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

# Revelstoke tree removal rules and permits

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

**Short answer:** Revelstoke has no bylaw requiring a permit to cut an ordinary tree on private land. But the Official Community Plan requires a development permit before land clearing in a development permit area, and the environmental areas cover all land. Trees on City land need a permit.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Revelstoke, https://www.revelstoke.ca)  
**Cost:** No fee found for cutting a private tree. If a development permit is needed, fees are in the Fees and Charges Bylaw, Schedule B.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Development Services (development permit areas), 250-837-3637

## Key facts

- **When a permit is needed:** No bylaw requiring a permit to cut trees on private land in general was found. However, the OCP requires a development permit before land clearing in a development permit area. The Environmentally Sensitive and Environmentally Hazardous areas apply to all land in the City (mapped areas, riparian areas, slopes of 30% or more), so ask Development Services before clearing.
  - Source: [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2332, OCP Part 5, s. 5.2, 5.3](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/198773)
  - Official wording: "In all DPAs, a Development Permit must be approved before land is subdivided or development occurs," … "including but not limited to land clearing, preparation for the construction of services or roads, blasting," … "The Environmentally Sensitive Development Permit Area applies to all land within the City boundaries." … "The Environmentally Hazardous Development Permit Area applies to all land within City boundaries."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Exemptions:** From a development permit: land alteration without construction solely to restore an environmental feature or remove an invasive species (restoration plan first); development where a qualified environmental professional confirms no sensitive features. Land clearing is exempt in the Downtown, Scenic Corridor, Multi-family, Commercial and Industrial areas only, not from the City-wide environmental areas. No hazard tree or ALR rule found.
  - Source: [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2332, OCP s. 5.1.1, 5.1.2](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/198773)
  - Official wording: "(a) Development within an environmentally sensitive area for which a Qualified" … "(c) Land alteration without construction where the alteration is occurring solely for the" … "restoration of an environmental feature or the removal of an invasive species. A" … "(j) Land alteration and clearing, except within Revelstoke Mountain Resort" … "(j) Land alteration and clearing, except within Revelstoke Mountain Resort" … "The Environmentally Hazardous Development Permit Area applies to all land within City boundaries."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee:** Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read.
- **Replacement trees:** Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read.
- **City trees:** No one except Parks Department staff or contractors may plant, prune, remove or damage a tree on City-owned or City-managed land without a permit from the Parks Foreman. No soil compaction, soil removal or hard surface within a City tree's drip line. Anyone who removes or damages a City tree must pay equitable compensation set by a qualified arborist.
  - Source: [Municipal Property Tree Bylaw No. 1792, consolidated, Municipal Property Tree Bylaw No. 1792, s. 4, 8](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/79336)
  - Official wording: "a) No person other than an employee or authorized contractor of the Parks Department shall" … "plant, prune, remove or cause damage to any tree on any property, owned or managed by" … "the City, without first having obtained a permit issued by the Parks Foreman." … "constructing a hard or impervious surface within the Drip Line." … "Equitable compensation for the value of a City tree, as appraised by a Qualified Arborist"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** City trees only. Municipal ticket: $2,000 for removing a municipal tree, $1,000 for damaging or pruning one, $500 for planting one without a permit. Court: $2,500 to $10,000 per tree. No ticket for cutting a private tree was found.
  - Source: [Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 2082, Schedule 2](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/164836)
  - Official wording: "Removal of municipal tree 4. a) $2000.00 N/A" … "Cause damage to municipal tree 4. a) $1000.00 N/A" … "Prune municipal tree 4. a) $1000.00 N/A" … "Plant tree on municipal property 4. a) $500.00 N/A"
  - Source: [Municipal Property Tree Bylaw No. 1792, consolidated, Tree Bylaw s. 12](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/79336)
  - Official wording: "b) to a fine and penalty not exceeding Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) and not less than" … "Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00), upon summary conviction."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** City of Revelstoke Municipal Property Tree Bylaw No. 1792 (City land only)
  - Source: [Municipal Property Tree Bylaw No. 1792, consolidated, Tree Bylaw s. 1](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/79336)
  - Official wording: "City of Revelstoke Municipal Property Tree"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The City has no bylaw requiring a permit to cut trees on private land in general. However, the [Official Community Plan](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/198773) requires a development permit before land clearing in a development permit area. The Environmentally Sensitive and Environmentally Hazardous areas apply to all land in the City (mapped areas, riparian areas, and slopes of 30% or more), so ask Development Services before clearing.

The OCP exempts land clearing from a development permit only in the Downtown, Scenic Corridor, Multi-family, Commercial and Industrial areas, not from the City-wide environmental areas. Also exempt: land alteration without construction solely to restore an environmental feature or remove an invasive species (with a restoration plan first), and development where a qualified environmental professional confirms there are no sensitive features.

## Good to know

- **City trees:** the [Municipal Property Tree Bylaw 1792](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/79336) covers trees on land the City owns or controls, including boulevards. No one except Parks staff or contractors may plant, prune, remove or damage one without a permit from the Parks Foreman. No soil compaction, soil removal or hard surface within the drip line. Anyone who removes or damages a City tree must pay compensation set by a qualified arborist.
- **Fines for City trees:** municipal tickets are $2,000 for removing one, $1,000 for damaging or pruning one, and $500 for planting one without a permit. A court fine is $2,500 to $10,000 per tree.
- No ticket for cutting a private tree was found.
- No replacement planting requirement and no hazard-tree rule for private trees was found. Ask Development Services if your tree is a hazard.
- Ask the Parks Department before touching a boulevard tree.

## Official forms and pages

- [Municipal Property Tree Bylaw No. 1792, consolidated (PDF)](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/79336)
- [Official Community Plan Bylaw 2332 (PDF), Part 5 Development Permit Areas](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/198773)

## Related questions

- [Revelstoke fence rules: permits and height limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/revelstoke/fence-rules.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Tree removal permits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tree-removal.md)
- [Enderby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/enderby/tree-removal.md)
- [Nakusp](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nakusp/tree-removal.md)
- [Armstrong](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/tree-removal.md)
- [Spallumcheen](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/spallumcheen/tree-removal.md)
- [Golden](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/golden/tree-removal.md)
- [Lumby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lumby/tree-removal.md)

## Sources

- [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2332 (PDF), City of Revelstoke](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/198773) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Municipal Property Tree Bylaw No. 1792, consolidated (PDF), City of Revelstoke](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/79336) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw No. 2082, Schedule 2 (PDF), City of Revelstoke](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/164836) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2256, consolidated (PDF), City of Revelstoke](https://revelstoke.civicweb.net/document/145989) (read 2026-11-05)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 7 facts was matched to the official text; 2 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Revelstoke. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/revelstoke/tree-removal/_