Quesnel tree removal rules and permits

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

Quesnel, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

Short answer

In Quesnel, no City page explains tree cutting on private land. A development permit is required to remove vegetation in the Official Community Plan's Multi-Unit, Commercial, Hillside Hazard, Floodplain and Sensitive Ecosystem areas. Tree Protection Bylaw 1314 may also apply; confirm with the City.

Key facts

When a permit is needed	A development permit is required before removing, disrupting or destroying vegetation in the OCP's development permit areas: Multi-Unit (all lands allowing multiple-unit residential use), Commercial, Hillside Hazard, Floodplain and Sensitive Ecosystem. Check the schedule maps, and ask whether Tree Protection Bylaw No. 1314 also applies.City of Quesnel Official Community Plan Bylaw 1979, 2025, ss. 8.3.5, 8.4.5, 8.5.5 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording A development permit is required prior to the following activities: Alteration of land, such as the removal, disruption, or destruction of vegetation or soils. Alteration of land, such as the removal, disruption, or destruction of vegetation. All lands that allow multiple unit residential uses are designated as the Multi-Unit Development
Exemptions	Hillside Hazard: cutting hazardous trees that present an immediate danger or are likely to damage property, as decided by a certified arborist. Sensitive Ecosystem: hazardous tree cutting decided by a certified arborist, after first trying to reduce the hazard and keep the tree for wildlife.City of Quesnel Official Community Plan Bylaw 1979, 2025, ss. 8.3.6(a), 8.5.6(f) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording The cutting 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. Hazardous tree cutting or modifications, determined by a Certified Arborist, when effort is made to first mitigate potential hazards
Fee	Tree application fees (Fees and Charges Bylaw Schedule A4, listed under Tree Protection Bylaw No. 1314, 1995): $25 for 1 to 10 trees removed, $50 for 11 to 20, $100 for 21 or more.Comprehensive Fees and Charges Bylaw 1683, consolidated December 2025, Schedule A4, Schedule A4, Tree Application Fees · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Tree Application Fees 1-10 Trees Removed 11-20 Trees Removed 21 or more trees Bylaw No. 1314, 1995
Replacement trees	In the Hillside Hazard area, guidelines say to replace trees in a way that restores the natural character of the hillside site, and to develop a land clearing and Tree Retention and Removal Plan.City of Quesnel Official Community Plan Bylaw 1979, 2025, s. 8.3.7 Guidelines · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Replace trees in a manner that helps to restore the natural character of the hillside site. Develop a land clearing and Tree Retention and Removal Plan.
City trees	The Parks and Public Places Bylaw says no one may cut, break, injure, remove, climb or damage a tree, shrub or plant in a public place.City of Quesnel Parks and Public Places Bylaw No. 1941, s. 4.2(1)(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording cut, break, injure, remove, climb, or in any way destroy or damage a tree, shrub, plant, turf, flower, or seed
Fine	Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read.
Bylaw	Tree Protection Bylaw No. 1314, 1995 is named in the City's fee schedule as the bylaw for tree application fees; only its fee Schedule A was repealed. The bylaw text was not found online, so confirm with the City. OCP Bylaw 1979 development permit areas also cover vegetation removal.Comprehensive Fees and Charges Bylaw 1683, consolidated December 2025, Schedule A4, Bylaw 1683 s. 3; Schedule A index · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Bylaw No. 1314, 1995

How it works

The City of Quesnel's fee bylaw lists tree application fees under Tree Protection Bylaw No. 1314, 1995. Only that bylaw's fee schedule was repealed, so the bylaw still exists, but its text was not found online. Separately, the Official Community Plan requires a development permit before you remove, disrupt or destroy vegetation in these development permit areas: Multi-Unit (all lands allowing multiple-unit residential use), Commercial, Hillside Hazard (map Schedule E4), Floodplain (E5) and Sensitive Ecosystem (E6).

Steps

Contact City Hall or email developmentservices@quesnel.ca. Ask whether Tree Protection Bylaw 1314 applies to your tree.
Check whether your lot is in a development permit area on Q-City Maps and the OCP schedule maps.
If a permit applies, pay the tree application fee ($25 for 1 to 10 trees, $50 for 11 to 20, $100 for 21 or more) and any development permit fee.

Good to know

Hillside Hazard: cutting hazardous trees that present an immediate danger or are likely to damage property is exempt, as decided by a certified arborist. Sensitive Ecosystem: the same, after first trying to reduce the hazard and keep the tree for wildlife. Actions needed to prevent immediate threats to life or property are also exempt.
In the Hillside Hazard area, guidelines say to replace trees in a way that restores the natural character of the hillside, and to prepare a land clearing and Tree Retention and Removal Plan. No replacement ratio is stated.
On City land, the Parks and Public Places Bylaw says no one may cut, break, injure, remove, climb or damage a tree, shrub or plant in a public place.
No ticket amount was found for cutting trees without a permit.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Wells · Williams Lake · Prince George · Vanderhoof · 100 Mile House · Fraser Lake

Tree removal permits in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Comprehensive Fees and Charges Bylaw 1683, consolidated December 2025, Schedule A4 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
City of Quesnel Official Community Plan Bylaw 1979, 2025 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
City of Quesnel Parks and Public Places Bylaw No. 1941 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)

Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 6 of 7 facts was matched to the official text; 1 could not be confirmed. How answers are checked.