Salt Spring Island tree removal rules and permits

Do I need permission to cut down trees on my property?

Salt Spring Island, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

Short answer

Salt Spring Island has no tree bylaw. But the Islands Trust requires a development permit to cut trees in mapped areas near the sea, lakes and streams, and on high slope-hazard land. The permit fee is $1,299. Trees in Capital Regional District (CRD) community parks need written authorization.

Key facts

When a permit is needed	No tree bylaw. Islands Trust OCP 434 requires a development permit to remove: trees over 20 cm across within 10 m of the sea (mapped sensitive areas only); trees within 10 m of a lake or stream (300 m of Maxwell Lake); trees over 20 cm on mapped high slope-hazard land; vegetation in mapped riparian areas.Salt Spring Island OCP Bylaw No. 434, Volume 2, development permit areas 3, 4, 6 and 7, E.3.1.2(j) (DPA 3, shoreline); Salt Spring Island OCP Bylaw No. 434, Volume 2, development permit areas 3, 4, 6 and 7, E.4.1.2(a) (DPA 4); Salt Spring Island OCP Bylaw No. 434, Volume 2, development permit areas 3, 4, 6 and 7, E.6.1.2(a) (DPA 6); Salt Spring Island OCP Bylaw No. 434, Volume 2, development permit areas 3, 4, 6 and 7, E.7.4.1(b) (DPA 7) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Removal of trees with a trunk diameter greater than 20 cm (measured 1.5 m above the ground) or the in areas where the marine environment has been identified as being particularly sensitive to development impacts. Removal of trees within 10 m of the natural boundary of a lake or a stream (or within 300 m on areas that have been identified as having a high hazard for slope instability. Removal, alteration, or destruction of vegetation.
Exemptions	Emergency removal of a hazardous tree is exempt in DPAs 3 to 6; in the riparian area (DPA 7) a tree examined by an arborist and certified as an immediate threat to life or property is exempt, as is gardening within an existing landscaped area. Farming on agricultural land (beyond set distances of water) and forest management are also exempt.Salt Spring Island OCP Bylaw No. 434, Volume 2, development permit areas 3, 4, 6 and 7, E.3.1.3(d); Salt Spring Island OCP Bylaw No. 434, Volume 2, development permit areas 3, 4, 6 and 7, E.7.5.1(b); Salt Spring Island OCP Bylaw No. 434, Volume 2, development permit areas 3, 4, 6 and 7, E.7.5.1(d); Salt Spring Island OCP Bylaw No. 434, Volume 2, development permit areas 3, 4, 6 and 7, E.4.1.3(a) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording the emergency removal of a hazardous tree. The removal of trees that have been examined by an arborist and certified to pose an immediate threat to life or property. Gardening and yard maintenance activities within an existing landscaped area, including land alteration and vegetation removal on agricultural land that is more than 3 m from the
Fee	Development permit to protect the natural environment, or to protect development from hazardous conditions: $1,299 each (Islands Trust, consolidated April 2026). A permit applied for after the work is done carries a 20% surcharge.Salt Spring Island Local Trust Committee Fees Bylaw No. 527, Table 2 - Permits; Salt Spring Island Local Trust Committee Fees Bylaw No. 527, s. 4.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Protection of Natural Environment, Ecosystems and Biological $1,299 Protection of Development from Hazardous Conditions $1,299 will be subject to a 20% surcharge.
Replacement trees	Riparian areas (DPA 7): the Local Trust Committee must require security for developments clearing more than 280 m², and may require trees or vegetation to be planted or retained. Other areas: guidelines say native vegetation and trees are to be retained or replaced to control erosion and protect banks.Salt Spring Island OCP Bylaw No. 434, Volume 2, development permit areas 3, 4, 6 and 7, E.7.6.3; Salt Spring Island OCP Bylaw No. 434, Volume 2, development permit areas 3, 4, 6 and 7, E.7.6.2(d); Salt Spring Island OCP Bylaw No. 434, Volume 2, development permit areas 3, 4, 6 and 7, E.3.4.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording The Local Trust Committee shall require a security for developments clearing greater than 280m Require protection measures, including that vegetation or trees be planted or retained in order Native vegetation and trees are to be retained or replaced to control erosion, protect banks and
City trees	In CRD community parks and trails on Salt Spring, no one may cut, prune or remove any tree or part of a tree without written CRD authorization. Ticket: $500 (CRD Bylaw 1857, Schedule 23, s. 7(9)); court fines start at $50. Trees on public road allowances were not covered in the documents read.CRD Bylaw No. 3795, Community Parks Regulations, s. 7(9); CRD Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw No. 1857, Schedule 23, Schedule 23 to Bylaw No. 1857 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording A person must not cut down, prune or remove any tree or any part of a tree in a community park without the written authorization of the CRD COMMUNITY PARKS REGULATIONS (JUAN DE FUCA AND SALT SPRING ISLAND 16. Cut or Remove Tree 7(9) $500.00
Fine	Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read.
Bylaw	Salt Spring Island Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 434, 2008, Volume 2 (development permit areas 3, 4, 6 and 7); Fees Bylaw No. 527.Salt Spring Island OCP Bylaw No. 434, Volume 2, development permit areas 3, 4, 6 and 7, title; Salt Spring Island OCP Bylaw No. 434, Volume 2, development permit areas 3, 4, 6 and 7, E.7.4.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Bylaw No. 434, 2008 The following residential, commercial, and/or general employment activities shall require a

How it works

Salt Spring Island has no tree bylaw. The Islands Trust controls tree removal through Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 434, Volume 2. Trees outside every development permit area are not covered by it. Inside the mapped areas, a development permit is required to remove:

trees over 20 cm across within 10 m of the sea (mapped sensitive areas only)
trees within 10 m of a lake or stream (300 m of Maxwell Lake)
trees over 20 cm across on mapped high slope-hazard land
vegetation in mapped riparian areas

Other triggers include removing vegetation that exposes over 9 m² of bare soil in some areas. Check the development permit area maps on the Trust's Salt Spring bylaws page.

Steps

Ask the Islands Trust (250-537-9144) whether your lot is in a development permit area.
If it is, apply for a development permit using the Trust's application guide. The fee is $1,299; a permit applied for after the work is done carries a 20% surcharge.
In riparian areas, include a Qualified Environmental Professional report, at your expense.
In CRD community parks and trails on Salt Spring, get written CRD authorization before cutting, pruning or removing any tree or part of a tree.

Good to know

Emergency removal of a hazardous tree is exempt in development permit areas 3 to 6. In the riparian area, an arborist must examine the tree and certify it is an immediate threat to life or property. In area 6 the arborist's report must be submitted to the Trust.
Farming on agricultural land (beyond set distances of water) and forest management are also exempt.
In the riparian area, the Trust must require security for clearing more than 280 m², and may require trees or vegetation to be planted or retained. Elsewhere, guidelines say native vegetation and trees are to be retained or replaced.
Cutting a tree in a CRD community park or trail without authorization carries a $500 ticket.
We found no ticket amount for cutting trees without a development permit.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Tree removal permits in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Salt Spring Island OCP Bylaw No. 434, Volume 2, development permit areas 3, 4, 6 and 7 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Salt Spring Island Local Trust Committee Fees Bylaw No. 527 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
CRD Bylaw No. 3795, Community Parks Regulations (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
CRD Ticket Information Authorization Bylaw No. 1857, Schedule 23 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Land Use Application Guides & Forms, Islands Trust (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.