Metchosin tree removal rules and permits
Do I need permission to cut down a tree on my property in Metchosin?
Short answer
In Metchosin you need a permit to cut down any tree 10 cm or more in diameter unless an exemption applies. The fee is $40 for the first 50 trees. Protected trees (such as Garry oak and arbutus), significant trees and Shoreland Slopes trees have extra rules.
Key facts
| When a permit is needed | A permit is needed to cut down any tree (a woody plant 10 cm or more in diameter) anywhere in Metchosin unless an exemption applies. Special permit rules also cover protected trees (Garry oak, arbutus, Pacific dogwood, Pacific yew, cascara, manzanita and others), significant trees, the Shoreland Slopes Development Permit Area, and riparian assessment areas.Tree Management Bylaw No. 287 (consolidated 2013), s. 8(1); Tree Management Bylaw No. 287 (consolidated 2013), s. 5(20); Tree Management Bylaw No. 287 (consolidated 2013), s. 5(13), 10.1(1); Tree Cutting Permits · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNo person shall cut down any tree except in accordance with a Permit. any living, erect, woody plant which is 10 cm a Garry Oak tree (Quercus garryana) No person shall cut down a protected tree except in accordance with a Permit. The Tree Management Bylaw regulates the removal of trees in Metchosin. |
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| Exemptions | On ordinary land no permit is needed for a dangerous tree, or for up to 50 trees of 18 cm diameter or less and 10 larger trees per 4,000 m² in 12 months (not in riparian assessment areas). Protected trees, significant trees and Shoreland Slopes trees still need a permit, except up to ten arbutus under 0.5 m dbh. Trees under 10 cm are not covered.Tree Management Bylaw No. 287 (consolidated 2013), s. 8(2); Tree Management Bylaw No. 287 (consolidated 2013), s. 10.1(3); Tree Management Bylaw No. 287 (consolidated 2013), s. 21 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordinga Permit is not required to cut down any tree where none of the trees to 50 trees having a diameter of 18 cm (7”) or less 10 trees having a diameter of more than 18 cm (7”) Despite subsection (1), a Permit is not required to cut down any tree where none of the trees to No person shall cut down a protected tree except in accordance with a Permit. Despite section 10.1(1), a permit is not required to cut down no more than ten “Tree” means any living, erect, woody plant which is 10 cm (3.9”) or more in diameter. a permit is not required to cut down no more than ten Nothing contained in this Bylaw shall apply to a tree growing on a highway, park, right of way or |
| Fee | $40 for the first 50 trees (or part), plus $2 for each additional tree. Non-refundable. No fee for removing a dangerous tree.Tree Management Bylaw No. 287 (consolidated 2013), s. 14(1), (2) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording$40.00 for the first 50 trees or portion thereof; and $2.00 for each additional tree. No application fee shall be charged for the removal of a dangerous tree. |
| Replacement trees | The Clerk may require replacement trees as a permit condition, and they are required if a tree is cut contrary to the bylaw. Replacement trees are planted in the largest size available from a Vancouver Island nursery, maintained, and secured at 120% of the cost of replacing and maintaining them for 3 years.Tree Management Bylaw No. 287 (consolidated 2013), s. 15(a); Tree Management Bylaw No. 287 (consolidated 2013), s. 19(3) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingreplacement trees be planted as specified in Section 19 provide to the Municipality security in the amount of 120% of the total cost of replacing and maintaining the tree for a period of 3 years. |
| City trees | The Tree Management Bylaw does not apply to trees on a District highway, park, right of way or easement. Under the Traffic and Highways Regulation Bylaw No. 57 (s. 21), no one may cut down or remove trees growing on a highway, or damage District-planted trees, without a permit from the chief administrative officer.Tree Management Bylaw No. 287 (consolidated 2013), s. 21; Traffic and Highways Regulation Bylaw No. 57, s. 21(1)-(2) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingNothing contained in this Bylaw shall apply to a tree growing on a highway, park, right of way or down or remove trees or timber growing on a highway, or cause damage to, cut down, or remove trees, fences, signs, Except as authorized by a permit issued by the chief administrative officer pursuant to Part 7 of |
| Fine | Municipal ticket: $500 if paid on or before the 30th day, $1,000 after. The bylaw also sets a minimum fine of $500 for each tree cut without a permit, and a court fine of up to $10,000 per tree (maximum $100,000 per offence).Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw No. 475, Schedule 9; Tree Management Bylaw No. 287 (consolidated 2013), s. 24 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wording1. Cut down tree without permit 8(1) $ 500 $ 1000 Any person who cuts a tree without a permit is subject to a minimum fine of $500.00 for each tree unlawfully cut down. not more than $10,000.00 for each tree unlawfully cut or damaged |
| Bylaw | District of Metchosin Tree Management Bylaw, No. 287Tree Management Bylaw No. 287 (consolidated 2013), s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThis Bylaw may be cited as the “District of Metchosin Tree Management Bylaw, No. 287”. |
How it works
Under the District's Tree Management Bylaw No. 287, you need a permit to cut down any tree, meaning a woody plant 10 cm or more in diameter, anywhere in Metchosin unless an exemption applies. Trees under 10 cm are not covered.
Special rules apply to protected trees (Garry oak, arbutus, Pacific dogwood, Pacific yew, cascara, manzanita and others), significant trees, trees in the Shoreland Slopes Development Permit Area, and riparian assessment areas.
The exemptions: on ordinary land no permit is needed for a dangerous tree, or for up to 50 trees of 18 cm diameter or less and 10 larger trees per 4,000 m² in 12 months (not in riparian assessment areas). That allowance does not cover protected trees, significant trees or Shoreland Slopes trees, which still need a permit, except up to ten arbutus under 0.5 m diameter at breast height.
Steps
- Call Municipal Hall (250-474-3167) to check whether your tree is protected, significant or in a special area.
- Apply for a tree cutting permit from the Tree Cutting Permits page and pay the fee.
- Plant any replacement trees the permit requires.
Good to know
- Replacement trees: the Clerk may require them as a permit condition, and they are required if a tree is cut contrary to the bylaw. They are planted in the largest size available from a Vancouver Island nursery and maintained, and secured at 120% of the cost of replacing and maintaining them for 3 years.
- A tree in imminent danger of falling may be cut at once, but cutting a significant tree, a Shoreland Slopes tree or a riparian tree must be reported within 3 days.
- Fines: a municipal ticket is $500 if paid on or before the 30th day and $1,000 after. The bylaw also sets a minimum fine of $500 for each tree cut without a permit and a court fine of up to $10,000 per tree (maximum $100,000 per offence).
- Trees on District roads, parks, rights of way or easements are not covered by this bylaw. Under Traffic and Highways Regulation Bylaw No. 57, no one may cut or remove trees growing on a highway, or damage District-planted trees, without a permit from the chief administrative officer.
- This is a 2013 consolidation of the bylaw, so confirm current rules and fees with staff.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Colwood · Langford · View Royal · Sooke · Esquimalt · Victoria
Sources
- Tree Management Bylaw No. 287 (consolidated 2013) (read 2026-11-06)
- Tree Cutting Permits, District of Metchosin (read 2026-11-06)
- Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw No. 475, Schedule 9 (read 2026-11-06)
- Traffic and Highways Regulation Bylaw No. 57 (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.