---
title: Lillooet tree removal rules and permits
question: "Do I need permission to cut down a tree on my property in Lillooet?"
place: Lillooet, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/lillooet
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: District of Lillooet
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lillooet/tree-removal/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lillooet/tree-removal.json"
---

# Lillooet tree removal rules and permits

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

**Short answer:** Lillooet has no tree-cutting bylaw. But removing vegetation within the Watercourse Development Permit Area, which includes land within 30 m of a watercourse, is development that needs a development permit unless exempt. That permit costs $200. Check your lot with the District before you cut.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Lillooet, https://www.lillooet.ca)  
**Cost:** No tree permit fee. Where a Watercourse (RAR) Development Permit is needed: $200.  
**How long:** The documents read do not state a processing time. Ask the Planning Technician.  
**Where:**
- Email: Planning Technician, planning@lillooet.ca
- In person: Municipal Hall, 615 Main Street, Lillooet, BC (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.; closed statutory holidays.)
- Phone: District office, 250-256-4289

## Key facts

- **When a permit is needed:** No tree-cutting bylaw was found. But in the Watercourse Development Permit Area (riparian assessment areas, including land within 30 m of a watercourse's high water mark) removing vegetation is development that needs a development permit, unless exempt.
  - Source: [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2020-040 (Lillooet 2040), Watercourse Development Permit Area, Guidelines s. 1](https://lillooet.civicweb.net/document/88192/)
  - Official wording: "A development permit is required, except where exempt under Exemptions Section for development or land alteration on land identified as a riparian assessment area within the WDP Area." … "a. removal, alteration, disruption or destruction of vegetation;"
  - Source: [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2020-040 (Lillooet 2040), Watercourse Development Permit Area, Area](https://lillooet.civicweb.net/document/88192/)
  - Official wording: "within 30m (98.4 feet) of the high water mark of the watercourse,"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Exemptions:** The Watercourse permit does not apply to farm buildings, institutional development with no residential, commercial or industrial aspect, repairs on an existing foundation, areas already covered by a past permit, or where a QEP letter confirms no visible channel. No hazard-tree exemption is stated.
  - Source: [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2020-040 (Lillooet 2040), Watercourse Development Permit Area, Exemptions](https://lillooet.civicweb.net/document/88192/)
  - Official wording: "The WDPA does not apply to the following:" … "a. the construction, alteration, addition, repair, demolition and maintenance of farm" … "institutional development containing no residential, commercial or industrial aspect;" … "e. A letter is provided by a QEP confirming that there is no visible channel."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fee:** No tree permit fee. Where a Watercourse (RAR) Development Permit is needed: $200.
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2021-003, current to April 22, 2026, Schedule 8, s. 1.0, item 5.2](https://lillooet.civicweb.net/document/102362/)
  - Official wording: "Watercourse (RAR) Development Permit $200.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Replacement trees:** Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read.
- **City trees:** Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read.
- **Fine:** None set. Lillooet's Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw has no tree offence, and the District has no tree-cutting bylaw.
- **Bylaw:** No tree bylaw. Vegetation in riparian areas is controlled through the Watercourse Development Permit Area in the Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2020-040 (Lillooet 2040).
  - Source: [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2020-040 (Lillooet 2040), Cover / OCP Bylaw](https://lillooet.civicweb.net/document/88192/)
  - Official wording: "n e y, l v e t h e a i Bylaw No. 2020-040 Schedule A August 2021"
  - Source: [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2020-040 (Lillooet 2040), Watercourse Development Permit Area, Guidelines s. 1](https://lillooet.civicweb.net/document/88192/)
  - Official wording: "A development permit is required, except where exempt under Exemptions Section for development or land alteration on land identified as a riparian assessment area within the WDP Area." … "a. removal, alteration, disruption or destruction of vegetation;"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The District has no bylaw that requires a permit to cut a tree on private land. The [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2020-040](https://lillooet.civicweb.net/document/88192/) only encourages tree retention and encourages owners to replace trees removed for safety reasons.

In the Watercourse Development Permit Area, which includes riparian assessment areas and land within 30 m of a watercourse's high water mark, removing vegetation is development that needs a development permit, unless exempt. The permit does not apply to farm buildings, institutional development with no residential, commercial or industrial aspect, repairs on an existing foundation, areas already covered by a past permit, or where a qualified environmental professional's letter confirms no visible channel. No hazard-tree exemption is stated.

## Steps

1. Check the Development Permit Areas Map (Schedule D of the OCP) for your lot.
2. If you are near a watercourse, ask the Planning Technician at planning@lillooet.ca or 250-256-4289 before cutting.
3. If a permit is needed, apply for a Watercourse (RAR) Development Permit.

## Good to know

- Fees: no tree permit fee; $200 for a Watercourse (RAR) Development Permit; $500 for an Environmental and Hazardous Conditions Development Permit.
- No replacement-planting or security rule was found.
- No District rule on boulevard or park trees was found. Ask the District before touching a tree on public land.
- No ticket amount for cutting trees was found; the Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw has no tree offence.
- The Nuisance Bylaw lets the District direct owners to clear brush or trees, and requires owners next to sidewalks to keep trees hazard-free.

## Official forms and pages

- [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2020-040](https://lillooet.civicweb.net/document/88192/)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Tree removal permits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tree-removal.md)
- [Ashcroft](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ashcroft/tree-removal.md)
- [Lytton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lytton/tree-removal.md)
- [Whistler](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/whistler/tree-removal.md)
- [Merritt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/merritt/tree-removal.md)
- [100 Mile House](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/100-mile-house/tree-removal.md)
- [Kamloops](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kamloops/tree-removal.md)

## Sources

- [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2020-040 (Lillooet 2040), District of Lillooet](https://lillooet.civicweb.net/document/88192/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2021-003, current to April 22, 2026, District of Lillooet](https://lillooet.civicweb.net/document/102362/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Contact Us, District of Lillooet](https://www.lillooet.ca/contact-us) (read 2026-11-08)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 4 of 7 facts was matched to the official text; 1 is recorded as not set; 2 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with District of Lillooet. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lillooet/tree-removal/_