---
title: Sayward tree removal rules and permits
question: "Do I need permission to cut down a tree on my property in Sayward?"
place: Sayward, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/sayward
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: Village of Sayward
sources_read: 2026-11-08
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sayward/tree-removal/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sayward/tree-removal.json"
---

# Sayward tree removal rules and permits

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Village of Sayward, https://www.sayward.ca)  
**Cost:** No tree permit or fee is set in the Village's Fees and Charges Bylaw.  
**How long:** Not applicable.  
**Where:**
- In person: Village Office, 652 H'Kusam Way, Sayward, BC (Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (closed holidays))
- Phone: Village Office, 250-282-5512

## Key facts

- **When a permit is needed:** 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.
  - Source: [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 308, 2000 (PDF, consolidated), OCP s. 3.2(g) Riparian Assessment Areas](https://www.sayward.ca/sites/1/files/2021-06/Bylaw%20308%20-%20OCP%20Consolidated%20Version%2C%20for%20convenience%20only.pdf)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Exemptions:** Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read.
- **Fee:** None set. Sayward has no tree-cutting bylaw, so there is no tree permit fee.
- **Replacement trees:** None set. Sayward has no tree-cutting bylaw, so it sets no replacement-planting rule.
- **City trees:** No one may wilfully injure or damage any boulevard or any tree, shrub, plant, bush or hedge on a boulevard.
  - Source: [Public Nuisance Bylaw No. 502, s. 7.5(a)](https://www.sayward.ca/sites/1/files/2023-06/Bylaw%20502%20-%20Public%20Nuisance.pdf)
  - Official wording: "willfully injure or damage any Boulevard or any tree, shrub, plant, bush"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fine:** None set. Sayward has no tree-cutting bylaw, so it sets no tree-cutting fine.
- **Bylaw:** No tree bylaw. Riparian rule: Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 308, 2000, s. 3.2(g).
  - Source: [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 308, 2000 (PDF, consolidated), OCP s. 3.2(g)](https://www.sayward.ca/sites/1/files/2021-06/Bylaw%20308%20-%20OCP%20Consolidated%20Version%2C%20for%20convenience%20only.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The Village of Sayward establishes the following areas around streams as a riparian assessment"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

The 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.

## Good to know

- 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).
- The Village can order owners to trim or remove hazardous trees (s. 7.9).
- 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).

## Official forms and pages

- [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 308 (PDF)](https://www.sayward.ca/sites/1/files/2021-06/Bylaw%20308%20-%20OCP%20Consolidated%20Version%2C%20for%20convenience%20only.pdf)
- [Public Nuisance Bylaw No. 502 (PDF)](https://www.sayward.ca/sites/1/files/2023-06/Bylaw%20502%20-%20Public%20Nuisance.pdf)

## Related questions

- [Sayward zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sayward/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Sayward building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sayward/building-permit.md)
- [Sayward unsightly property rules and how to report](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sayward/unsightly-property.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Tree removal permits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tree-removal.md)
- [Campbell River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/tree-removal.md)
- [Tahsis](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tahsis/tree-removal.md)
- [Alert Bay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/alert-bay/tree-removal.md)
- [Courtenay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/courtenay/tree-removal.md)
- [Cumberland](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/cumberland/tree-removal.md)
- [Comox](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/comox/tree-removal.md)

## Sources

- [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 308, 2000 (PDF, consolidated)](https://www.sayward.ca/sites/1/files/2021-06/Bylaw%20308%20-%20OCP%20Consolidated%20Version%2C%20for%20convenience%20only.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Public Nuisance Bylaw No. 502 (PDF)](https://www.sayward.ca/sites/1/files/2023-06/Bylaw%20502%20-%20Public%20Nuisance.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 451, 2019 (PDF, consolidated)](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) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Staff Directory, Village of Sayward](https://www.sayward.ca/contact/staff-directory) (read 2026-11-08)

_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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Village of Sayward. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sayward/tree-removal/_