  - Official wording: "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."
  - Source: [Official Community Plan Bylaw 1330, 2026-2046, Appendix F, 1.3 Exemptions, item 5](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/official-community-plan-2026-2046-bylaw-1330-2026)
  - Official wording: "The removal of trees or other plant materials is done in"
  - Source: [Development Approval Procedures Bylaw 1227, 2024, Bylaw 1227 s. 3 (Land Alteration)](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/development-approval-procedures-bylaw-1227-2024)
  - Official wording: "construction or alteration of patios. For clarity, land alteration does not include planting, landscaping,"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee:** 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).
  - Source: [Planning Fees Information Bulletin, 2026 Planning Fees](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/planning-fees-information-bulletin)
  - Official wording: "Development Permit - Exemption Review" … "Development Permit - Technical" … "Development Permit - Council"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Replacement trees:** 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.
  - Source: [Official Community Plan Bylaw 1330, 2026-2046, Appendix F, 1.2 guideline 22.2](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/official-community-plan-2026-2046-bylaw-1330-2026)
  - Official wording: "22.2. Tree removal and replacement should occur according to the" … "152mm – 304mm dbh * 3 replacement trees (minimum" … "610mm + dbh * 8 replacement trees (minimum"
  - Source: [Development Approval Procedures Bylaw 1227, 2024, Bylaw 1227 s. 12.1, 12.2](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/development-approval-procedures-bylaw-1227-2024)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **City trees:** 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.
  - Source: [Parks, Public Spaces and Recreation Facilities Regulations and Fees Bylaw 829, 2012, s. 34](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/parks-public-spaces-and-recreation-facilities-regulations-and-fees-bylaw-829-2012)
  - Official wording: "No person shall break, injure or in any way damage or remove any tree, shrub, plant, turf, or"
  - Source: [Highways Bylaw 1189, 2022 (consolidated), s. 15.1(e)](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/highways-bylaw-1189-2022-consolidated)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** 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.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 760, 2010 (consolidated), Schedule A (Highways Bylaw), 15.1(e)(ii)](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/bylaw-notice-enforcement-bylaw-760-2010-consolidated)
  - Official wording: "Damage or cut down tree $500.00 $250.00 $625.00"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw 753, 2010 (consolidated), Schedule 5 (Highways Bylaw), 15.1(e)(ii)](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/municipal-ticket-information-bylaw-753-2010-consolidated)
  - Official wording: "Damage or cut down tree $500.00 $250.00"
  - Source: [Development Approval Procedures Bylaw 1227, 2024, Bylaw 1227 s. 15.1](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/development-approval-procedures-bylaw-1227-2024)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** 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).
  - Source: [Development Approval Procedures Bylaw 1227, 2024, Bylaw 1227 s. 1.1, 5.2](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/development-approval-procedures-bylaw-1227-2024)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The 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.

## Steps

1. Find out whether your property is in a development permit area, using the District's GIS map or by calling Planning (250-766-6674).
2. 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).
3. Do not cut until you have the permit or written confirmation of an exemption.

## Good to know

- **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.
- **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).
- **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.
- **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.

## Official forms and pages

- [Development Approval Procedures Bylaw 1227, 2024 (PDF)](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/development-approval-procedures-bylaw-1227-2024)
- [Official Community Plan Bylaw 1330, 2026 (PDF)](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/official-community-plan-2026-2046-bylaw-1330-2026)
- [Planning Fees Information Bulletin (PDF)](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/planning-fees-information-bulletin)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Tree removal permits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tree-removal.md)
- [Kelowna](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kelowna/tree-removal.md)
- [Vernon](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vernon/tree-removal.md)
- [Coldstream](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coldstream/tree-removal.md)
- [West Kelowna](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-kelowna/tree-removal.md)
- [Lumby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lumby/tree-removal.md)
- [Peachland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/peachland/tree-removal.md)

## Sources

- [Development Approval Procedures Bylaw 1227, 2024 (PDF), District of Lake Country](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/development-approval-procedures-bylaw-1227-2024) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Official Community Plan Bylaw 1330, 2026-2046 (PDF), District of Lake Country](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/official-community-plan-2026-2046-bylaw-1330-2026) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Planning Fees Information Bulletin (PDF), District of Lake Country](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/planning-fees-information-bulletin) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Parks, Public Spaces and Recreation Facilities Regulations and Fees Bylaw 829, 2012 (PDF), District of Lake Country](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/parks-public-spaces-and-recreation-facilities-regulations-and-fees-bylaw-829-2012) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Highways Bylaw 1189, 2022 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Lake Country](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/highways-bylaw-1189-2022-consolidated) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 760, 2010 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Lake Country](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/bylaw-notice-enforcement-bylaw-760-2010-consolidated) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw 753, 2010 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Lake Country](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/municipal-ticket-information-bylaw-753-2010-consolidated) (read 2026-11-06)
- [https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-561-2007-consolidated](https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-561-2007-consolidated) (read 2026-11-06)

_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 Lake Country. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/tree-removal/_