{"title":"Sayward tree removal rules and permits","question":"Do I need permission to cut down a tree on my property in Sayward?","slug":"tree-removal","place":{"path":"ca/bc/sayward","name":"Sayward","region":{"code":"bc","name":"British Columbia"},"country":{"code":"ca","name":"Canada"}},"category":{"slug":"building-and-renovating","name":"Building, renovating and your property"},"owner":"municipal","owner_label":"Municipal","owner_body":{"name":"Village of Sayward","url":"https://www.sayward.ca"},"short_answer":"The Village of Sayward has no tree-cutting bylaw, so you generally do not need a permit to cut a tree on your own lot. Near streams and ravines, the Official Community Plan requires a riparian assessment for development, which includes removing vegetation. Trees on the boulevard are protected.","aliases":["tree removal permit sayward","cut down tree sayward","tree bylaw sayward","boulevard tree sayward"],"cost":"No tree permit or fee is set in the Village's Fees and Charges Bylaw.","how_long":"Not applicable.","where":[{"type":"in_person","label":"Village Office","value":"652 H'Kusam Way, Sayward, BC","note":"Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (closed holidays)"},{"type":"phone","label":"Village Office","value":"250-282-5512"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 308 (PDF)","url":"https://www.sayward.ca/sites/1/files/2021-06/Bylaw%20308%20-%20OCP%20Consolidated%20Version%2C%20for%20convenience%20only.pdf"},{"title":"Public Nuisance Bylaw No. 502 (PDF)","url":"https://www.sayward.ca/sites/1/files/2023-06/Bylaw%20502%20-%20Public%20Nuisance.pdf"}],"related":[{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Sayward zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sayward/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Sayward building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sayward/building-permit/"},{"slug":"unsightly-property","title":"Sayward unsightly property rules and how to report","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sayward/unsightly-property/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/campbell-river","name":"Campbell River","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/tree-removal/"},{"place":"ca/bc/tahsis","name":"Tahsis","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tahsis/tree-removal/"},{"place":"ca/bc/alert-bay","name":"Alert Bay","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/alert-bay/tree-removal/"},{"place":"ca/bc/courtenay","name":"Courtenay","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/tree-removal/"},{"place":"ca/bc/cumberland","name":"Cumberland","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/tree-removal/"},{"place":"ca/bc/comox","name":"Comox","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/tree-removal/"}],"topic":{"title":"Tree removal permits in British Columbia, by municipality","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tree-removal/"},"facts":{"permit_needed":{"label":"When a permit is needed","value":"No tree-cutting bylaw. Within 30 m of the top of bank of streams and ravines under 60 m wide (10 m for wider ravines), the OCP requires a riparian assessment report for any development as defined in the Riparian Areas Regulation, which includes removing vegetation.","short":"No tree bylaw; riparian report within 30 m of streams","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.sayward.ca/sites/1/files/2021-06/Bylaw%20308%20-%20OCP%20Consolidated%20Version%2C%20for%20convenience%20only.pdf","title":"Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 308, 2000 (PDF, consolidated)","section":"OCP s. 3.2(g) Riparian Assessment Areas","quotes":["Thirty (30) metres from top of the bank on all streams and ravines less that sixty (60)","Any development, as defined in the Riparian Areas Regulation, proposed in these areas will"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"exemptions":{"label":"Exemptions","value":null,"status":"unknown","reason":"not_found","sources":[]},"fee":{"label":"Fee","value":null,"status":"none","note":"Sayward has no tree-cutting bylaw, so there is no tree permit fee.","sources":[]},"replacement":{"label":"Replacement trees","value":null,"status":"none","note":"Sayward has no tree-cutting bylaw, so it sets no replacement-planting rule.","sources":[]},"city_trees":{"label":"City trees","value":"No one may wilfully injure or damage any boulevard or any tree, shrub, plant, bush or hedge on a boulevard.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.sayward.ca/sites/1/files/2023-06/Bylaw%20502%20-%20Public%20Nuisance.pdf","title":"Public Nuisance Bylaw No. 502 (PDF)","section":"s. 7.5(a)","quotes":["willfully injure or damage any Boulevard or any tree, shrub, plant, bush"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":null,"status":"none","note":"Sayward has no tree-cutting bylaw, so it sets no tree-cutting fine.","sources":[]},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"No tree bylaw. Riparian rule: Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 308, 2000, s. 3.2(g).","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.sayward.ca/sites/1/files/2021-06/Bylaw%20308%20-%20OCP%20Consolidated%20Version%2C%20for%20convenience%20only.pdf","title":"Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 308, 2000 (PDF, consolidated)","section":"OCP s. 3.2(g)","quotes":["The Village of Sayward establishes the following areas around streams as a riparian assessment"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":7,"stated":3,"matched":3,"none":3,"unknown":1},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe Village of Sayward has no tree-protection or tree-cutting bylaw. The [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 308](https://www.sayward.ca/sites/1/files/2021-06/Bylaw%20308%20-%20OCP%20Consolidated%20Version%2C%20for%20convenience%20only.pdf) sets a riparian assessment area: 30 m from the top of bank of streams and ravines under 60 m wide, and 10 m for wider ravines. In that area, any development as defined in the Riparian Areas Regulation, which includes removing vegetation, needs a riparian assessment report. The Plan does not say whether cutting a tree counts, so ask the Village Office at 250-282-5512 before cutting near a stream or ravine.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- No one may wilfully injure or damage a boulevard or any tree, shrub, plant, bush or hedge on a boulevard ([Public Nuisance Bylaw No. 502](https://www.sayward.ca/sites/1/files/2023-06/Bylaw%20502%20-%20Public%20Nuisance.pdf)). Owners must keep the boulevard in front of their property tidy and trimmed (s. 7.3).\n- The Village can order owners to trim or remove hazardous trees (s. 7.9).\n- The sources state no tree permit fee, no replacement-planting rule and no tree-specific ticket. Public Nuisance Bylaw offences carry a fine of up to $10,000 on conviction (s. 8.2).","sources":[{"url":"https://www.sayward.ca/sites/1/files/2021-06/Bylaw%20308%20-%20OCP%20Consolidated%20Version%2C%20for%20convenience%20only.pdf","title":"Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 308, 2000 (PDF, consolidated)","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.sayward.ca/sites/1/files/2023-06/Bylaw%20502%20-%20Public%20Nuisance.pdf","title":"Public Nuisance Bylaw No. 502 (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.sayward.ca/sites/1/files/2026-05/Bylaw%20451%20-%20Fees%20and%20Charges%20Consolidated%20Version%2C%20for%20convenience%20only%20-%20updated%202026.pdf","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 451, 2019 (PDF, consolidated)","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.sayward.ca/contact/staff-directory","title":"Staff Directory, Village of Sayward","accessed":"2026-11-08"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-08","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 3 of 7 facts was matched to the official text; 3 are recorded as not set; 1 could not be confirmed."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sayward/tree-removal/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sayward/tree-removal.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sayward/tree-removal.json"}}