Township of Langley tree removal rules and permits
Do I need permission to cut down a tree on my property?
Short answer
In the Township of Langley (not the City of Langley) you need a permit to cut or remove a protected tree: any tree 20 cm dbh or more, and any tree on Township land. The bylaw does not apply to ALR land. The application fee is $150. Cutting without a permit is a $500 bylaw notice per tree.
Key facts
| When a permit is needed | A permit is needed to cut or remove a protected tree: any tree 20 cm dbh or more, a replacement tree planted under development rules, a tree with certain nests, or any tree on Township land. The bylaw does not apply to ALR land, licensed tree farms or nurseries, or land with a development application.Tree Protection Bylaw 2019, No. 5478, s. 1 ("Protected Tree"); s. 5.1; s. 5.4; Tree Protection, Tree Protection page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordinghaving a dbh of 20 centimetres or more A person must not cut or remove any protected tree, or cause, suffer or permit any cut or remove a protected tree may be issued by the Municipality only in the g) land that is currently designated as Agricultural Land Reserve as defined under the h) land that is subject of a development application. The removal of protected trees is limited to the following situations: |
|---|---|
| Exemptions | Not covered: land in the ALR; licensed tree farms, nurseries and Christmas tree land; land subject to a development application; trees under 20 cm dbh. No permit for normal pruning, hedge pruning, or removals approved in a development permit, rezoning or subdivision.Tree Protection Bylaw 2019, No. 5478, s. 3; s. 6; Tree Protection, Tree Protection page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingland that is currently designated as Agricultural Land Reserve as defined under the h) land that is subject of a development application. h) the protected tree is less than 20 centimetres dbh. 6.2. A permit is not required for the pruning of a hedge. a) a development permit, rezoning and/or subdivision has been approved which Trimming or pruning of trees using sound horticultural and arboricultural practices, or hedges less than 10 metres in height. |
| Fee | Application fee $150 (non-refundable); no application fee for imminent failure or dead, dying or diseased trees. Permit fee $100 per tree for building, driveway or septic conflicts and inappropriate trees. Building, driveway or septic conflicts also pay cash-in-lieu: $600 per tree (20 to 30 cm dbh) or $1,200 (over 30 cm).Fees and Charges Bylaw 2007, No. 4616, Schedule 15 Tree Protection; Tree Protection, Fees · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingProtected tree cut or remove $150 Imminent Failure No Fee Building Envelope, Driveway or 20 to 30cm dbh $600 Septic Field Conflicts greater than 30cm dbh $1,200 Building Envelope, Driveway or $100 All payment submitted by credit card will be charged a 2.2% credit card fee. |
| Replacement trees | No replacement planting is required. For permits issued for building-envelope, septic field or driveway conflicts, a cash-in-lieu payment must be made; the Township uses it to plant trees on Township land.Tree Protection Bylaw 2019, No. 5478, s. 9.1; Tree Protection Bylaw 2019, No. 5478, Explanatory note, Bylaw 5838 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingit is required that a cash-in-lieu payment, as outlined in Fees and Charges Bylaw shall be paid to the date on a Municipally owned property, in a location designated by the Municipality. removing the requirement for replacement trees by providing provisions for cash-in-lieu, |
| City trees | Any tree on land owned or held by the Township is a protected tree regardless of size. Street trees in the road allowance in front of your property belong to the Township; residents must not prune or remove them.Tree Protection Bylaw 2019, No. 5478, s. 1 ("Protected Tree") d); Municipal Trees, Municipal Trees page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingany tree, regardless of height or dbh, where located on land that is in the ownership or possession of the Municipality. Street trees planted in the municipal road allowance fronting your property are owned by the Township of Langley. Unauthorized pruning/removal of municipal trees will be subject to penalties under Tree Protection Bylaw No. 5478. |
| Fine | Bylaw notice: $500 per tree for cutting or removing a protected tree without a valid permit (s. 5.1). Court: fine up to $10,000 per tree. Fees Schedule 15 adds charges, such as a $2,000 penalty per tree and a $200 site inspection fee.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2008, No. 4703, Tree Protection Bylaw schedule; Tree Protection Bylaw 2019, No. 5478, s. 19.3; Fees and Charges Bylaw 2007, No. 4616, Schedule 15 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingCut or remove or cause suffer or permit any 5.1 $500 is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars Penalty for Removing a Tree $2,000 Site Inspection Fee when protected $200 |
| Bylaw | Tree Protection Bylaw 2019 No. 5478Tree Protection Bylaw 2019, No. 5478, title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingTREE PROTECTION BYLAW 2019 NO. 5478 |
How it works
The Township of Langley (a separate municipality from the City of Langley) protects trees under its Tree Protection Bylaw. A permit is needed to cut or remove a protected tree: any tree 20 cm dbh (diameter at breast height) or more, a replacement tree planted under development rules, a tree with certain nests, or any tree on Township land. The bylaw does not apply to land in the Agricultural Land Reserve, licensed tree farms or nurseries, Christmas tree land, or land with a development application. Trees under 20 cm dbh are not covered.
No permit is needed for normal pruning, hedge pruning, or removals approved in a development permit, rezoning or subdivision.
Permits can be issued for these reasons: a hazard to a public utility; agricultural use on non-ALR land (arborist report, sworn declaration and a 10-year covenant); a dead, dying or diseased tree; imminent failure; a conflict with a building envelope, septic field or driveway; or a tree inappropriate for its size, species or location.
Steps
- Check whether your tree is protected and whether an exemption applies.
- Apply through the Township (see the tree protection page) and pay the application fee.
- Do not cut until the permit is issued.
Good to know
- Fees (before tax): application $150, non-refundable, with none for imminent-failure or dead, dying or diseased trees. Permit fee $100 per tree for building, driveway or septic conflicts and inappropriate trees. Building, driveway or septic conflicts also pay cash-in-lieu: $600 per tree (20 to 30 cm dbh) or $1,200 (over 30 cm), capped for building projects, and $100 for inappropriate trees. Renewal, extension or modification is $100 per tree.
- No replacement planting is required. The cash-in-lieu payment is used by the Township to plant trees on Township land.
- Any tree on land owned or held by the Township is protected regardless of size. Street trees in the road allowance in front of your property belong to the Township; do not prune or remove them.
- Nesting trees (raptors, osprey, pileated woodpecker, heron colony, hummingbird) are also protected.
- Fines: a bylaw notice is $500 per tree for cutting or removing a protected tree without a valid permit. In court, the fine can be up to $10,000 per tree. The fee schedule adds charges such as a $2,000 penalty per tree and a $200 site inspection fee.
- The Township page says the hedge exemption covers hedges under 10 metres in height; the bylaw says pruning a hedge needs no permit. Confirm with the Township.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Langley City · Surrey · White Rock · Maple Ridge · Port Coquitlam · Mission
Sources
- Tree Protection Bylaw 2019, No. 5478 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- Tree Protection, Township of Langley (read 2026-11-06)
- Municipal Trees, Township of Langley (read 2026-11-06)
- Fees and Charges Bylaw 2007, No. 4616 (PDF) (read 2026-11-06)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2008, No. 4703 (PDF) (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.