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Lake Country tree removal rules and permits

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

Lake Country, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-06

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.

Key facts

When a permit is neededNo 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).Official Community Plan Bylaw 1330, 2026-2046, OCP Glossary; https://www.lakecountry.bc.ca/media/file/zoning-bylaw-561-2007-consolidated, Definitions, Alteration of land; Official Community Plan Bylaw 1330, 2026-2046, Appendix F, 1.2 Natural Environment DPA; Development Approval Procedures Bylaw 1227, 2024, Bylaw 1227, ss. 3 (Land Alteration) and 5.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Development Any alteration of land or any construction.
removal, alteration, disruption or destruction of vegetation;
This DPA applies to all land within areas shown on Map C11, unless exempted.
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,
ExemptionsNot '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.Official Community Plan Bylaw 1330, 2026-2046, Appendix F, 1.2 Exemptions; Official Community Plan Bylaw 1330, 2026-2046, Appendix F, 1.3 Exemptions, item 5; Development Approval Procedures Bylaw 1227, 2024, Bylaw 1227 s. 3 (Land Alteration) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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.
The removal of trees or other plant materials is done in
construction or alteration of patios. For clarity, land alteration does not include planting, landscaping,
FeeNo 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).Planning Fees Information Bulletin, 2026 Planning Fees · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Development Permit - Exemption Review
Development Permit - Technical
Development Permit - Council
Replacement treesNatural 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.Official Community Plan Bylaw 1330, 2026-2046, Appendix F, 1.2 guideline 22.2; Development Approval Procedures Bylaw 1227, 2024, Bylaw 1227 s. 12.1, 12.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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
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
City treesDamaging 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.Parks, Public Spaces and Recreation Facilities Regulations and Fees Bylaw 829, 2012, s. 34; Highways Bylaw 1189, 2022 (consolidated), s. 15.1(e) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
No person shall break, injure or in any way damage or remove any tree, shrub, plant, turf, or
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;
FineNo 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.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 760, 2010 (consolidated), Schedule A (Highways Bylaw), 15.1(e)(ii); Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw 753, 2010 (consolidated), Schedule 5 (Highways Bylaw), 15.1(e)(ii); Development Approval Procedures Bylaw 1227, 2024, Bylaw 1227 s. 15.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
Damage or cut down tree $500.00 $250.00 $625.00
Damage or cut down tree $500.00 $250.00
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.
BylawNo 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).Development Approval Procedures Bylaw 1227, 2024, Bylaw 1227 s. 1.1, 5.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
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

How it works

The District of Lake Country has no bylaw that protects private trees. However, under Development Approval Procedures Bylaw 1227 (s. 5.2), a development permit is needed before any "land alteration" where a development permit area in the Official Community Plan 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

The same question in other places

Kelowna · Vernon · Coldstream · West Kelowna · Lumby · Peachland

Tree removal permits in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Development Approval Procedures Bylaw 1227, 2024 (PDF), District of Lake Country (read 2026-11-06)
  2. Official Community Plan Bylaw 1330, 2026-2046 (PDF), District of Lake Country (read 2026-11-06)
  3. Planning Fees Information Bulletin (PDF), District of Lake Country (read 2026-11-06)
  4. Parks, Public Spaces and Recreation Facilities Regulations and Fees Bylaw 829, 2012 (PDF), District of Lake Country (read 2026-11-06)
  5. Highways Bylaw 1189, 2022 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Lake Country (read 2026-11-06)
  6. Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 760, 2010 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Lake Country (read 2026-11-06)
  7. Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw 753, 2010 (consolidated) (PDF), District of Lake Country (read 2026-11-06)
  8. 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. How answers are checked.