{"title":"Terrace tree removal rules and permits","question":"Do I need permission to cut down a tree on my property?","slug":"tree-removal","place":{"path":"ca/bc/terrace","name":"Terrace","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":"City of Terrace","url":"https://www.terrace.ca"},"short_answer":"Terrace has no tree bylaw, and no bylaw requires a permit to cut ordinary trees on private land. But in Official Community Plan development permit areas, clearing and tree removal can count as development and need a permit. Trees in parks and on boulevards are protected. Ask Development Services first.","aliases":["cut down a tree terrace","tree bylaw terrace","remove tree on my lot","tree protection"],"cost":null,"how_long":null,"where":[{"type":"phone","label":"Development Services","value":"250-615-4022"},{"type":"email","label":"Development Services","value":"developmentservices@terrace.ca"},{"type":"online","label":"TerraMap (check development permit areas)","value":"https://www.terrace.ca/business-development/maps-zoning/terramap"}],"documents":[],"forms":[{"title":"Environmentally Sensitive Areas Strategy (PDF)","url":"https://www.terrace.ca/sites/default/files/ESA%20Strategy%20-%20FINAL.pdf"},{"title":"Official Community Plan Bylaw 2142 (PDF)","url":"https://www.terrace.ca/media/4106"},{"title":"Parks and Public Places Bylaw 1942 (PDF)","url":"https://www.terrace.ca/media/3930"},{"title":"Street and Traffic Regulation Bylaw 1313 (PDF)","url":"https://www.terrace.ca/media/3948"}],"related":[{"slug":"zoning-lookup","title":"Terrace zoning: find your zone and what it allows","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/terrace/zoning-lookup/"}],"nearby":[{"place":"ca/bc/smithers","name":"Smithers","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/tree-removal/"},{"place":"ca/bc/telkwa","name":"Telkwa","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/telkwa/tree-removal/"},{"place":"ca/bc/port-edward","name":"Port Edward","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-edward/tree-removal/"},{"place":"ca/bc/prince-rupert","name":"Prince Rupert","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-rupert/tree-removal/"},{"place":"ca/bc/houston","name":"Houston","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/tree-removal/"},{"place":"ca/bc/fraser-lake","name":"Fraser Lake","url":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fraser-lake/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 bylaw requires a permit to cut ordinary trees on private land. In OCP development permit areas a permit may be needed: the environmentally sensitive area rules list clearing and tree removal as development (staff may exempt), and hazard slope areas have tree permits. Floodplain development must keep riparian vegetation.","short":"No, except development permit areas","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.terrace.ca/sites/default/files/ESA%20Strategy%20-%20FINAL.pdf","title":"Environmentally Sensitive Areas Strategy (PDF), City of Terrace","section":"s. 5.2, 5.3","quotes":["Development that is proposed within ESA DP Areas,","requires that a development permit application be","Site clearing and removal of trees and/or"]},{"url":"https://www.terrace.ca/media/4106","title":"Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2142-2018 (PDF), City of Terrace","section":"DPA No. 2 Hazard Slope, No. 3 Floodplain","quotes":["Existing vegetation shall be maintained in order to avoid erosion, slumping and","All development shall retain riparian zone vegetation (within the specified leave","Permits for trees within Hazard Slope Protection areas for view enhancement purposes.","All development shall retain riparian zone vegetation (within the specified leave strip areas) to reduce erosion and contribute to bank stability"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"exemptions":{"label":"Exemptions","value":"Removal of hazardous trees that present an immediate danger to people or property, as determined by a certified Tree Risk Assessor, is exempt from a development permit, but City authorization is required. Removal of invasive plants recommended by a qualified environmental professional is also exempt.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.terrace.ca/media/4106","title":"Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2142-2018 (PDF), City of Terrace","section":"DPA Exemptions 9 and 10","quotes":["Removal of hazardous trees that present an immediate danger to people, public or","private property, as determined by a certified Tree Risk Assessor. Authorization from the","Removal of invasive plant species, as recommended by a qualified environmental"]},{"url":"https://www.terrace.ca/sites/default/files/ESA%20Strategy%20-%20FINAL.pdf","title":"Environmentally Sensitive Areas Strategy (PDF), City of Terrace","section":"Guideline 5","quotes":["Trees in ESAs that are identified as posing a high risk may be removed or modified"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fee":{"label":"Fee","value":null,"status":"unknown","reason":"not_found","sources":[]},"replacement":{"label":"Replacement trees","value":"No replacement-tree rule found for ordinary tree removal. In the floodplain development permit area, landowners must replant riparian vegetation that has been disturbed.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.terrace.ca/media/4106","title":"Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2142-2018 (PDF), City of Terrace","section":"DPA No. 3 Floodplain, guideline 3","quotes":["Where existing alteration of a property has disturbed riparian vegetation,","ers shall be required to replant the disturbed areas."]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"city_trees":{"label":"City trees","value":"No one may cut down or damage any tree, shrub or plant in a park or public place unless authorized by the Director, and no one may destroy or injure any tree, shrub or other growing thing on a boulevard.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.terrace.ca/media/3930","title":"Parks and Public Places Bylaw No. 1942-2009 (PDF), City of Terrace","section":"s. 2.1","quotes":["deface, cut down or otherwise destroy or damage any tree, shrub or other plant material, unless authorized by the Director;"]},{"url":"https://www.terrace.ca/media/3948","title":"Street and Traffic Regulation Bylaw No. 1313-1993 (PDF), City of Terrace","section":"s. 45(1)","quotes":["No person shall at any time destroy or injure","any tree, shrub, flower, foliage, grass or other"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"fine":{"label":"Fine","value":"No ticket is specific to cutting trees on private land. If clearing in a development permit area counts as development, the ticket for development without a permit is $1,000. City land: $500 for cutting trees or shrubs in a park or public place; $100 for destroying or injuring a tree or shrub on a boulevard.","short":"No private-tree ticket; park trees $500","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.terrace.ca/media/4139","title":"Ticket Information Utilization Bylaw No. 1827-2005 (PDF), City of Terrace","section":"Schedule 12 (Parks and Public Places) and Schedule 18 (Street and Traffic)","quotes":["Deface, cut down or destroy trees, shrubs ....................2.1 $500.00","Destroy/injure tree, shrub, grass etc. on boulevard ........... 45(1) $100.00","Development without a Permit","Destroy/injure tree, shrub, grass etc. on boulevard","Deface, cut down or destroy trees, shrubs"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}},"bylaw":{"label":"Bylaw","value":"No tree bylaw. Private land: Official Community Plan Bylaw 2142-2018 development permit areas (including Appendix A, Environmentally Sensitive Areas Strategy). City land: Parks and Public Places Bylaw 1942-2009 and Street & Traffic Bylaw 1313-1993.","status":"stated","sources":[{"url":"https://www.terrace.ca/media/4106","title":"Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2142-2018 (PDF), City of Terrace","section":"Title","quotes":["LIST OF AMENDMENTS TO OFFICIAL COMMUNITY PLAN BYLAW NO. 2142-2018"]},{"url":"https://www.terrace.ca/sites/default/files/ESA%20Strategy%20-%20FINAL.pdf","title":"Environmentally Sensitive Areas Strategy (PDF), City of Terrace","section":"Title","quotes":["Appendix A of OCP Bylaw 2142-2018"]},{"url":"https://www.terrace.ca/media/3930","title":"Parks and Public Places Bylaw No. 1942-2009 (PDF), City of Terrace","section":"Title","quotes":["Consolidated Bylaw No. 1942 – 2009"]},{"url":"https://www.terrace.ca/media/3948","title":"Street and Traffic Regulation Bylaw No. 1313-1993 (PDF), City of Terrace","section":"Title","quotes":["Bylaw No. 1313-1993 (Consolidated)"]}],"check":{"result":"matched","text_date":"2026-11-06"}}},"facts_summary":{"total":7,"stated":6,"matched":6,"none":0,"unknown":1},"body_markdown":"## How it works\n\nTerrace has no tree protection bylaw. The Zoning Bylaw has no tree rules either. Instead, the [Official Community Plan](https://www.terrace.ca/media/4106) sets development permit areas. The [Environmentally Sensitive Areas Strategy](https://www.terrace.ca/sites/default/files/ESA%20Strategy%20-%20FINAL.pdf) lists clearing and tree removal as development, which staff may exempt. Hazard slope areas have tree permits, and in floodplain areas landowners must replant disturbed riparian vegetation.\n\n## Steps\n\n1. Check whether your lot is in a development permit area on TerraMap, or call Development Services (250-615-4022).\n2. If a permit is needed, apply to Development Services. No tree-cutting permit fee was found.\n\n## Good to know\n\n- Exempt from a development permit: removing a hazardous tree that presents immediate danger, as determined by a certified Tree Risk Assessor (City authorization is still required), and removing invasive plants recommended by a qualified environmental professional.\n- No replacement-tree rule was found for ordinary trees.\n- City land: no one may cut or damage a tree, shrub or plant in a park or public place without the Director's authorization, or injure a tree on a boulevard.\n- Fines: no ticket is specific to cutting trees on private land. If clearing in a permit area counts as development, the municipal ticket for development without a permit may be $1,000. In a park or public place, cutting trees or shrubs is $500; injuring a boulevard tree or shrub is $100.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.terrace.ca/sites/default/files/ESA%20Strategy%20-%20FINAL.pdf","title":"Environmentally Sensitive Areas Strategy (PDF), City of Terrace","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.terrace.ca/media/4106","title":"Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2142-2018 (PDF), City of Terrace","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.terrace.ca/media/3930","title":"Parks and Public Places Bylaw No. 1942-2009 (PDF), City of Terrace","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.terrace.ca/media/3948","title":"Street and Traffic Regulation Bylaw No. 1313-1993 (PDF), City of Terrace","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.terrace.ca/media/4139","title":"Ticket Information Utilization Bylaw No. 1827-2005 (PDF), City of Terrace","accessed":"2026-11-05"},{"url":"https://www.terrace.ca/business-development/maps-zoning/terramap","title":"TerraMap, City of Terrace","accessed":"2026-11-05"}],"sources_read":"2026-11-05","review":{"status":"machine_checked","badge":"Checked against official text","label":"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."},"urls":{"html":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/terrace/tree-removal/","markdown":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/terrace/tree-removal.md","json":"https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/terrace/tree-removal.json"}}