---
title: Penticton tree removal rules and permits
question: "Do I need permission to cut down a tree on my property?"
place: Penticton, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/penticton
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Penticton
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/penticton/tree-removal/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/penticton/tree-removal.json"
---

# Penticton tree removal rules and permits

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

**Short answer:** The City of Penticton has no general permit for cutting a tree on private land. But removing vegetation in the Riparian (within 30 m of a stream) or Environmental development permit areas needs a development permit first ($815 in 2026). Trees on City land cannot be cut without the Parks Supervisor's written permission.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Penticton, https://www.penticton.ca)  
**Cost:** No fee for an ordinary private tree. A Riparian or Environmental development permit is $815 in 2026 ($864 in 2027) per lot, plus the environmental report. Fines for harming a City tree can reach $2,000 per tree.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Parks Department, 250-490-2500
- Email: Parks Department, parks@penticton.ca
- Phone: Planning Department (development permit areas), 250-490-2501

## Key facts

- **When a permit is needed:** No general permit to cut trees on private land was found. In the Riparian Development Permit Area (private land within 30 m of a stream) and the mapped Environmental Development Permit Area, removing vegetation is 'development' and needs a development permit first.
  - Source: [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2019-08 (consolidated October 2026), development permit areas, OCP Bylaw 2019-08, ss. 5.7.3, 5.8, Definitions](https://www.penticton.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/bylaws/Consolidated%20Official%20Community%20Plan%20Bylaw%20No.%202019-08%20%28October%202026%29.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The Riparian Development Permit Area applies to all privately-owned land located within 30 m of the high water mark or top of a stream" … "removal, alteration, disruption, or destruction of vegetation;" … "an area that has been designated under the Local Government Act as requiring issuance of a Development Permit prior to the commencement of development."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Exemptions:** In the Riparian and Environmental development permit areas, removing hazardous trees is exempt if a registered professional or ISA Certified Arborist (Wildlife/Danger Tree Assessor) reports the tree is hazardous and recommends removal. Riparian also requires environmental monitoring of the work.
  - Source: [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2019-08 (consolidated October 2026), development permit areas, OCP s. 5.7.4(5), s. 5.8.4(4)](https://www.penticton.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/bylaws/Consolidated%20Official%20Community%20Plan%20Bylaw%20No.%202019-08%20%28October%202026%29.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The removal of hazardous and invasive trees and other species, and a report prepared by a registered professional in BC or an ISA Certified Arborist who is qualified as a Wildlife/Danger Tree Assessor has been submitted;" … "Where the only proposed development is environmentally-sensitive removal of infested, diseased, or hazardous trees"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee:** A Riparian / Environmental Assessment Development Permit (staff issuable) costs $815 in 2026 ($864 in 2027) per lot, plus the environmental report. There is no fee for a plain private-tree cut because none is required.
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2014-07 (consolidated October 2026), Development Permit Application per lot](https://www.penticton.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/bylaws/2014-07%20Fees%20and%20Charges%20Bylaw%20-%20CONSOLIDATED%20PACKAGE%20-%20October%202026_1.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Riparian / Environmental Assessment Development Permit (Staff issuable) $815.00 $864.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Replacement trees:** No replanting rule for ordinary private trees. In environmental development permit areas, native trees that cannot be saved should be replaced with equivalent native trees, and the City may require financial security before the permit. City trees: equitable compensation if removed without authorization.
  - Source: [Municipal Properties Tree Bylaw No. 2001-26, ss. 6, 11](https://www.penticton.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/bylaws/2001-26%20City%20Tree%20Protection.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Equitable compensation for the value of a City tree as appraised by the International" … "The Parks Division may replace any City tree that has died or been removed by"
  - Source: [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2019-08 (consolidated October 2026), development permit areas, OCP s. 5.8.5 E5, E10](https://www.penticton.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/bylaws/Consolidated%20Official%20Community%20Plan%20Bylaw%20No.%202019-08%20%28October%202026%29.pdf)
  - Official wording: "mitigation should include restoration and replanting with equivalent native trees" … "The applicant may be required to provide the City with financial security prior to the issuance of a Development Permit."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **City trees:** No one may remove, cut, trim, injure or attach anything to a City tree unless the Parks Supervisor authorizes it in writing; tree work by a private company needs the Parks Supervisor's written permission. Planting on City land also needs written permission. Parks: 250-490-2500, parks@penticton.ca.
  - Source: [Municipal Properties Tree Bylaw No. 2001-26, ss. 4, 8](https://www.penticton.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/bylaws/2001-26%20City%20Tree%20Protection.pdf)
  - Official wording: "No person shall remove, excavate, destroy, cut, deface, trim, use any chemical or" … "expressly authorized in writing to do so by the Parks Supervisor" … "No person shall plant any tree on any property owned by the City without first" … "having obtained the written permission of the Parks Supervisor."
  - Source: [Trees, Parks General Inquiries](https://www.penticton.ca/parks-recreation/parks/trees)
  - Official wording: "To report an issue involving a local park, amenity or groundskeeping, please use our Online Form. Parks Department Phone: 250-490-2500 Email: parks@penticton.ca - Heat Mapping"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Tree Bylaw: fine up to $2,000 for each City tree unlawfully cut down, removed or damaged, plus compensation. Ticket schedules for trees on a highway (road allowance): cut down or remove trees or timber on a Highway, bylaw notice $450 ($400 early, $500 late) or municipal ticket $500; damage or remove trees and plants the City planted on a Highway, $100 ($90 early, $110 late) or $100.
  - Source: [Municipal Properties Tree Bylaw No. 2001-26, s. 14](https://www.penticton.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/bylaws/2001-26%20City%20Tree%20Protection.pdf)
  - Official wording: "liable to a fine and penalty not exceeding Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) for each City tree unlawfully cut down, removed or damaged"
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2012-5037 (consolidated June 2026), Highway offences](https://www.penticton.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/bylaws/2012-5037%20Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20%28Consolidated%20Package%20-%20June%202026%29_0.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Close, obstruct, damage, construct, alter, 10.1 $450 $400 $500" … "Cause damage to, cut down or remove 10.2 $100"
  - Source: [Municipal Ticketing Information Bylaw No. 2012-5021 (consolidated June 2026), Highway offences](https://www.penticton.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/bylaws/MTI%20Bylaw%205021%20-%20consolidated%20for%20website%20-%20June%202026.pdf)
  - Official wording: "remove any part of a Highway, or cut down or remove trees or" … "Cause damage to, cut down or remove trees, grass, shrubs, 10.2 $100"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** Municipal Properties Tree Bylaw No. 2001-26 (City-owned trees only). For private land near streams or in environmental areas: Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2019-08, development permit areas (ss. 5.7 and 5.8).
  - Source: [Municipal Properties Tree Bylaw No. 2001-26, s. 1](https://www.penticton.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/bylaws/2001-26%20City%20Tree%20Protection.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Municipal Properties Tree Bylaw No. 2001-26 (2001)"
  - Source: [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2019-08 (consolidated October 2026), development permit areas, OCP s. 5.8](https://www.penticton.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/bylaws/Consolidated%20Official%20Community%20Plan%20Bylaw%20No.%202019-08%20%28October%202026%29.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The Environmental Development Permit Area is designated to protect important sensitive ecosystems and biological diversity"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The only tree bylaw, [Municipal Properties Tree Bylaw No. 2001-26](https://www.penticton.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/bylaws/2001-26%20City%20Tree%20Protection.pdf), covers City-owned trees, including boulevards. No permit rule for cutting a tree on private land was found. The exception is in the [Official Community Plan](https://www.penticton.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/bylaws/Consolidated%20Official%20Community%20Plan%20Bylaw%20No.%202019-08%20%28October%202026%29.pdf) (sections 5.7 and 5.8): in the Riparian Development Permit Area (private land within 30 m of a stream) and the mapped Environmental Development Permit Area, removing vegetation is "development" and needs a development permit first.

## Steps

1. Check on the Property Viewer, or ask Planning, whether your lot is in a development permit area.
2. If it is, apply for a Riparian / Environmental Assessment Development Permit before cutting.
3. For a tree on City land, ask the Parks Supervisor (250-490-2500) first.

## Good to know

- In those two areas a hazardous tree is exempt if a registered professional or ISA Certified Arborist (Wildlife/Danger Tree Assessor) reports it is hazardous and recommends removal. Riparian areas also require environmental monitoring of the work.
- Native trees that cannot be saved in environmental areas should be replaced with equivalent native trees, and the City may require financial security.
- City trees: no one may remove, cut, trim, injure or attach anything to one unless the Parks Supervisor authorizes it in writing. Tree work by a private company needs that written permission, and so does planting on City land.
- The Tree Bylaw sets a fine of up to $2,000 for each City tree unlawfully cut, removed or damaged, plus compensation.
- Cutting trees on a highway (road allowance) is a $450 bylaw notice or a $500 municipal ticket.
- New homes in R4-L and R4-S must plant one tree per dwelling unit (Zoning Bylaw s. 5.3.1).

## Official forms and pages

- [Municipal Properties Tree Bylaw No. 2001-26 (PDF)](https://www.penticton.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/bylaws/2001-26%20City%20Tree%20Protection.pdf)
- [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2019-08 (PDF)](https://www.penticton.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/bylaws/Consolidated%20Official%20Community%20Plan%20Bylaw%20No.%202019-08%20%28October%202026%29.pdf)
- [Trees, City of Penticton](https://www.penticton.ca/parks-recreation/parks/trees)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Tree removal permits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tree-removal.md)
- [Summerland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/summerland/tree-removal.md)
- [Peachland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/peachland/tree-removal.md)
- [Oliver](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/oliver/tree-removal.md)
- [Keremeos](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/keremeos/tree-removal.md)
- [West Kelowna](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/west-kelowna/tree-removal.md)
- [Kelowna](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kelowna/tree-removal.md)

## Sources

- [Municipal Properties Tree Bylaw No. 2001-26 (PDF)](https://www.penticton.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/bylaws/2001-26%20City%20Tree%20Protection.pdf) (read 2026-10-29)
- [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2019-08 (consolidated October 2026), development permit areas (PDF)](https://www.penticton.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/bylaws/Consolidated%20Official%20Community%20Plan%20Bylaw%20No.%202019-08%20%28October%202026%29.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2014-07 (consolidated October 2026) (PDF)](https://www.penticton.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/bylaws/2014-07%20Fees%20and%20Charges%20Bylaw%20-%20CONSOLIDATED%20PACKAGE%20-%20October%202026_1.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Trees, City of Penticton](https://www.penticton.ca/parks-recreation/parks/trees) (read 2026-10-29)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2012-5037 (consolidated June 2026) (PDF)](https://www.penticton.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/bylaws/2012-5037%20Bylaw%20Notice%20Enforcement%20%28Consolidated%20Package%20-%20June%202026%29_0.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Municipal Ticketing Information Bylaw No. 2012-5021 (consolidated June 2026) (PDF)](https://www.penticton.ca/sites/default/files/uploads/bylaws/MTI%20Bylaw%205021%20-%20consolidated%20for%20website%20-%20June%202026.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 7 of 7 facts was matched to the official text. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Penticton. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/penticton/tree-removal/_