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Summerland tree removal rules and permits

Do I need permission to cut down a tree on my property?

Summerland, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

Short answer

The District of Summerland has no tree bylaw for private land. But in the Official Community Plan's development permit areas (watercourse, hazard, environmental, wildfire), land alteration needs a development permit. Trees on streets and in parks are protected. Ask Development Services (250-494-1373) before you cut.

Key facts

When a permit is neededNo tree bylaw. In OCP development permit areas (Watercourse, Hazard, Environmental, Wildfire) a permit is needed before subdivision, construction or land alteration; in the Hazard Red Zone this includes any alteration to the natural landscape. The OCP does not say whether cutting one tree counts. Check the property on the Spatial Viewer.Official Community Plan, Bylaw 2026-008, OCP s. 11 intro; 11.1; 11.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
a development permit is required before subdivision, construction, or land alteration can take place
no site alteration is allowed without a Development Permit.
Alteration of land
Development, in terms of the High Hazard Zone, shall include any alteration to the natural landscape,
ExemptionsWatercourse area: farm use in the ALR; District or Provincial work against flooding, erosion or immediate threats. Environmental area: farm use in the ALR; a single detached dwelling with footprint under 250 m² and no other dwelling; accessory buildings built to zoning; actions necessary to prevent immediate threats to life or property.Official Community Plan, Bylaw 2026-008, OCP s. 11.1.2, 11.3.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
for lands within the Agricultural Land Reserve.
Construction of or renovation to a single detached dwelling on a lot where:
Construction of residential accessory buildings in accordance with zoning bylaw
The actions and activities are necessary to prevent immediate threats to life or property.
FeeNo separate tree permit fee. If the work needs a Development Permit (OCP development permit area), the application fee is $50 for works of $2,500 or less, $250 for over $2,500 and under $50,000, and $500 over $50,000.Fees and Charges Bylaw 98-001, Application for a Development Permit · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
For developments where proposed works are valued at greater
Than $2,500.00 and less than $50,000.00 $ 250.00
Replacement treesNot confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read.
City treesNo person may cut, remove or damage any tree, shrub, bush or hedge on a street, park or public space, or damage a boulevard tree; no one may cut, remove or injure trees in a District park. Tree or shrub: bylaw notice $500 ($450 early, $500 late); municipal ticket $500. Boulevard tree: bylaw notice $250; municipal ticket $250.Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 2021-023, Good Neighbour Bylaw s. 9.1(h); Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 2022-012, consolidated to May 6, 2025, Parks Regulation Bylaw s. 3(g); Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2000-375, consolidated to December 9, 2025, Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2000-375, Schedule A (Good Neighbour Bylaw); Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw 95-030, consolidated to December 9, 2025, Schedule 8 Good Neighbour Bylaw · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
cut, remove or damage any tree, shrub or flower plant, bush or hedge;
No person shall break, peel, cut, deface, remove, injure, root up or otherwise
Damage tree or shrub 9.1(h) $500.00 $450.00 $500.00 Yes
Damage tree or shrub 9.1(h) $500.00
Damage boulevard or plants 6.2(a) $250.00
FineNot confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read.
BylawNo tree bylaw. Development permit areas are in the Official Community Plan, Bylaw No. 2026-008 (s. 11); public trees: Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 2021-023 (s. 9.1(h)) and Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 2022-012.Official Community Plan, Bylaw 2026-008, OCP title page; Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 2021-023, title; Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 2022-012, consolidated to May 6, 2025, title · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
Official wording
District of Summerland Official Community Plan Schedule "A" to Bylaw No. 2026-008 Adopted: June 16, 2026
THE CORPORATION OF THE DISTRICT OF SUMMERLAND BYLAW NO. 2021-023 A bylaw for the purpose of preventing, abating, and prohibiting
THE CORPORATION OF THE DISTRICT OF SUMMERLAND BYLAW NUMBER 2022-012 A bylaw to regulate the use of District of Summerland owned and managed parks

How it works

The District of Summerland has no tree-protection bylaw for private land. Instead, the Official Community Plan (s. 11) sets development permit areas for watercourse, hazard, environmental and wildfire. Inside them, a development permit is needed before subdivision, construction or land alteration. In the Hazard "High (Red) Zone", this includes any alteration to the natural landscape. The plan does not say whether cutting a single tree counts.

Steps

  1. Look up your lot in the Spatial Viewer and check whether it is in a development permit area.
  2. Email devserv@summerland.ca or call 250-494-1373 and ask whether cutting your tree needs a development permit.
  3. If it does, apply for the permit before cutting.

Good to know

  • Exemptions: farm use in the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) in the watercourse and environmental areas; District or Provincial work against flooding, erosion or immediate threats; in the environmental area, a single detached dwelling with a footprint under 250 m² and no other dwelling, accessory buildings built to zoning, and actions needed to prevent an immediate threat to life or property. No exemption for hazard trees or small trees was found.
  • There is no separate tree permit fee. A development permit application fee is $50 for works of $2,500 or less, $250 for works over $2,500 and under $50,000, and $500 for works over $50,000.
  • No replacement-planting rule or fine for cutting a private tree was found.
  • Street and park trees: under the Good Neighbour Bylaw no one may cut, remove or damage a tree, shrub, bush or hedge on a street, park or public space. The Parks Regulation Bylaw bars cutting or injuring trees in a District park.
  • Fines: for a tree or shrub, a bylaw notice is $500 and a municipal ticket is $500. For a boulevard tree, a bylaw notice is $250 and a municipal ticket is $250.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Penticton · Peachland · West Kelowna · Kelowna · Keremeos · Oliver

Tree removal permits in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Official Community Plan, Bylaw 2026-008 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  2. GIS Mapping, District of Summerland (read 2026-11-05)
  3. Fees and Charges Bylaw 98-001 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  4. Good Neighbour Bylaw No. 2021-023 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
  5. Parks Regulation Bylaw No. 2022-012 (PDF), consolidated to May 6, 2025 (read 2026-11-05)
  6. Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 2000-375 (PDF), consolidated to December 9, 2025 (read 2026-11-05)
  7. Municipal Ticket Information System Bylaw 95-030 (PDF), consolidated to December 9, 2025 (read 2026-11-05)
  8. Contact, District of Summerland (read 2026-11-05)

Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 5 of 7 facts was matched to the official text; 2 could not be confirmed. How answers are checked.