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

# Princeton tree removal rules and permits

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

**Short answer:** Princeton has no stand-alone tree bylaw in its posted bylaws. Tree cutting is controlled through development permit areas in the Official Community Plan: removing vegetation in a riparian (streamside) area needs a development permit. Ask Planning whether your lot is affected.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Town of Princeton, https://www.princeton.ca)  
**Cost:** No tree-specific fee found. A development permit, where required, costs $625 (September 1, 2026 rate).  
**How long:** Not stated.  
**Where:**
- Email: Planning Department, planning@princeton.ca
- Phone: Town Hall, 250-295-3135
- In person: Town Hall, 151 Vermilion Avenue, Princeton, BC (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **When a permit is needed:** Cutting trees on private land is controlled through development permit areas in the OCP: in a riparian assessment area (DPA 5), removing vegetation is development that needs a development permit. DPA 6 (wildfire) covers subdivision and multi-family, commercial, institutional and industrial development.
  - Source: [Official Community Plan 2022-2042, Part 5, Part 5, Overview](https://princeton.civicweb.net/document/60569/)
  - Official wording: "Alteration of land or removal, alteration, disruption or destruction of vegetation or disturbance"
  - Source: [Official Community Plan 2022-2042, Part 5, Part 5, DPA 5](https://princeton.civicweb.net/document/60569/)
  - Official wording: "Development Permit Area No. 5 consists of all the riparian assessment areas within the Town"
  - Source: [Official Community Plan 2022-2042, Part 5, Part 5, DPA 6](https://princeton.civicweb.net/document/60569/)
  - Official wording: "Multi family residential, commercial, institutional and/or industrial development on"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Exemptions:** DPA 5 exempts repair or reconstruction of a permanent structure on its existing foundation and agricultural, mining or forestry development. DPA 6 exempts work whose only activity is removing hazardous trees (a forestry professional's report may be required).
  - Source: [Official Community Plan 2022-2042, Part 5, Part 5, DPA 5 exemptions](https://princeton.civicweb.net/document/60569/)
  - Official wording: "reconstruction or repair of a permanent structure described in section 532(1) of the" … "agricultural, mining, or forestry related development."
  - Source: [Official Community Plan 2022-2042, Part 5, Part 5, DPA 6 exemptions](https://princeton.civicweb.net/document/60569/)
  - Official wording: "The only activity being proposed onsite relates to the removal of hazardous tree(s)." … "applicants may be required to provide a report prepared by a forestry professional"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fee:** No tree-specific fee found. A development permit, where required, costs $625 (September 1, 2026 rate).
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1026, 2022, Schedule I, Schedule I, I04](https://princeton.civicweb.net/document/53145/)
  - Official wording: "Development Permit $ 515.00 $ 540.00 $ 570.00 $ 595.00 $ 625.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Replacement trees:** None set. Princeton's posted bylaws set no replacement-planting rule for trees.
- **City trees:** Owners and occupiers must maintain the Town boulevard next to their property, including trimming and maintaining trees, hedges and plantings and cutting or removing any tree that blocks visibility or safety for pedestrians, cyclists or vehicles.
  - Source: [Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 1059, 2026, s. 4.6](https://princeton.civicweb.net/document/71635/)
  - Official wording: "Boulevard and Alley Maintenance" … "trim and maintain trees, hedges, and plantings;" … "cut or remove any tree, hedge, fence, or Structure obstructing visibility or safety for"
  - Source: [Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 1059, 2026, s. 1 (definition of Boulevard)](https://princeton.civicweb.net/document/71635/)
  - Official wording: "“Boulevard” means the portion of Town property described as the strip of land"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fine:** None set. Princeton's posted bylaws set no ticket for cutting a tree without a permit.
- **Bylaw:** No stand-alone tree bylaw found. Rules come from Official Community Plan 2022-2042 (Bylaw No. 1044, 2023), Part 5 development permit areas, and the Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 1059, 2026.
  - Source: [Official Community Plan 2022-2042, Part 5](https://princeton.civicweb.net/document/60569/)
  - Official wording: "Development Permit Areas (DPA) are specific areas within the Town where more detailed"
  - Source: [Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 1059, 2026, s. 1.1 and s. 4.1(k)](https://princeton.civicweb.net/document/71635/)
  - Official wording: "a Hazard Tree which poses risk of damage to persons or property."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The Town of Princeton has no tree-protection bylaw in its posted bylaw library. Tree cutting on private land is controlled through development permit areas (DPAs) in the [Official Community Plan 2022-2042](https://princeton.civicweb.net/document/60569/). In the riparian assessment area (DPA 5), removing vegetation counts as development and needs a development permit. DPA 6 (wildfire) covers subdivision and multi-family, commercial, institutional and industrial development.

DPA 5 exempts repair or reconstruction of a permanent structure on its existing foundation, and agricultural, mining or forestry development. DPA 6 exempts work whose only activity is removing hazardous trees; a forestry professional's report may be required.

## Steps

1. Ask Planning (planning@princeton.ca or 250-295-3135) whether your lot is in DPA 5 or DPA 6.
2. If it is, apply for a development permit before cutting.

## Good to know

- Owners and occupiers must maintain the Town boulevard next to their property, including trimming trees, hedges and plantings and cutting or removing any tree that blocks visibility or safety for pedestrians, cyclists or vehicles ([Property Maintenance Bylaw](https://princeton.civicweb.net/document/71635/)). Failing to maintain a boulevard is a $200 ticket ($100 if paid within 30 days).
- Failing to correct a hazard tree is a $300 ticket ($150 if paid within 30 days).
- The Town's posted bylaws do not say who may remove a Town-owned tree, or set a replacement-planting rule or a ticket for cutting without a permit. Ask Planning.

## Official forms and pages

- [Official Community Plan 2022-2042 (PDF)](https://princeton.civicweb.net/document/60569/)
- [Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 1059, 2026 (PDF)](https://princeton.civicweb.net/document/71635/)

## Related questions

- [Princeton zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/princeton/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Princeton fence rules: permits and height limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/princeton/fence-rules.md)

## The same question elsewhere

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

## Sources

- [Official Community Plan 2022-2042, Part 5 (PDF), Town of Princeton](https://princeton.civicweb.net/document/60569/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Property Maintenance Bylaw No. 1059, 2026 (PDF), Town of Princeton](https://princeton.civicweb.net/document/71635/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 1026, 2022, Schedule I (PDF), Town of Princeton](https://princeton.civicweb.net/document/53145/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Contact Us, Town of Princeton](https://www.princeton.ca/p/contact-us-) (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; 2 are recorded as not set. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Town of Princeton. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/princeton/tree-removal/_