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

# Tahsis tree removal rules and permits

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

**Short answer:** We found no Tahsis bylaw that requires a permit just to cut a tree on private land. Land within 30 m of a watercourse is in a development permit area, and the documents do not say whether cutting trees counts. Call the Municipal Office before you cut near water.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (Village of Tahsis, https://villageoftahsis.com)  
**Cost:** No tree permit fee was found in the documents read.  
**How long:** Not stated.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Municipal Office, 250-934-6344
- Phone: Public Works, 250-934-6337 (For trees on Village property or road allowances.)
- In person: Municipal Office, 977 South Maquinna Dr., Tahsis, BC V0P 1X0 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **When a permit is needed:** No Village bylaw requiring a permit just to cut trees on private land was found. Land within 30 m of the natural boundary of a watercourse is in the Natural Environment Development Permit Area, where development needs a development permit and a riparian assessment. The documents do not say whether cutting trees counts as development.
  - Source: [Official Community Plan, OCP s. 5.2.1](https://villageoftahsis.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Bylaw-No.-975-2025-Official-Community-Plan.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The natural environment development permit area designated on Schedule C-1 includes land within 30m of the natural boundary of a watercourse." … "Any development intended within 30 m of the natural boundary of a watercourse is to be subject to an assessment completed by a qualified environmental professional (QEP)."
  - Source: [Development Procedures Bylaw No. 633, 2020, s. 2 definitions](https://villageoftahsis.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/BYLAW-633-2020.pdf)
  - Official wording: "authorizing subdivision of land, the alteration of land, or the construction of, addition to, or alteration of a building." … "A development permit must be acquired prior to the commencement of any development activities within these designated areas."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Exemptions:** Not confirmed. The documents read for Tahsis state no tree-cutting exemption.
- **Fee:** Not confirmed. The documents read for Tahsis state no tree permit fee.
- **Replacement trees:** Not confirmed. The documents read for Tahsis state no replacement planting requirement.
- **City trees:** Village crews assess trees on the road allowance and prune or limb them if needed, at no charge for trees on Village property or rights of way. Digging up or destroying trees, flowers or shrubs in a street is an offence under the Streets and Traffic Bylaw.
  - Source: [Service Request Form](https://villageoftahsis.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Village-of-Tahsis-Service-Request-Form.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Vegetation/Trees (see below - 2)" … "Village property or right of ways" … "Crews will assess if vegetation/trees are encroaching on the road allowance and are a potential risk to traffic or public safety. Pruning and/or limbing will be done, if deemed necessary"
  - Source: [Bylaw No. 601, Authorizing Ticketing for Bylaw Offences, Schedule 6](https://villageoftahsis.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Bylaw-no.601-Authorizing-Ticketing-for-Bylaw-Offences.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Digup ordestroy trees, flowers orshrubs in a street Article JX, s. 12 $50.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fine:** $50 municipal ticket for digging up or destroying trees, flowers or shrubs in a street (Streets and Traffic Regulation Bylaw No. 29, Article IX, s. 12).
  - Source: [Bylaw No. 601, Authorizing Ticketing for Bylaw Offences, Schedule 6](https://villageoftahsis.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Bylaw-no.601-Authorizing-Ticketing-for-Bylaw-Offences.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Digup ordestroy trees, flowers orshrubs in a street Article JX, s. 12 $50.00"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** No tree bylaw found. Development permit areas are in the Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 623, 2020 (as amended by Bylaw No. 675, 2025); procedures are in Development Procedures Bylaw No. 633, 2020.
  - Source: [Official Community Plan, OCP amending bylaw s. 5](https://villageoftahsis.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Bylaw-No.-975-2025-Official-Community-Plan.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The following amendments are to be made to Bylaw No. 623, 2020 known as" … "Village of Tahsis Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 675, 2025"
  - Source: [Development Procedures Bylaw No. 633, 2020, Title](https://villageoftahsis.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/BYLAW-633-2020.pdf)
  - Official wording: "VILLAGE OF TAHSIS DEVELOPMENTPROCEDURESBYLAWNo. 633, 2020 A BYLAW TO ESTABLISH PROCEDURES FOR THE PROCESSING OF LAND DEVELOPMENT" … "requests or requirements of staff or Council. Official Community means the Village ofTahsis Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 623, Plan (OCP) 2020, as amended or replace from time to time."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

We found no Village of Tahsis bylaw that requires a permit just to cut trees on private land. Land within 30 m of the natural boundary of a watercourse is in the Natural Environment Development Permit Area of the [Official Community Plan](https://villageoftahsis.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Bylaw-No.-975-2025-Official-Community-Plan.pdf), where development needs a development permit and a riparian (streamside) assessment. The documents do not say whether cutting trees counts as development. Steep slope and flood hazard development permit areas also exist.

## Steps

1. Call the Municipal Office (250-934-6344) and ask whether your lot is in a development permit area and whether tree cutting there needs a permit.
2. For a tree on a road allowance or Village property, send a Service Request Form or call Public Works (250-934-6337). Village crews assess these trees and prune them if needed.

## Good to know

- No tree permit fee, replacement planting requirement or tree-cutting exemption is stated in the documents we read.
- Pruning of trees on Village property or rights of way is at no charge.
- Digging up or destroying trees, flowers or shrubs in a street is an offence under the Streets and Traffic Bylaw. The ticket amount is in a scanned schedule of Bylaw 601 (2018) that could not be read, so ask the Municipal Office for it.

## Official forms and pages

- [Service Request Form (PDF)](https://villageoftahsis.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Village-of-Tahsis-Service-Request-Form.pdf)
- [Official Community Plan (PDF)](https://villageoftahsis.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Bylaw-No.-975-2025-Official-Community-Plan.pdf)
- [Development Procedures Bylaw No. 633, 2020 (PDF)](https://villageoftahsis.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/BYLAW-633-2020.pdf)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Tree removal permits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tree-removal.md)
- [Sayward](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/sayward/tree-removal.md)
- [Alert Bay](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/alert-bay/tree-removal.md)
- [Port Alice](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-alice/tree-removal.md)
- [Campbell River](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/campbell-river/tree-removal.md)
- [Port Hardy](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-hardy/tree-removal.md)
- [Tofino](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tofino/tree-removal.md)

## Sources

- [Official Community Plan (PDF), Village of Tahsis](https://villageoftahsis.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Bylaw-No.-975-2025-Official-Community-Plan.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Development Procedures Bylaw No. 633, 2020 (PDF), Village of Tahsis](https://villageoftahsis.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/BYLAW-633-2020.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Service Request Form (PDF), Village of Tahsis](https://villageoftahsis.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Village-of-Tahsis-Service-Request-Form.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaw No. 601, Authorizing Ticketing for Bylaw Offences (PDF), Village of Tahsis](https://villageoftahsis.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Bylaw-no.601-Authorizing-Ticketing-for-Bylaw-Offences.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Bylaws and Policies, Village of Tahsis](https://villageoftahsis.com/bylaws-policies/) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Public Works, Village of Tahsis](https://villageoftahsis.com/residents/services/public-works/) (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; 3 could not be confirmed. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with Village of Tahsis. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tahsis/tree-removal/_