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Tumbler Ridge tree removal rules and permits

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

Tumbler Ridge, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-08

Short answer

Tumbler Ridge has no tree-cutting bylaw for private land that we found. In mapped Aquifer Protection and Hazardous Lands areas, altering land needs a development permit, and the plan does not say whether cutting trees counts. A permit is needed to cut street trees.

Key facts

When a permit is neededNo tree-cutting bylaw found for private land. In the mapped Aquifer Protection and Hazardous Lands development permit areas, 'alteration of land' needs a development permit; the OCP does not say whether cutting trees counts. Land clearing for construction needs the Operations Manager's approval.Official Community Plan, OCP s. 5.7.1, 5.7.2; https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/22989/, Building Bylaw s. 38.1, 38.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
a development permit must be obtained when any of the following types of development activity occur in Development
alteration of land.
land clearing and debris removed;
Approval required by Operations Manager.
ExemptionsNot confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read.
FeeNot confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read.
Replacement treesNone set. Tumbler Ridge's Zoning Bylaw sets no replacement rule for cut trees.
City treesA permit from the Operations Manager is needed to cut down or remove trees or timber growing on a highway (street), including boulevard trees, or to damage or remove trees, grass, shrubs or hedges planted or maintained by the District on a highway.Traffic and Highway Regulation Bylaw No. 627, 2015, Traffic and Highways Bylaw No. 627, s. 35 (Part VII, Uses Requiring Permit) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Except as authorized by a permit issued by the Operations Manager pursuant to
Cause damage to, cut down or remove, trees,
cut down or remove trees or timber growing on a highway
Fine$100 for removing trees growing on a highway or damaging a boulevard (Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw, traffic schedule, s. 35.2 and 35.5). No ticket was found for cutting trees on private land.Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 560, MTI Bylaw No. 560, traffic schedule · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Excavate or remove highway or trees growing on highway 35.5 $100.00
Damage boulevard 35.2 $100.00
BylawNo tree bylaw found. Trees on streets: Traffic and Highways Bylaw No. 627, 2015, s. 35.Traffic and Highway Regulation Bylaw No. 627, 2015, s. 35 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
Official wording
Cause damage to, cut down or remove, trees,

How it works

We found no tree-cutting bylaw for private land in Tumbler Ridge. In the mapped Aquifer Protection and Hazardous Lands development permit areas of the Official Community Plan, "alteration of land" needs a development permit. The plan does not say whether cutting trees counts. Land clearing for construction needs the Operations Manager's approval.

Trees on the street are different. A permit from the Operations Manager is needed to cut down or remove trees or timber growing on a highway (street), including boulevard trees, or to damage or remove trees, grass, shrubs or hedges planted or maintained by the District on a highway. This is in the Traffic and Highway Regulation Bylaw No. 627.

Steps

  1. Before clearing in a mapped area, ask the District whether you need a development permit. Maps are at Town Hall.
  2. For a street or boulevard tree, contact Town Hall (250-242-4242) for the Operations Manager's permit.

Good to know

  • Removing trees growing on a highway or damaging a boulevard is a $100 municipal ticket (Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 560). No ticket was found for cutting trees on private land.
  • The Zoning Bylaw requires one tree to be planted for new houses, but it does not restrict cutting or set a replacement rule.
  • The District sets no tree permit fee that we found. Land clearing done without a building permit carries a $2,000 refundable deposit under the building bylaw.

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Dawson Creek · Pouce Coupe · Fort St. John · Prince George · Fort St James · Vanderhoof

Tree removal permits in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

  1. Official Community Plan (PDF), District of Tumbler Ridge (read 2026-11-08)
  2. Traffic and Highway Regulation Bylaw No. 627, 2015 (PDF), District of Tumbler Ridge (read 2026-11-08)
  3. Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw No. 560 (PDF), District of Tumbler Ridge (read 2026-11-08)
  4. Zoning Bylaw No. 747, 2025 (PDF), District of Tumbler Ridge (read 2026-11-08)
  5. Building & Utilities Permit Applications, District of Tumbler Ridge (read 2026-11-08)
  6. https://tumblerridge.civicweb.net/document/22989/ (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; 1 is recorded as not set; 2 could not be confirmed. How answers are checked.