Port Alberni tree removal rules and permits
Do I need permission to cut down a tree on my property?
Short answer
Port Alberni has no general permit for cutting trees on private land, but clearing or land alteration needs a development permit, unless exempt, on land shown on OCP Maps 8, 9 and 10. Trees on a street or boulevard need written City permission.
Key facts
| When a permit is needed | No general permit for cutting trees on private land was found. Clearing or land alteration needs a development permit, unless exempt, on land in the OCP Natural Environment area (Map 8) or Hazardous Conditions areas (Maps 9 and 10). Trees on a street or boulevard need written City permission.OCP Development Permit Area 2, Natural Environment, DPA 2, s. 1.2; OCP Development Permit Area 3, Hazardous Conditions, DPA 3, s. 2.2; Boulevard and Tree Care Maintenance Bylaw 3869, s. 8; https://portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/doc_library/DP%20Instruction%20Page_0.pdf, Development Permit Instruction Sheet · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingUnless exempted, a development permit addressing the following guidelines must be approved for all properties Land alteration, including but not limited to clearing, grading, blasting Alteration of land, including but not limited to clearing, grading, blasting It shall be unlawful for any person to plant, remove or otherwise deal with any tree upon or within any highway or boulevard in the City without first obtaining and subsequently complying with permission in writing from the Administrator. Altering land within an area designated for protection of the natural environment; Review Maps 8, 9, and 10 to check whether your property is located within an Environmental or |
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| Exemptions | Hazardous trees certified by a Certified Arborist or professional forester are exempt from a Natural Environment development permit if they present an immediate danger or are likely to damage property; the Hazardous Conditions DPA exempts removal of hazardous trees by a Certified Arborist or professional forester. Normal farm practices are also exempt.OCP Development Permit Area 2, Natural Environment, DPA 2, s. 1.5; OCP Development Permit Area 3, Hazardous Conditions, DPA 3, s. 2.5 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingRemoval of hazardous trees that present an immediate danger to the safety of persons or are likely to damage public or private property as determined by a Certified Arborist or professional forester. relates solely to normal farm practices Removal of hazardous trees by a Certified Arborist or professional forester. |
| Fee | Development Permit application fee $800 where one is required. No tree-cutting permit fee was found. On a boulevard, the applicant pays the estimated planting cost plus the tree's value before removal is allowed.https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/5125_5125-1_5125-2_5125-3_5125-4_Fees_and_Charges_Bylaw_No._5125_2025_Consolidated_0.pdf, Land use and development fees; Boulevard and Tree Care Maintenance Bylaw 3869, s. 10(b) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingc) Development Permit (DP) $800.00 in the case of removal of a tree that the applicant has paid to the City the estimated cost of planting plus the value of the tree as determined by the Administrator |
| Replacement trees | For development permit areas, site design "will consider" retaining trees and replacing those removed where feasible. For a boulevard tree the applicant pays the cost of planting a replacement plus the tree's value.OCP Development Permit Area 2, Natural Environment, DPA 2 guidelines, s. 1.6(b); Boulevard and Tree Care Maintenance Bylaw 3869, s. 10(b) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingSite design will consider the retention of trees and vegetation, and replacements for those removed where feasible. the applicant has paid to the City the estimated cost of planting plus the value of the tree |
| City trees | It is unlawful to plant, remove or deal with a tree on a highway or boulevard without written permission from the Administrator, or to wilfully damage one. Council may remove any such tree at any time without notice. Owners must trim branches over a roadway to 3.0 m and over a sidewalk to 2.5 m.Boulevard and Tree Care Maintenance Bylaw 3869, ss. 6, 7, 8, 12 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingit shall be unlawful for any person to willfully damage any boulevard or any tree upon or within any highway or boulevard. The Council by its employees or others may at any time without notice remove any tree 3.0 metres above the street level 2.5 metres above the sidewalk level |
| Fine | Bylaw notice for planting or removing a boulevard or street tree without permission: $200 ($150 if paid early, $250 late). Damaging a tree: $200 ($150 early, $250 late). No fine for cutting a private-land tree was found.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 5128, 2025, Schedule A-3 (Bylaw 3869) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingDamage trees $200.00 $150.00 $250.00 Plant or remove trees $200.00 $150.00 $250.00 |
| Bylaw | Boulevard and Tree Care Maintenance Bylaw No. 3869 (street and boulevard trees); Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 5155, Development Permit Areas 2 and 3 (private land)Boulevard and Tree Care Maintenance Bylaw 3869, s. 1; OCP Development Permit Area 2, Natural Environment, DPA 2; OCP Development Permit Area 3, Hazardous Conditions, DPA 3; Official Community Plan | City of Port Alberni, OCP page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06Official wordingThis bylaw may be cited as the Boulevard and Tree Care Maintenance Bylaw. NATURAL ENVIRONMENT DEVELOPMENT PERMIT AREA HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS DEVELOPMENT PERMIT AREA OFFICIAL COMMUNITY PLAN BYLAW 5155 |
How it works
The City of Port Alberni has no general permit for cutting a tree on private land. But the Official Community Plan (Bylaw 5155) sets two development permit areas. Clearing or land alteration needs a development permit, unless exempt, on land in the Natural Environment area (DPA 2, OCP Map 8) or the Hazardous Conditions areas (DPA 3, Maps 9 and 10). The development permit application fee is $800.
Trees on a highway or boulevard are covered by the Boulevard and Tree Care Maintenance Bylaw 3869. It is unlawful to plant, remove or deal with such a tree without written permission from the Administrator, or to wilfully damage one.
Steps
- Work out whose tree it is. If it is on a street or boulevard, do not cut it; ask the City for written permission.
- Ask Development Services (250-720-2835) whether your lot is on OCP Maps 8, 9 or 10.
- If it is, apply for a development permit unless an exemption applies.
Good to know
- Hazardous trees certified by a Certified Arborist or professional forester are exempt from the Natural Environment permit if they present an immediate danger or are likely to damage property. The Hazardous Conditions area exempts removal of hazardous trees by a Certified Arborist or professional forester. Normal farm practices are also exempt.
- For a boulevard tree, the applicant pays the estimated planting cost plus the tree's value before removal is allowed. Council may remove such trees without notice. Owners must trim branches over a roadway to 3.0 m and over a sidewalk to 2.5 m.
- A bylaw notice for planting or removing a boulevard tree without permission is $200 ($150 if paid early, $250 late). Damaging one is the same. No fine for cutting a private-land tree was found.
- In the development permit areas, site design "will consider" retaining trees and replacing those removed where feasible. No fixed replacement ratio was found.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Qualicum Beach · Parksville · Cumberland · Comox · Courtenay · Lantzville
Sources
- OCP Development Permit Area 2, Natural Environment (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- OCP Development Permit Area 3, Hazardous Conditions (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Boulevard and Tree Care Maintenance Bylaw 3869 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 5128, 2025 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
- https://portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/doc_library/DP%20Instruction%20Page_0.pdf (read 2026-11-05)
- https://www.portalberni.ca/sites/default/files/bylaws/5125_5125-1_5125-2_5125-3_5125-4_Fees_and_Charges_Bylaw_No._5125_2025_Consolidated_0.pdf (read 2026-11-05)
- Official Community Plan | City of Port Alberni (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. How answers are checked.