---
title: Terrace tree removal rules and permits
question: "Do I need permission to cut down a tree on my property?"
place: Terrace, British Columbia, Canada
place_path: ca/bc/terrace
category: Building, renovating and your property
owner: municipal
owner_body: City of Terrace
sources_read: 2026-11-05
review: machine_checked
canonical: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/terrace/tree-removal/"
json: "https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/terrace/tree-removal.json"
---

# Terrace tree removal rules and permits

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

**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.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Terrace, https://www.terrace.ca)  
**Where:**
- Phone: Development Services, 250-615-4022
- Email: Development Services, developmentservices@terrace.ca
- Online: TerraMap (check development permit areas), https://www.terrace.ca/business-development/maps-zoning/terramap

## Key facts

- **When a permit is needed:** 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.
  - Source: [Environmentally Sensitive Areas Strategy, s. 5.2, 5.3](https://www.terrace.ca/sites/default/files/ESA%20Strategy%20-%20FINAL.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Development that is proposed within ESA DP Areas," … "requires that a development permit application be" … "Site clearing and removal of trees and/or"
  - Source: [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2142-2018, DPA No. 2 Hazard Slope, No. 3 Floodplain](https://www.terrace.ca/media/4106)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Exemptions:** 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.
  - Source: [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2142-2018, DPA Exemptions 9 and 10](https://www.terrace.ca/media/4106)
  - Official wording: "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"
  - Source: [Environmentally Sensitive Areas Strategy, Guideline 5](https://www.terrace.ca/sites/default/files/ESA%20Strategy%20-%20FINAL.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Trees in ESAs that are identified as posing a high risk may be removed or modified"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee:** Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read.
- **Replacement trees:** No replacement-tree rule found for ordinary tree removal. In the floodplain development permit area, landowners must replant riparian vegetation that has been disturbed.
  - Source: [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2142-2018, DPA No. 3 Floodplain, guideline 3](https://www.terrace.ca/media/4106)
  - Official wording: "Where existing alteration of a property has disturbed riparian vegetation," … "ers shall be required to replant the disturbed areas."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **City trees:** 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.
  - Source: [Parks and Public Places Bylaw No. 1942-2009, s. 2.1](https://www.terrace.ca/media/3930)
  - Official wording: "deface, cut down or otherwise destroy or damage any tree, shrub or other plant material, unless authorized by the Director;"
  - Source: [Street and Traffic Regulation Bylaw No. 1313-1993, s. 45(1)](https://www.terrace.ca/media/3948)
  - Official wording: "No person shall at any time destroy or injure" … "any tree, shrub, flower, foliage, grass or other"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** 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.
  - Source: [Ticket Information Utilization Bylaw No. 1827-2005, Schedule 12 (Parks and Public Places) and Schedule 18 (Street and Traffic)](https://www.terrace.ca/media/4139)
  - Official wording: "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: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** 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.
  - Source: [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2142-2018, Title](https://www.terrace.ca/media/4106)
  - Official wording: "LIST OF AMENDMENTS TO OFFICIAL COMMUNITY PLAN BYLAW NO. 2142-2018"
  - Source: [Environmentally Sensitive Areas Strategy, Title](https://www.terrace.ca/sites/default/files/ESA%20Strategy%20-%20FINAL.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Appendix A of OCP Bylaw 2142-2018"
  - Source: [Parks and Public Places Bylaw No. 1942-2009, Title](https://www.terrace.ca/media/3930)
  - Official wording: "Consolidated Bylaw No. 1942 – 2009"
  - Source: [Street and Traffic Regulation Bylaw No. 1313-1993, Title](https://www.terrace.ca/media/3948)
  - Official wording: "Bylaw No. 1313-1993 (Consolidated)"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Terrace 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.

## Steps

1. Check whether your lot is in a development permit area on TerraMap, or call Development Services (250-615-4022).
2. If a permit is needed, apply to Development Services. No tree-cutting permit fee was found.

## Good to know

- 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.
- No replacement-tree rule was found for ordinary trees.
- 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.
- 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.

## Official forms and pages

- [Environmentally Sensitive Areas Strategy (PDF)](https://www.terrace.ca/sites/default/files/ESA%20Strategy%20-%20FINAL.pdf)
- [Official Community Plan Bylaw 2142 (PDF)](https://www.terrace.ca/media/4106)
- [Parks and Public Places Bylaw 1942 (PDF)](https://www.terrace.ca/media/3930)
- [Street and Traffic Regulation Bylaw 1313 (PDF)](https://www.terrace.ca/media/3948)

## Related questions

- [Terrace zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/terrace/zoning-lookup.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Tree removal permits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tree-removal.md)
- [Smithers](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/smithers/tree-removal.md)
- [Telkwa](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/telkwa/tree-removal.md)
- [Port Edward](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/port-edward/tree-removal.md)
- [Prince Rupert](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-rupert/tree-removal.md)
- [Houston](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/houston/tree-removal.md)
- [Fraser Lake](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/fraser-lake/tree-removal.md)

## Sources

- [Environmentally Sensitive Areas Strategy (PDF), City of Terrace](https://www.terrace.ca/sites/default/files/ESA%20Strategy%20-%20FINAL.pdf) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 2142-2018 (PDF), City of Terrace](https://www.terrace.ca/media/4106) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Parks and Public Places Bylaw No. 1942-2009 (PDF), City of Terrace](https://www.terrace.ca/media/3930) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Street and Traffic Regulation Bylaw No. 1313-1993 (PDF), City of Terrace](https://www.terrace.ca/media/3948) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Ticket Information Utilization Bylaw No. 1827-2005 (PDF), City of Terrace](https://www.terrace.ca/media/4139) (read 2026-11-05)
- [TerraMap, City of Terrace](https://www.terrace.ca/business-development/maps-zoning/terramap) (read 2026-11-05)

_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 City of Terrace. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/terrace/tree-removal/_