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

# Nakusp tree removal rules and permits

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

**Short answer:** Nakusp has no tree-cutting bylaw that we found, so there is no general permit or fee to remove a tree on your property. If you are clearing trees for development in one of the Official Community Plan's development permit areas, you need a development permit first.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Village of Nakusp, https://www.nakusp.com)  
**Cost:** No tree-cutting permit fee. A development permit, where needed, is $500 for projects under $100,000, $1,000 for $100,001 to $1,000,000, and $1,650 above that.  
**How long:** Not applicable. The sources do not state a development permit processing time.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Village Office, 250.265.3689

## Key facts

- **When a permit is needed:** No tree-cutting bylaw found. In the OCP development permit areas (Floodplain and Steep Slopes, Village Core, Gateway, Hot Springs), a development permit is needed before removing trees or vegetation for development when the work is in the area.
  - Source: [Official Community Plan, consolidated July 13, 2023, s. 5.2.1(iv)](https://developnakusp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Offical-Community-Plan-Consolidated-July-13-2023-Bylaw-728-2023.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Stripping and Grading – removal of trees," … "Within all Development Permit Areas, property"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Exemptions:** No development permit is needed to remove dead or dying trees, prune undergrowth, or maintain existing natural vegetation. The Village may also exempt development not reasonably affected by the DPA objectives.
  - Source: [Official Community Plan, consolidated July 13, 2023, s. 5.2.3-5.2.4](https://developnakusp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Offical-Community-Plan-Consolidated-July-13-2023-Bylaw-728-2023.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The removal of dead or dying trees," … "pruning of undergrowth, supplementing or"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fee:** No tree-cutting permit fee. Where a development permit is needed (tree removal for development in a development permit area), the application fee is $500 for projects under $100,000, $1,000 for $100,001 to $1,000,000, and $1,650 above that.
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw, Schedule 15, Schedule 15, Application for a Development Permit](https://nakusp.civicweb.net/document/13954/)
  - Official wording: "< $100,000 $500.00" … "$100,001 to $1,000,000 $1,000.00"
  - 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:** Owners and occupiers must trim and maintain all trees and plantings on the sidewalk, boulevard or lane next to their property, keeping sightlines clear. Damaging or destroying trees or plants in a Village park is an offence.
  - Source: [Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 640, 2011 (consolidated 2025), s. 2.8(e)](https://nakusp.civicweb.net/document/5605/)
  - Official wording: "trim and maintain all trees and plantings."
  - Source: [Traffic, Street and Sidewalk Control Bylaw No. 747, 2025, s. 8.6(v)](https://nakusp.civicweb.net/document/32879/)
  - Official wording: "Trim and maintain all trees and plantings to ensure sightlines are"
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, Schedule A, Parks 6(a)](https://nakusp.civicweb.net/document/7413/)
  - Official wording: "6(a) Damage or destroy trees, 100 75 125 No"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fine:** None set. Nakusp's bylaw notice and ticket schedules list no offence for cutting a tree on private land.
- **Bylaw:** Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 697, 2021, as amended by Bylaw No. 728, 2023 (s. 5.2 development permit areas). No tree bylaw found.
  - Source: [Bylaw library](https://nakusp.civicweb.net/filepro/documents/5589/)
  - Official wording: "Bylaw 697, 2021 - Official Community Plan" … "Bylaw 728, 2023 - Official Community Plan Amending Bylaw - Adopted"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

Nakusp has no tree-cutting bylaw, and the Village's bylaw notice and ticket schedules list no offence for cutting a tree on private land. The exception is the [Official Community Plan](https://developnakusp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Offical-Community-Plan-Consolidated-July-13-2023-Bylaw-728-2023.pdf) (s. 5.2): in its development permit areas (Floodplain and Steep Slopes, Village Core, Gateway, Hot Springs), a development permit is needed before removing trees or vegetation for development. The OCP maps show where the areas are.

No development permit is needed to remove dead or dying trees, prune undergrowth, or maintain existing natural vegetation. The Village may also exempt development not reasonably affected by the area's objectives.

## Good to know

- No replacement planting or security rule was found.
- Owners and occupiers must trim and maintain trees and plantings on the sidewalk, boulevard or lane next to their property, keeping sightlines clear ([Good Neighbour Bylaw 640](https://nakusp.civicweb.net/document/5605/), [Traffic Bylaw 747](https://nakusp.civicweb.net/document/32879/)).
- Damaging or destroying trees or plants in a Village park is a $100 bylaw notice.
- Ask the Village Office at 250.265.3689 whether your property is in a development permit area.

## Official forms and pages

- [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 728, 2023, consolidated (PDF)](https://developnakusp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Offical-Community-Plan-Consolidated-July-13-2023-Bylaw-728-2023.pdf)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Tree removal permits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tree-removal.md)
- [Silverton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/silverton/tree-removal.md)
- [Slocan](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/slocan/tree-removal.md)
- [Kaslo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kaslo/tree-removal.md)
- [Revelstoke](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/revelstoke/tree-removal.md)
- [Lumby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lumby/tree-removal.md)
- [Nelson](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nelson/tree-removal.md)

## Sources

- [Official Community Plan, consolidated July 13, 2023 (PDF), Village of Nakusp](https://developnakusp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Offical-Community-Plan-Consolidated-July-13-2023-Bylaw-728-2023.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw, Schedule 15, Village of Nakusp](https://nakusp.civicweb.net/document/13954/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 640, 2011 (consolidated 2025), Village of Nakusp](https://nakusp.civicweb.net/document/5605/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Traffic, Street and Sidewalk Control Bylaw No. 747, 2025, Village of Nakusp](https://nakusp.civicweb.net/document/32879/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw, Village of Nakusp](https://nakusp.civicweb.net/document/7413/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaw library, Village of Nakusp](https://nakusp.civicweb.net/filepro/documents/5589/) (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; 1 is recorded as not set; 1 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Village of Nakusp. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nakusp/tree-removal/_