{"title":"District of North Vancouver tree removal rules and permits","question":"Do I need permission to cut down a tree on my property in the District of North Vancouver?","slug":"tree-removal","place":{"path":"ca/bc/north-vancouver-district","name":"District of North Vancouver","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"building-and-renovating","name":"Building, renovating and your property"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"District of North Vancouver","url":"https://www.dnv.org"},"short_answer":"In the District of North Vancouver (not the City), you need a tree permit to cut, prune or remove a protected tree or a large tree (75 cm diameter or more). Fees are $116 per tree for up to four protected trees. Cutting one without a permit is a $500 bylaw notice.","aliases":["tree permit district of north vancouver","tree bylaw dnv","cut tree north vancouver district","hazardous tree dnv"],"cost":"$116 per tree for up to four protected trees; $581 for five or more; $2,908 for ten or more protected trees on a parcel over 1 hectare. Large trees: $116 per tree to cut, $581 per tree to remove. Fees double if work starts before the permit.","how_long":"Not stated in the documents we could read. Ask the Environment department.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Environment (tree permits)","value":"604-990-2480"},{"type":"email","label":"Environment email","value":"environment@dnv.org"},{"type":"in_person","label":"Municipal Hall","value":"355 West Queens Road, North Vancouver, BC V7N 4N5"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Tree Protection Bylaw 7671 (PDF)","url":"https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%207671.pdf"},{"title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw 6481 (PDF)","url":"https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%206481.pdf"},{"title":"Tree permit FAQ, 2023 (PDF)","url":"https://docs.dnv.org/documents/tree-permit-faq-2023.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"District of North Vancouver zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"building-permit","title":"District of North Vancouver building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/building-permit/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/north-vancouver","name":"North Vancouver","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver/tree-removal/"},{"place":"ca/bc/west-vancouver","name":"West Vancouver","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-vancouver/tree-removal/"},{"place":"ca/bc/port-moody","name":"Port Moody","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-moody/tree-removal/"},{"place":"ca/bc/vancouver","name":"Vancouver","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vancouver/tree-removal/"},{"place":"ca/bc/burnaby","name":"Burnaby","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/burnaby/tree-removal/"},{"place":"ca/bc/richmond","name":"Richmond","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/richmond/tree-removal/"}],"topic":{"title":"Tree removal permits in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tree-removal/"},"facts":{"permit_needed":{"label":"When a permit is needed","value":"A tree permit is needed to cut, prune or remove a protected tree or a large-diameter tree (75 cm DBH or more). Protected includes trees in a streamside protected area (generally 15 m from top of bank, 30 m beside some rivers), on slopes over 36%, in three development permit areas, and arbutus, Garry oak and other listed species.","short":"Yes, for protected trees and trees 75 cm DBH or more","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%207671.pdf","title":"Tree Protection Bylaw 7671 (PDF)","section":"s. 7","quotes":["A person must not cut, damage or remove, or permit or cause to be cut, damaged or removed,","a protected tree or large-diameter tree:","to a point 30 metres distant from the top of bank of the stream measured"]},{"url":"https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%207671.pdf","title":"Tree Protection Bylaw 7671 (PDF)","section":"s. 4 definitions","quotes":["large-diameter tree means any tree having a DBH of 75 centimetres (cm) or more","any tree located within a protected area;","any tree located on a steep slope;"]},{"url":"https://docs.dnv.org/documents/tree-permit-faq-2023.pdf","title":"Tree permit FAQ, 2023 (PDF)","section":"FAQ 2 and 3","quotes":["You do not need a tree permit to remove or prune a tree if the tree is not defined as a"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"exemptions":{"label":"Exemptions","value":"Trees that are neither protected nor large-diameter need no permit. The bylaw does not apply to District or utility works. A hazardous tree can get a no-fee, no-replanting permit with an arborist report. Branches of a District tree overhanging your land may be pruned back to the property line.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://docs.dnv.org/documents/tree-permit-faq-2023.pdf","title":"Tree permit FAQ, 2023 (PDF)","section":"FAQ 3, 7","quotes":["You do not need a tree permit to remove or prune a tree if the tree is not defined as a","An arborist report is also required if the applicant"]},{"url":"https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%207671.pdf","title":"Tree Protection Bylaw 7671 (PDF)","section":"s. 3","quotes":["This bylaw does not apply to tree cutting, pruning or removal by or on behalf of the District"]},{"url":"https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%207671.pdf","title":"Tree Protection Bylaw 7671 (PDF)","section":"s. 7","quotes":["that person may prune such tree back to his or her property line without a permit"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fee":{"label":"Fee","value":"$116 per tree for up to four protected trees; $581 for five or more; $2,908 for removing ten or more protected trees on a parcel over 1 hectare. Large-diameter trees: $116 per tree to cut, $581 per tree to remove. Fees are doubled for work done before getting a permit.","short":"$116 per tree for up to four trees","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%206481.pdf","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw 6481 (PDF)","section":"Schedule B, Tree Permits","quotes":["Cut or remove protected tree(s):","Five or more protected trees $581.00","Cut large diameter tree(s) - per tree $116.00","Remove large diameter tree(s) - per tree $581.00","Above fees doubled for Retroactive Permit for work requiring tree permit done without"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"replacement":{"label":"Replacement trees","value":"For a large-diameter tree, if the lot would have under 20% canopy afterward: 1 replacement tree per tree on lots under 420 m², 3 per tree on lots of 420 m² or more, or pay an Environmental Compensation Fee. A security deposit of 125% of estimated cost (max $50,000) may be required.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%207671.pdf","title":"Tree Protection Bylaw 7671 (PDF)","section":"s. 21","quotes":["if the subject lot is less than 420 square meters in area, the applicant must plant","three replacement trees for every large-diameter tree removed or damaged;","the additional environmental compensation"]},{"url":"https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%207671.pdf","title":"Tree Protection Bylaw 7671 (PDF)","section":"s. 26","quotes":["in an amount equal to 125% of the","to a maximum of $50,000"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"city_trees":{"label":"City trees","value":"A tree on or straddling District land is a protected tree, so no work without a permit. Applicants must use a contractor from the District Tree Contractor list. The District Parks Department inspects and handles hazardous District trees on request.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%207671.pdf","title":"Tree Protection Bylaw 7671 (PDF)","section":"s. 4, protected tree (a)","quotes":["any tree which is located on or which straddles land owned or in the possession or control","of the District"]},{"url":"https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%207671.pdf","title":"Tree Protection Bylaw 7671 (PDF)","section":"s. 22","quotes":["the applicant for a tree permit or authorized agent is required to engage a contractor from the","District Tree Contractor list"]},{"url":"https://docs.dnv.org/documents/tree-permit-faq-2023.pdf","title":"Tree permit FAQ, 2023 (PDF)","section":"FAQ 11","quotes":["No. A formal request is made and forwarded to the appropriate Field Arborist in the District"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"Bylaw notice: cutting a protected tree without a permit $500 ($375 within 14 days, $750 late); not planting replacement trees $500; not following a permit $250. Municipal ticket (Tree Bylaw s. 47): $1,000 to cut a protected tree without a permit, $500 to damage one.","short":"Notice $500 ($375 if paid in 14 days); ticket $1,000","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%207458.pdf","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 7458 (PDF)","section":"Schedule A, Tree Protection Bylaw 7671","quotes":["7a Cut protected tree without tree permit 500 375 750","19 Fail to plant replacement trees 500 375 750","6 Fail to comply with tree permit 250 190 375"]},{"url":"https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%207671.pdf","title":"Tree Protection Bylaw 7671 (PDF)","section":"s. 47 Ticketing","quotes":["47. The words or expressions listed below in the designated expression column are authorized","Cut protected tree without tree permit"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"Tree Protection Bylaw 7671, 2012 (consolidation includes Bylaw 8583, July 18, 2022)","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%207671.pdf","title":"Tree Protection Bylaw 7671 (PDF)","section":"s. 1 and cover","quotes":["Tree Protection Bylaw 7671, 2012","Bylaw 8583 July 18, 2022"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":7,"stated":7,"matched":7,"none":0,"unknown":0},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe [Tree Protection Bylaw 7671](<https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%207671.pdf>) requires a tree permit to cut, prune or remove a protected tree or a large-diameter tree (75 cm diameter at breast height or more; measured 1.3 m above ground). This is the District of North Vancouver, not the City of North Vancouver.\n\nProtected trees include:\n\n- trees in a streamside protected area (generally 15 m from top of bank, 30 m beside some rivers),\n- trees on slopes over 36%, and trees in three development permit areas,\n- arbutus, Garry oak and other listed species,\n- any tree on or straddling District land, plus replacement, covenant, heritage, wildlife and old-growth trees, and trees on a wetland or within 30 m of the waterfront.\n\nTrees that are neither protected nor large-diameter need no permit. The bylaw does not apply to District or utility works.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Check whether your tree is protected or large. See the [tree permit FAQ](<https://docs.dnv.org/documents/tree-permit-faq-2023.pdf>) or call Environment on 604-990-2480 (environment@dnv.org).\n2. Apply for a permit and pay the fee (see cost).\n3. For a large tree, expect replacement planting if the lot would have under 20% canopy afterward: 1 tree per tree removed on lots under 420 m², 3 per tree on lots of 420 m² or more, or an Environmental Compensation Fee. A security deposit of 125% of the estimated cost (maximum $50,000) may be required.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- A hazardous tree can get a no-fee, no-replanting permit with an arborist report.\n- A District tree is a protected tree. Use a contractor from the District Tree Contractor list. Branches of a District tree overhanging your land may be pruned back to the property line.\n- Cutting a protected tree without a permit is a $500 bylaw notice ($375 within 14 days, $750 late). A municipal ticket is $1,000 to cut a protected tree without a permit and $500 to damage one. Not planting replacement trees is $500; not following a permit is $250.","sources":[{"url":"https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%207671.pdf","title":"Tree Protection Bylaw 7671 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%206481.pdf","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw 6481 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://docs.dnv.org/documents/tree-permit-faq-2023.pdf","title":"Tree permit FAQ, 2023 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"},{"url":"https://docs.dnv.org/documents/Bylaw%207458.pdf","title":"Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 7458 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-06"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-06","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 7 of 7 facts was matched to the official text."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/tree-removal/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/tree-removal.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/north-vancouver-district/tree-removal.json"}}