---
title: Spallumcheen tree removal rules and permits
question: "Do I need permission to cut down a tree on my property in Spallumcheen?"
place: Spallumcheen, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/spallumcheen
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: Township of Spallumcheen
sources_read: 2026-11-06
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/spallumcheen/tree-removal/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/spallumcheen/tree-removal.json"
---

# Spallumcheen tree removal rules and permits

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

**Short answer:** The Township of Spallumcheen has no tree bylaw. Within 30 m of the high water mark of a stream, river or creek, a development permit is required to remove vegetation when it is tied to residential, commercial or industrial development. Trees on boulevards and roads need a written permit.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Township of Spallumcheen, https://www.spallumcheentwp.bc.ca)  
**Cost:** Development permit application fee $500 ($700 if a variance is also needed), only where a permit is required. No separate tree-cutting fee found.  
**How long:** Not stated.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Planning and Development Services, 250-546-3013
- Email: Planning and Development Services, planner@spallumcheentwp.bc.ca
- In person: Municipal Office, 4144 Spallumcheen Way, Spallumcheen, BC V4Y 0N1 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **When a permit is needed:** No tree bylaw found. Within 30 m of the high water mark of any mapped or unmapped stream, river or creek, a development permit is required for removal, alteration, disruption or destruction of vegetation, where associated with the Township's regulation or approval of residential, commercial or industrial uses. Hillside and wildfire areas are triggered by building, subdivision or land alteration.
  - Source: [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1794, 2011, s. 20.5 to 20.7 (PDF, consolidated), OCP s. 20.5.2, 20.5.4](https://spallumcheen.civicweb.net/document/50327/)
  - Official wording: "All lands within 30 meters of the high water mark of Shuswap River, Deep Creek," … "ii. removal, alteration, disruption or destruction of vegetation;" … "a development permit must be obtained for any of the following development activities associated with or resulting from the Township of Spallumcheen regulation or approval of residential, commercial or industrial uses" … "removal, alteration, disruption or destruction of vegetation;"
  - Source: [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1794, 2011, s. 20.5 to 20.7 (PDF, consolidated), OCP s. 20.7.4](https://spallumcheen.civicweb.net/document/50327/)
  - Official wording: "b) construction, addition or alteration of a building or other structure; or" … "c) alteration of land."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Exemptions:** With the approval of the Township's Administration and Planner, a development permit may not be needed for farming activities, provincially regulated forestry (logging), development outside the 30 m riparian assessment area, or work meeting the Riparian Areas Regulation. Hazard trees are not mentioned.
  - Source: [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1794, 2011, s. 20.5 to 20.7 (PDF, consolidated), OCP s. 20.5.6](https://spallumcheen.civicweb.net/document/50327/)
  - Official wording: "vi. for farming activities (while this DPA does not apply to some farming" … "vii. for mining activities, hydroelectric facilities, and forestry (logging activities)" … "ix. for development activities not located within a “riparian assessment area”," … "a) With the approval of the Township’s Administration and Planner, the following development proposals may not require a Development Permit:" … "for development activities not located within a “riparian assessment area”,"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee:** Development permit application fee: $500 ($700 if a variance is also needed). No separate tree-cutting fee found.
  - Source: [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2022, 2020, Appendix 6 (PDF, consolidated), Appendix 6, item 1.j, 1.l](https://spallumcheen.civicweb.net/document/83323/)
  - Official wording: "j Development Permit Application $ 500.00" … "l Development Permit with a Variance $ 700.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Replacement trees:** No replacement rule for ordinary tree cutting. In the Hillside development permit area, a Section 219 covenant is required on all lots enforcing re-planting and maintenance of native trees and shrubs by the homeowner.
  - Source: [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1794, 2011, s. 20.5 to 20.7 (PDF, consolidated), OCP s. 20.7 guidelines (re-vegetation)](https://spallumcheen.civicweb.net/document/50327/)
  - Official wording: "A Section 219 Restrictive Covenant is required to be registered on all lots enforcing re-planting and maintenance of native trees and shrubs by the homeowner."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **City trees:** Township boulevards and roads: without a written permit from the Manager of Operations, no one may plant any tree, shrub or plant other than grass on a boulevard, or remove trees or timber growing on a highway.
  - Source: [Highway and Traffic Regulation Bylaw No. 2085, 2022, s. 11.2](https://spallumcheen.civicweb.net/document/43322/)
  - Official wording: "Except as authorized in writing by the Manager of Operations, in the form of a permit," … "fence or thing, or plant any tree, shrub or plant other than grass upon any" … "under any highway, walkway, or lane, or remove trees or timber growing on a"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read.
- **Bylaw:** No tree bylaw. Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1794, 2011, s. 20.5 (Water Body Protection development permit area); for roads and boulevards, Highway and Traffic Regulation Bylaw No. 2085, 2022, s. 11.2.
  - Source: [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1794, 2011, s. 20.5 to 20.7 (PDF, consolidated), OCP s. 20.5](https://spallumcheen.civicweb.net/document/50327/)
  - Official wording: "Water Body Protection – Natural Environment Development Permit Area" … "Official Community Plan – Bylaw No. 1794, 2011"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

The Township has no tree bylaw. Tree control comes only through the development permit areas in the [Official Community Plan](https://spallumcheen.civicweb.net/document/50327/).

- **Water Body Protection area:** within 30 m of the high water mark of any mapped or unmapped stream, river or creek, a development permit is required to remove, alter, disrupt or destroy vegetation, where it is associated with the Township's regulation or approval of residential, commercial or industrial uses.
- **Hillside and wildfire areas** are triggered by building, subdivision or land alteration.
- **Exemptions:** with the approval of the Township's Administration and Planner, a permit may not be needed for farming activities, provincially regulated forestry (logging), development outside the 30 m area, or work meeting the Riparian Areas Regulation. An affidavit may be required. Hazard trees are not mentioned.

**Boulevards and roads:** without a written permit from the Manager of Operations, no one may plant a tree, shrub or other plant (other than grass) on a boulevard, or remove trees or timber growing on a highway.

## Steps

1. Check whether your tree is within 30 m of a stream, river or creek, or in a hillside or wildfire area.
2. If so, call Planning at 250-546-3013 before cutting.
3. If a development permit is required, apply with the $500 application fee ($700 if a variance is also needed).
4. For a boulevard or road tree, ask the Township office for a written permit.

## Good to know

- No replacement-tree rule was found for ordinary tree cutting. In the Hillside area, a Section 219 covenant is required on all lots enforcing re-planting and maintenance of native trees and shrubs by the homeowner.
- No tree-cutting fine was found in the Township's ticket bylaw.

## Official forms and pages

- [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1794, 2011 (PDF)](https://spallumcheen.civicweb.net/document/50327/)
- [Highway and Traffic Regulation Bylaw No. 2085, 2022 (PDF)](https://spallumcheen.civicweb.net/document/43322/)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2022, 2020 (PDF)](https://spallumcheen.civicweb.net/document/83323/)

## Related questions

- [Spallumcheen zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/spallumcheen/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Spallumcheen fence rules: permits and height limits](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/spallumcheen/fence-rules.md)
- [Spallumcheen building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/spallumcheen/building-permit.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Tree removal permits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tree-removal.md)
- [Armstrong](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/armstrong/tree-removal.md)
- [Enderby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/enderby/tree-removal.md)
- [Vernon](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vernon/tree-removal.md)
- [Coldstream](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/coldstream/tree-removal.md)
- [Lumby](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lumby/tree-removal.md)
- [Lake Country](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lake-country/tree-removal.md)

## Sources

- [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1794, 2011, s. 20.5 to 20.7 (PDF, consolidated)](https://spallumcheen.civicweb.net/document/50327/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Highway and Traffic Regulation Bylaw No. 2085, 2022, s. 11.2 (PDF)](https://spallumcheen.civicweb.net/document/43322/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Fees and Charges Bylaw No. 2022, 2020, Appendix 6 (PDF, consolidated)](https://spallumcheen.civicweb.net/document/83323/) (read 2026-11-06)
- [Contact Us, Township of Spallumcheen](https://www.spallumcheentwp.bc.ca/services/contact-us.htm) (read 2026-11-06)

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