{"title":"Slocan tree removal rules and permits","question":"Do I need permission to cut down a tree on my property in Slocan?","slug":"tree-removal","place":{"path":"ca/bc/slocan","name":"Slocan","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 Slocan","url":"https://www.slocancity.com"},"short_answer":"Slocan has no general tree-cutting bylaw. But in the Official Community Plan's development permit areas, removing trees for development needs a development permit first. Dead or dying trees can be removed without one. Ask the Village Office, 250-355-2277.","aliases":["tree removal slocan","cut down tree slocan","tree bylaw slocan","tree permit slocan"],"cost":"Development permit application $200, plus the cost of any advertising.","how_long":"The Village does not state a processing time.","where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Village Office","value":"250-355-2277","note":"Monday to Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (confirm by phone)"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 700 (Village-linked Google Drive file)","url":"https://drive.google.com/file/d/1t2_2oHj4KGDx_Ro6Dil-2rEQ2_XtT5tg/view?usp=share_link"},{"title":"Maps, Village of Slocan (Maps 7 to 10 show the development permit areas)","url":"https://www.slocancity.com/maps/"}],"related":[{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Slocan zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/slocan/zoning-lookup/"},{"slug":"building-permit","title":"Slocan building permits: when you need one and how to apply","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/slocan/building-permit/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/silverton","name":"Silverton","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/silverton/tree-removal/"},{"place":"ca/bc/nelson","name":"Nelson","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nelson/tree-removal/"},{"place":"ca/bc/kaslo","name":"Kaslo","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kaslo/tree-removal/"},{"place":"ca/bc/castlegar","name":"Castlegar","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/tree-removal/"},{"place":"ca/bc/nakusp","name":"Nakusp","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nakusp/tree-removal/"},{"place":"ca/bc/fruitvale","name":"Fruitvale","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fruitvale/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 general tree-cutting bylaw found. In an OCP development permit area (riparian, flood hazard, steep slopes, village core, gateways, mill and waterfront), a development permit is needed before stripping and grading, which includes removing trees, for development.","short":"No tree bylaw; development permit in mapped areas","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://drive.usercontent.google.com/download?id=1t2_2oHj4KGDx_Ro6Dil-2rEQ2_XtT5tg&export=download","title":"https://drive.usercontent.google.com/download?id=1t2_2oHj4KGDx_Ro6Dil-2rEQ2_XtT5tg&export=download","section":"OCP Bylaw 700, s. 6.2.1","quotes":["Stripping and grading, which includes removal of trees, vegetation, stripping and grading of land","where any portion of the proposed development is located within any DPA."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"exemptions":{"label":"Exemptions","value":"The removal of dead or dying trees, pruning of undergrowth, and maintaining natural vegetation do not need a development permit.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://drive.usercontent.google.com/download?id=1t2_2oHj4KGDx_Ro6Dil-2rEQ2_XtT5tg&export=download","title":"https://drive.usercontent.google.com/download?id=1t2_2oHj4KGDx_Ro6Dil-2rEQ2_XtT5tg&export=download","section":"OCP Bylaw 700, s. 6.2.2(f)","quotes":["The removal of dead or dying trees, pruning of undergrowth, supplementing or maintaining natural existing vegetation."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"fee":{"label":"Fee","value":"Development Permit application $200, plus costs of any advertising.","short":"Development permit $200 plus advertising costs","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"http://www.slocancity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/584-Fees-and-Charges-CONSOLIDATED-Updated-Feb-18-2026.pdf","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 584, Schedule D (PDF)","section":"Schedule D","quotes":["Development Permit","$200, plus costs of any advertising"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}},"replacement":{"label":"Replacement trees","value":null,"status":"none","note":"Slocan's Official Community Plan sets no tree replacement rule.","sources":[]},"city_trees":{"label":"City trees","value":null,"status":"unknown","reason":"not_found","sources":[]},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":null,"status":"unknown","reason":"not_found","sources":[]},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"No tree bylaw. Development permit areas are set in Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 700, 2022, s. 6.2.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://drive.usercontent.google.com/download?id=1t2_2oHj4KGDx_Ro6Dil-2rEQ2_XtT5tg&export=download","title":"https://drive.usercontent.google.com/download?id=1t2_2oHj4KGDx_Ro6Dil-2rEQ2_XtT5tg&export=download","section":"OCP Bylaw 700","quotes":["Village of Slocan Official Community Plan – Bylaw No. 700","GENERAL DPA POLICIES"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-08"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":7,"stated":4,"matched":4,"none":1,"unknown":2},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nThe Village of Slocan's Bylaws page lists no tree bylaw. The rule that can apply is in the [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 700](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1t2_2oHj4KGDx_Ro6Dil-2rEQ2_XtT5tg/view?usp=share_link) (s. 6.2). In its development permit areas (riparian, flood hazard, steep slopes, village core, gateways, mill and waterfront), you need a development permit before stripping and grading, which includes removing trees, for development. Maps 7 to 10 on the Village's Maps page show the areas.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Check the Maps page to see if your lot is in a development permit area.\n2. If it is, call the Village Office before removing trees for development.\n3. Apply for a development permit if staff confirm one is needed.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- No development permit is needed to remove dead or dying trees, prune undergrowth or maintain natural vegetation (s. 6.2.2).\n- A single-detached or two-unit dwelling needs no permit in the Village Core, Mill and Waterfront or Gateways areas (s. 6.2.3).\n- Development permit application fee: $200, plus advertising costs (Fees and Charges Bylaw, Schedule D).\n- The OCP only says the Village should consider a Tree Retention Policy; it sets no replacement rule.\n- The sources read state no rules on boulevard or Village trees and no fine for tree removal. Ask the Village Office.","sources":[{"url":"https://drive.google.com/file/d/1t2_2oHj4KGDx_Ro6Dil-2rEQ2_XtT5tg/view?usp=share_link","title":"Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 700, 2022 (PDF, Village-linked Google Drive file)","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"http://www.slocancity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/584-Fees-and-Charges-CONSOLIDATED-Updated-Feb-18-2026.pdf","title":"Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 584, Schedule D (PDF)","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.slocancity.com/maps/","title":"Maps, Village of Slocan","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://www.slocancity.com/bylaws/","title":"Bylaws, Village of Slocan","accessed":"2026-11-08"},{"url":"https://drive.usercontent.google.com/download?id=1t2_2oHj4KGDx_Ro6Dil-2rEQ2_XtT5tg&export=download","title":"https://drive.usercontent.google.com/download?id=1t2_2oHj4KGDx_Ro6Dil-2rEQ2_XtT5tg&export=download","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 4 of 7 facts was matched to the official text; 1 is recorded as not set; 2 could not be confirmed."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/slocan/tree-removal/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/slocan/tree-removal.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/slocan/tree-removal.json"}}