Lumby tree removal rules and permits

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

Lumby, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-08

Short answer

In Lumby there is no general permit to cut a tree on private land. A development permit is needed to remove vegetation in a mapped watercourse area or beside an unmapped watercourse. Village trees may not be cut without written permission.

Key facts

When a permit is needed	No general permit for cutting trees on private land. Under the OCP an Environmentally Sensitive Areas Development Permit is needed before removing vegetation in a mapped watercourse area or beside an unmapped watercourse. Tree Policy s. 9 also requires a Tree Cutting Permit, with a Qualified Environmental Professional report, for the four salmon-creek corridors.Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 761, 2014, OCP s. 5.6.3; Village of Lumby Tree Policy, Tree Policy s. 9.a · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording removal, alteration, disruption or destruction of vegetation; Environmentally Sensitive Areas Development Permit prior to: alteration of land. this stream corridor identified will require a Tree Cutting Permit for all maintenance performed.
Exemptions	Exempt from that permit: actions backed by a Qualified Professional's report showing no significant environmental impact; cultivating land in the Agricultural Land Reserve; farm buildings and normal farm practices; an accessory building up to 40 m² (not in a riparian assessment area, no variances); emergency removal of hazardous trees (listed for Village or Crown agency actions).Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 761, 2014, OCP s. 5.6.4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording the cultivation of lands for agricultural purposes within the Agricultural Land Reserve. the emergency removal of dangerous or hazardous trees or limbs by standard arboricultural practices not to exceed 40 m2 (430 sq ft) where no variances of the Zoning Bylaw are required
Fee	No fee for tree cutting itself. Where an Environmentally Sensitive Areas Development Permit is needed, the application fee is $500.Planning Procedures and Fees Bylaw No. 656, 2007, Schedule of fees · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording Development Permit for Environmentally Sensitive Areas 500.00
Replacement trees	Where a Tree Cutting Permit is issued the Village may require replacement: unless waived, two replacement trees for each tree removed, within one growing season (3 m minimum for conifers, 80 mm trunk diameter for deciduous). A development permit may also require security for landscaping or restoration.Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 761, 2014, OCP s. 5.2(d); Village of Lumby Tree Policy, Tree Policy s. 10.a · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording requires security be provided to ensure that conditions of the Development Permit are habitat restoration works, post- must be replaced within one growing season at a ratio of two replacement trees for each tree removed
City trees	Only Village staff or approved contractors may work on Village trees. No one else may plant, remove, prune or otherwise affect a tree on Village property without written permission or a Tree Cutting Permit from the Public Works and Parks Superintendent. In parks and public places, cutting or injuring any tree is prohibited without Village authorization. A tree whose trunk crosses a property line is joint property.Village of Lumby Tree Policy, Tree Policy s. B.1.0; Good Neighbour Bylaw, s. 7.2(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording No other person may plant, remove, prune or otherwise undertake any activity that Trees are considered joint property when any part of the tree trunk crosses a cut, destroy, damage, climb, break, remove or injure any tree, sapling, shrub, plant,
Fine	In a park or other public place: $150 first offence, $300 second and later for cutting or destroying vegetation (Bylaw 903 Schedule H); the Good Neighbour Bylaw's reference table shows $500 for a second offence. No ticket for cutting trees on private land was found.Sources differ: Failing to trim a tree or hedge when directed by the Village (s. 10.3(f)): $150 / $300.Bylaw Notice and ticket bylaw, Bylaw No. 903, Schedule H; Good Neighbour Bylaw, Bylaw 877 Schedule H (reference only) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording Cut/destroy vegetation 7.2(a) $150.00 $300.00 Cut/Destroy vegetation 7.2(0} $150.00 $500.00
Bylaw	No private-land tree bylaw. Village of Lumby Tree Policy (Village property); Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 761, 2014, s. 5.6 (Environmentally Sensitive Areas Development Permits)Village of Lumby Tree Policy; Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 761, 2014, OCP s. 5.6 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 Official wording For the Management of Trees on Village Property 5.6 Environmentally Sensitive Areas Development Permits

How it works

Lumby has no tree bylaw for private land. The rules come from the Official Community Plan (Bylaw No. 761, s. 5.6) and the Village's Tree Policy, which covers Village property.

Private land: an Environmentally Sensitive Areas Development Permit is needed before removing vegetation in a mapped watercourse area or beside an unmapped watercourse. The Tree Policy (s. 9) also requires a Tree Cutting Permit, with a Qualified Environmental Professional report, for the four salmon-creek corridors. The OCP maps are Schedules E and F.

Exempt from that permit: actions backed by a Qualified Professional's report showing no significant environmental impact; cultivating land in the Agricultural Land Reserve; farm buildings and normal farm practices; an accessory building up to 40 m² (not in a riparian assessment area, no variances); and emergency removal of hazardous trees.

Replacement: where a Tree Cutting Permit is issued, the Village may require two replacement trees for each tree removed, within one growing season, unless waived (3 m minimum for conifers, 80 mm trunk diameter for deciduous). A development permit may also require security for landscaping or restoration.

Village trees: only Village staff or approved contractors may work on them. No one else may plant, remove, prune or otherwise affect a tree on Village property without written permission or a Tree Cutting Permit from the Public Works and Parks Superintendent. In parks and public places, cutting or injuring any tree is prohibited without Village authorization.

Steps

Check whether your tree is near a watercourse or in a mapped area (OCP Schedules E and F).
If it is, call RDNO planning (250-550-3700) about a development permit. The application fee is $500.
If the tree is on Village property, ask Public Works first.
Cutting a tree on private land elsewhere needs no Village permit.

Good to know

A tree whose trunk crosses a property line is joint property.
The Tree Policy says removal for views, shade or leaf litter is refused.
Cutting or destroying vegetation in a park or public place is $150 for a first offence and $300 for a second and later (Bylaw 903 Schedule H). The Good Neighbour Bylaw's reference table shows $500 for a second offence, so confirm the amount with the Village.
Failing to trim a tree or hedge when directed by the Village is also $150 first, $300 later.
No ticket for cutting trees on private land was found.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Coldstream · Vernon · Spallumcheen · Armstrong · Enderby · Lake Country

Tree removal permits in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Village of Lumby Tree Policy (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 761, 2014 (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
Planning Procedures and Fees Bylaw No. 656, 2007 (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
Bylaw Notice and ticket bylaw, Bylaw No. 903 (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
Good Neighbour Bylaw (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
Planning and Building Inspection, Village of Lumby (read 2026-11-08)

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.