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

# Lytton tree removal rules and permits

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

**Short answer:** Lytton has no tree protection bylaw in its bylaw library, and the sources we read set no permit, fee or fine for cutting a tree on your own lot. The Village can trim or remove dangerous trees next to a highway at the owner's expense.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Village of Lytton, https://www.lytton.ca)  
**Cost:** No tree permit fee is stated. Development Permit fees, where one applies, are in the Fees and Charges Bylaw, Schedule F.  
**How long:** Not stated.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Planning, 778-554-7880
- Email: Planning, planning@lytton.ca
- Phone: Village Office, 250-455-2355

## Key facts

- **When a permit is needed:** The Village suspended its OCP Development Permit and Temporary Use Permit requirements in April 2023, as a temporary measure. The OCP's two Development Permit Areas are Gold Rush Centre (downtown) and Eastern Slopes (steep, unstable slopes), the latter guiding disturbance of vegetation.
  - Source: [Development and Temporary Use Permit Areas, Intro](https://www.lytton.ca/business-development/land-use-zoning/development-temporary-use-permit-areas)
  - Official wording: "In April 2023, the Village of Lytton's Council suspended Official Community Plan Development Permit and Temporary Use Permit requirements"
  - Source: [Official Community Plan Bylaw 475, 1998 (Consolidated), Part 5.2](https://www.lytton.ca/media/336)
  - Official wording: "Development Permit Area No. 2- Eastern Slopes (Hazardous Conditions)" … "disturbance of vegetation"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Exemptions:** Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read.
- **Fee:** None set. The sources read for Lytton set no tree-cutting fee for private land.
- **Replacement trees:** None set. The sources read for Lytton set no replacement planting rule for private land.
- **City trees:** The Village may remove, cut down or trim trees, shrubs, hedges or bushes on land next to a highway that Council believes are dangerous or harm the road bed or sidewalks, after 5 days' notice, at the owner's expense.
  - Source: [Unsightly Premises Bylaw, ss. 3.1-3.2](https://www.lytton.ca/media/52)
  - Official wording: "The Village of Lytton may effect the removal, cutting down, or trimming of any trees," … "the Council shall give 5 days notice to the"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fine:** None set. The sources read for Lytton set no fine for cutting a tree on private land.
- **Bylaw:** Official Community Plan Bylaw 475, 1998 (Consolidated)
  - Source: [Bylaws and Policies, Bylaws & Policies list, page 2](https://www.lytton.ca/local-government/bylaws-policies?page=1)
  - Official wording: "Official Community Plan Bylaw 475, 1998 (Consolidated)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The Village of Lytton's bylaw library has no tree protection bylaw, and the sources we read do not set a permit, fee, replacement planting rule or fine for cutting a tree on private land.

The [Official Community Plan](https://www.lytton.ca/media/336) has two Development Permit Areas: Gold Rush Centre (downtown) and Eastern Slopes (steep, unstable slopes), and the Eastern Slopes area guides disturbance of vegetation. The Village suspended its OCP Development Permit and Temporary Use Permit requirements in April 2023 as a temporary measure. The Village's page does not say whether updated areas proposed in 2024 were adopted.

## Steps

1. Check your lot with Planning (778-554-7880), especially if it is on a steep slope.
2. Ask whether a development permit applies to your lot now.
3. If the tree is next to a highway, see below.

## Good to know

- Under section 3 of the [Unsightly Premises Bylaw](https://www.lytton.ca/media/52), the Village may remove, cut down or trim trees, shrubs, hedges or bushes on land next to a highway that Council believes are dangerous or harm the road bed or sidewalks. The Village gives 5 days' notice and the work is at the owner's expense.
- No tree-cutting offence or fine amount was found.
- Check the Village's Development and Temporary Use Permit Areas page for the current status of development permits.

## Official forms and pages

- [Development and Temporary Use Permit Areas, Village of Lytton](https://www.lytton.ca/business-development/land-use-zoning/development-temporary-use-permit-areas)
- [Unsightly Premises Bylaw (PDF)](https://www.lytton.ca/media/52)

## Related questions

- [Lytton zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lytton/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Lytton building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lytton/building-permit.md)
- [Lytton unsightly property rules and how to report](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lytton/unsightly-property.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)
- [Lillooet](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lillooet/tree-removal.md)
- [Merritt](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/merritt/tree-removal.md)
- [Hope](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/hope/tree-removal.md)
- [Whistler](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/whistler/tree-removal.md)
- [Kent](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kent/tree-removal.md)

## Sources

- [Development and Temporary Use Permit Areas, Village of Lytton](https://www.lytton.ca/business-development/land-use-zoning/development-temporary-use-permit-areas) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Official Community Plan Bylaw 475, 1998 (Consolidated) (PDF)](https://www.lytton.ca/media/336) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Unsightly Premises Bylaw (PDF)](https://www.lytton.ca/media/52) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaws and Policies, Village of Lytton](https://www.lytton.ca/local-government/bylaws-policies?page=1) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Contact Us, Village of Lytton](https://www.lytton.ca/local-government/contact-us) (read 2026-11-08)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 3 of 7 facts was matched to the official text; 3 are recorded as not set; 1 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Village of Lytton. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lytton/tree-removal/_