Radium Hot Springs tree removal rules and permits
Do I need permission to cut down a tree on my property in Radium Hot Springs?
Radium Hot Springs has no tree-cutting bylaw posted in its Document Centre. But all Village land is in a wildfire development permit area, where a development permit is typically required for clearing and other land alteration. Check with Building and Development Services before removing trees.
Key facts
| When a permit is needed | No tree-cutting bylaw is posted in the Village Document Centre. The Official Community Plan sets a Wildfire Development Permit Area over all lands in the Village; a development permit is typically required for altering land, including clearing, grading and disturbing soil. Other development permit areas (flood, steep slope, riparian) apply on mapped land.Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 527, 2025, s. 6.1 and DPA applicability; Maps and GIS, Maps & GIS · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingWildfire DPA that applies to all lands in the Altering land, including clearing, grading, Constructing new buildings or structures; If Development Permit Areas (DPA's) exist |
|---|---|
| Exemptions | Exempt from the wildfire development permit area: removal of danger trees under direction of a qualified arborist, removal of invasive species, removal or replacement of flammable vegetation for wildfire fuel reduction, and works by a municipal, provincial or federal government. Land in the Agricultural Land Reserve is exempt from several other DPAs.Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 527, 2025, DPA exemptions, Wildfire DPA · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingd) Removal of dangerous trees under direction of a qualified arborist; e) Removal of Invasive Species; undertaken by a municipal, provincial |
| Fee | No tree-specific permit fee. Wildfire development permit applications have no charge; other development permit applications are $700 (projects over 50 m²) or $420 (under 50 m²).Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 530, 2026, Schedule E, Development Services · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingPer each application for projects > 50m2 (Except Wildfire Development Per each application for projects < 50m2 (Except Wildfire Development |
| Replacement trees | Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read. |
| City trees | Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read. |
| Fine | Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read. |
| Bylaw | No tree bylaw found. Development permit areas are set in Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 527, 2025.OCP and Zoning, OCP & Zoning page · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08Official wordingOfficial Community Plan Bylaw No. 527, 2025(OCP) |
How it works
The Village has no tree-cutting bylaw posted in its Document Centre. The Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 527 sets a Wildfire Development Permit Area over all lands in the Village. A development permit is typically required for altering land, including clearing, grading and disturbing soil. Other development permit areas (flood, steep slope, riparian) apply on mapped land. The OCP does not say in plain words that cutting a tree needs a permit.
Exempt from the wildfire development permit area: removal of danger trees under the direction of a qualified arborist, removal of invasive species, removal or replacement of flammable vegetation for wildfire fuel reduction, and works by a municipal, provincial or federal government. Land in the Agricultural Land Reserve is exempt from several other development permit areas.
Steps
- Look up your parcel on the Village web map; it shows any development permit areas. See the zoning-lookup answer.
- Contact Building and Development Services (250-347-6455 ext. 7) before removing trees.
- If a permit is needed, apply as staff direct.
Good to know
- Wildfire development permit applications have no charge. Other development permit applications are $700 (over 50 m²) or $420 (under 50 m²). We found no tree-specific fee.
- We found no replacement planting rule for private trees, no rules for trees on Village land or boulevards, and no fine for cutting a tree without a permit. Ask the Village.
- The Village's Report a Problem form has a "Trees" type for concerns.
Official forms and pages
The same question in other places
Invermere · Canal Flats · Golden · Kaslo · Elkford · Kimberley
Sources
- Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 527, 2025 (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
- Maps and GIS, Village of Radium Hot Springs (read 2026-11-08)
- OCP and Zoning, Village of Radium Hot Springs (read 2026-11-08)
- Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 530, 2026 (PDF) (read 2026-11-08)
- Report a Problem, Village of Radium Hot Springs (read 2026-11-08)
- Building and Development Services, Village of Radium Hot Springs (read 2026-11-08)
Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 4 of 7 facts was matched to the official text; 3 could not be confirmed. How answers are checked.