--- title: Slocan tree removal rules and permits question: "Do I need permission to cut down a tree on my property in Slocan?" place: Slocan, British Columbia, Canada place_path: ca/bc/slocan category: Building, renovating and your property owner: municipal owner_body: Village of Slocan sources_read: 2026-11-08 review: machine_checked canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/slocan/tree-removal/" json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/slocan/tree-removal.json" --- # Slocan tree removal rules and permits **Question:** Do I need permission to cut down a tree on my property in Slocan? **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. **Who handles it:** Municipal (Village of Slocan, https://www.slocancity.com) **Cost:** Development permit application $200, plus the cost of any advertising. **How long:** The Village does not state a processing time. **Where:** - Phone: Village Office, 250-355-2277 (Monday to Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (confirm by phone)) ## Key facts - **When a permit is needed:** 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. - Source: [https://drive.usercontent.google.com/download?id=1t2_2oHj4KGDx_Ro6Dil-2rEQ2_XtT5tg&export=download, OCP Bylaw 700, s. 6.2.1](https://drive.usercontent.google.com/download?id=1t2_2oHj4KGDx_Ro6Dil-2rEQ2_XtT5tg&export=download) - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 - **Exemptions:** The removal of dead or dying trees, pruning of undergrowth, and maintaining natural vegetation do not need a development permit. - Source: [https://drive.usercontent.google.com/download?id=1t2_2oHj4KGDx_Ro6Dil-2rEQ2_XtT5tg&export=download, OCP Bylaw 700, s. 6.2.2(f)](https://drive.usercontent.google.com/download?id=1t2_2oHj4KGDx_Ro6Dil-2rEQ2_XtT5tg&export=download) - Official wording: "The removal of dead or dying trees, pruning of undergrowth, supplementing or maintaining natural existing vegetation." - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 - **Fee:** Development Permit application $200, plus costs of any advertising. - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 584, Schedule D](http://www.slocancity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/584-Fees-and-Charges-CONSOLIDATED-Updated-Feb-18-2026.pdf) - Official wording: "Development Permit" … "$200, plus costs of any advertising" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 - **Replacement trees:** None set. Slocan's Official Community Plan sets no tree replacement rule. - **City trees:** Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read. - **Fine:** Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read. - **Bylaw:** No tree bylaw. Development permit areas are set in Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 700, 2022, s. 6.2. - Source: [https://drive.usercontent.google.com/download?id=1t2_2oHj4KGDx_Ro6Dil-2rEQ2_XtT5tg&export=download, OCP Bylaw 700](https://drive.usercontent.google.com/download?id=1t2_2oHj4KGDx_Ro6Dil-2rEQ2_XtT5tg&export=download) - Official wording: "Village of Slocan Official Community Plan – Bylaw No. 700" … "GENERAL DPA POLICIES" - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08 ## How it works The 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. ## Steps 1. Check the Maps page to see if your lot is in a development permit area. 2. If it is, call the Village Office before removing trees for development. 3. Apply for a development permit if staff confirm one is needed. ## Good to know - No development permit is needed to remove dead or dying trees, prune undergrowth or maintain natural vegetation (s. 6.2.2). - A single-detached or two-unit dwelling needs no permit in the Village Core, Mill and Waterfront or Gateways areas (s. 6.2.3). - Development permit application fee: $200, plus advertising costs (Fees and Charges Bylaw, Schedule D). - The OCP only says the Village should consider a Tree Retention Policy; it sets no replacement rule. - The sources read state no rules on boulevard or Village trees and no fine for tree removal. Ask the Village Office. ## Official forms and pages - [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 700 (Village-linked Google Drive file)](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1t2_2oHj4KGDx_Ro6Dil-2rEQ2_XtT5tg/view?usp=share_link) - [Maps, Village of Slocan (Maps 7 to 10 show the development permit areas)](https://www.slocancity.com/maps/) ## Related questions - [Slocan zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/slocan/zoning-lookup.md) - [Slocan building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/slocan/building-permit.md) ## The same question elsewhere - [Tree removal permits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tree-removal.md) - [Silverton](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/silverton/tree-removal.md) - [Nelson](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nelson/tree-removal.md) - [Kaslo](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/kaslo/tree-removal.md) - [Castlegar](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/castlegar/tree-removal.md) - [Nakusp](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/nakusp/tree-removal.md) - [Fruitvale](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fruitvale/tree-removal.md) ## Sources - [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 700, 2022 (PDF, Village-linked Google Drive file)](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1t2_2oHj4KGDx_Ro6Dil-2rEQ2_XtT5tg/view?usp=share_link) (read 2026-11-08) - [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 584, Schedule D (PDF)](http://www.slocancity.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/584-Fees-and-Charges-CONSOLIDATED-Updated-Feb-18-2026.pdf) (read 2026-11-08) - [Maps, Village of Slocan](https://www.slocancity.com/maps/) (read 2026-11-08) - [Bylaws, Village of Slocan](https://www.slocancity.com/bylaws/) (read 2026-11-08) - [https://drive.usercontent.google.com/download?id=1t2_2oHj4KGDx_Ro6Dil-2rEQ2_XtT5tg&export=download](https://drive.usercontent.google.com/download?id=1t2_2oHj4KGDx_Ro6Dil-2rEQ2_XtT5tg&export=download) (read 2026-11-08) _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. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Village of Slocan. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/slocan/tree-removal/_