Lantzville tree removal rules and permits
Do I need permission to cut down a tree on my property in Lantzville?
In Lantzville the Tree Protection and Management Bylaw prohibits cutting trees over 20 cm across on land with no house or commercial or industrial building, and cutting Designated Trees. Lots with a house are not covered, but a development permit area may still need a permit.
Key facts
| When a permit is needed | Cutting is prohibited, with no tree permit in the bylaw, for trees over 20 cm across on land with no house or commercial or industrial building (Greenfield Property) and for listed Designated Trees. Lots with a house are not covered. Development permit areas may still need a permit.Tree Protection and Management Bylaw No. 358, 2024 (PDF, consolidated), s. 2, 3; Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 150, OCP s. 11.4.3 (DPA 2 Sensitive Ecosystems) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingThis Bylaw applies to all Designated Trees and to all Greenfield Properties in the District of Lantzville. no person shall Cut Down, or permit the Cutting Down of any Designated Tree or Tree on a Greenfield Property a woody perennial plant of any size with a trunk greater than 20 centimetres in diameter measured at a height of 1.4 metres above the undisturbed grade Development permits will be required in these areas for activity including construction, subdivision, land clearing, land grubbing, soil removal, soil deposit, or tree removal. |
|---|---|
| Exemptions | Trees authorized by a Development Permit or Building Permit; Dangerous Trees (identified by a certified arborist); trees on Developed Property; trees on Crown land or Private Managed Forest Land; trees Ministry of Forests orders cut; BC Hydro or WorkSafeBC safety work; highway or public service corridors.Tree Protection and Management Bylaw No. 358, 2024 (PDF, consolidated), s. 4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingTrees specifically authorized to be removed in accordance with a Development Permit or Building Permit issued by the District Dangerous Trees Trees on Crown land or land subject to the Private Managed Forest Land Act Trees on Developed Property. |
| Fee | None set. Lantzville's Tree Protection and Management Bylaw has no application fee.Read: Tree Protection and Management Bylaw No. 358, 2024 (PDF, consolidated) |
| Replacement trees | None set. Lantzville's Tree Protection and Management Bylaw sets no replacement planting rule.Read: Tree Protection and Management Bylaw No. 358, 2024 (PDF, consolidated) |
| City trees | No one may cut, top, injure or damage a tree on District-owned land without written permission of the Director of Public Works.Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 200, 2021, s. 11 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingNo person shall climb, peel, cut, deface, remove, top, injure, or in any way damage any tree planted or growing on District-owned land |
| Fine | Court: $10,000 to $50,000 per offence, each tree a separate offence. The bylaw allows a ticket up to $3,000 under the Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw, but that bylaw's schedule lists no amount for it. Cutting a tree on District land without approval: $150 ticket.Tree Protection and Management Bylaw No. 358, 2024 (PDF, consolidated), s. 6; Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 100, as amended by Bylaw No. 378, 2024, Appendix 5 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingis liable to a penalty of not less than ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00) and not more than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00) for each offence and the costs of prosecution This bylaw may be enforced by a fine up to three thousand dollars ($3,000.00) if a ticket is issued under the Cut or damage a tree on District-owned land without |
| Bylaw | District of Lantzville Tree Protection and Management Bylaw No. 358, 2024 (consolidated to Bylaw No. 434, 2026)Tree Protection and Management Bylaw No. 358, 2024 (PDF, consolidated), Title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingTREE PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT BYLAW NO. 358, 2024 CONSOLIDATED FOR CONVENIENCE ONLY |
How it works
The District of Lantzville's Tree Protection and Management Bylaw No. 358, 2024 prohibits cutting trees over 20 cm across on a Greenfield Property (land with no habitable dwelling or commercial or industrial building on a foundation) and cutting listed Designated Trees. The bylaw has no tree permit and no application fee. Lots with a house (Developed Property) are not covered. The bylaw sets no replacement planting rule.
Exempt: trees authorized by a Development Permit or Building Permit; Dangerous Trees identified by a certified arborist; trees on Developed Property; trees on Crown land or Private Managed Forest Land; trees the Ministry of Forests orders cut; BC Hydro or WorkSafeBC safety work; and highway or public service corridors.
Steps
- Check whether your land has a house or commercial or industrial building. If it does, the bylaw does not apply to your trees.
- If it does not, or the tree may be a Designated Tree, ask Planning before cutting.
- Check whether your land is in a development permit area in the Official Community Plan maps. A development permit may be needed.
Good to know
- District-owned land: no one may cut, top, injure or damage a tree without the written permission of the Director of Public Works (Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 200, 2021). The ticket is $150.
- Penalty: $10,000 to $50,000 per offence in court, and each tree is a separate offence. The bylaw allows a ticket up to $3,000, but the ticket schedule lists no amount for it.
- Planning: planning@lantzville.ca, 250-933-8093.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Nanaimo · Parksville · Qualicum Beach · Sechelt · Ladysmith · Gibsons
Sources
- Tree Protection and Management Bylaw No. 358, 2024 (PDF, consolidated), District of Lantzville (read 2026-11-08)
- Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 200, 2021 (PDF), District of Lantzville (read 2026-11-08)
- Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 100, as amended by Bylaw No. 378, 2024 (PDF), District of Lantzville (read 2026-11-08)
- Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 150 (PDF), District of Lantzville (read 2026-11-08)
- Contact Information, District of Lantzville (read 2026-11-08)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 7 facts was matched to the official text; 2 are recorded as not set. How answers are checked.