Vernon tree removal rules and permits

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

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

Short answer

Often yes. Under the City of Vernon's Tree Protection Bylaw 4152, you need a permit to damage, destroy or remove a tree with a stem over 8 cm across at 1 m above the ground, unless an exemption applies. The small-lot exemption uses old zone names, so ask the City first.

Key facts

When a permit is needed	A permit is needed to damage, destroy or remove any tree whose stem is over 8 cm across at 1 m above the ground. Damage includes pruning a limb thicker than 5% of the trunk diameter (conifers) or 15% (broadleaf), and never a limb over 8 cm. No permit is issued for a tree within 15 m of a watercourse unless it blocks drainage.Tree Protection Bylaw 4152, consolidated, s. 5(a); Tree Protection Bylaw 4152, consolidated, s. 5(b)-(d); Tree Maintenance, Trees on Private Property · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording No person shall damage, destroy or remove (hereinafter collectively referred to tree, the stem of which exceeds eight (8) centimetres at one (1) 5% of the diameter of the trunk of the tree if the tree is a coniferous species; 15% of the diameter of the trunk of the tree where the tree is of the broadleaf No person shall be issued a permit to destroy a tree growing within fifteen (15) This applies to all trees within the City of Vernon that have a diameter greater than 8cm
Exemptions	Per the 1995 bylaw, no permit is needed for trees on private lots 'zoned R1, R2, R3 and R4' under 1,114 m²; those zones are not in Zoning Bylaw 6000 and the bylaw does not say which current zones apply. Also exempt: commercial fruit orchard trees; utility work on designated Hazardous Trees; emergency removal of severely damaged trees about to fall.Tree Protection Bylaw 4152, consolidated, s. 5(a)(i)-(iii); Tree Protection Bylaw 4152, consolidated, s. 11 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording trees on privately-owned land that are contained on any lot zoned R1, R2, those trees that are part of a commercial fruit orchard those trees that are Hazardous Trees and the damage is done by a utility company those trees that are Hazardous Trees and the damage is done by a utility a person may destroy a tree or a limb of a tree without a permit if:
Fee	Not confirmed. Vernon's bylaw, page and fee bylaw state no permit fee for tree removal.
Replacement trees	Anyone who destroys a tree in breach of the bylaw must replace it with a tree of like species and size, except a broadleaf of 6 m or more may be replaced by one 6 m high and a conifer of 5 m or more by one 5 m high. The Director may require a cash deposit or letter of credit for the full cost of replacement trees, and a planting plan.Tree Protection Bylaw 4152, consolidated, s. 6(a)-(b); Tree Protection Bylaw 4152, consolidated, s. 7; Tree Maintenance, Trees on Private Property · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording replace the tree with a tree of like species and size, notwithstanding (b) and (c); need only be replaced by a tree that is six (6) metres in height; need only be replaced by a tree that is five (5) metres in height; a security in the form of a cash deposit or letter of credit to secure the full amount In general, each tree removed will need to be replaced by a new tree.
City trees	Boulevard trees are the City's. The City inspects them yearly and lists pruning, removal and planting. Parks and Public Places Bylaw 5057 s. 5 bars cutting, removing or damaging any tree in a public place (including highways and parks) without the Park Manager's authorization.Tree Maintenance, Trees on Public Property; Parks and Public Places Bylaw 5057, s. 5 and s. 3(q) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Trees on city boulevards fall under the jurisdiction of the City. The City conducts an annual formal inspection of all boulevard trees, resulting in a list for pruning, removal, and planting. Unless expressly authorized by the Park Manager, a person must not deface, cut, remove, destroy or damage a tree, shrub, structure, building or other thing or
Fine	Not confirmed. Vernon's Tree Protection Bylaw is not in the bylaw notice or ticket schedules.
Bylaw	City of Vernon Tree Protection Bylaw Number 4152, 1995Tree Protection Bylaw 4152, consolidated, s. 1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording City of Vernon Tree Protection Bylaw Number 4152, 1995

How it works

The City of Vernon's Tree Protection Bylaw 4152 requires a permit to damage, destroy or remove any tree whose stem is over 8 cm across at 1 m above the ground. Damage includes pruning a limb thicker than 5% of the trunk diameter (conifers) or 15% (broadleaf trees), and never a limb over 8 cm. The Director of Community Development grants permits.

Good to know

Exemptions: the 1995 bylaw exempts trees on private lots "zoned R1, R2, R3 and R4" under 1,114 m². Those zones are not in Zoning Bylaw 6000 and the bylaw does not say which current zones apply, so ask the City before you assume you are exempt.
Other exemptions: commercial fruit orchard trees; utility work on designated Hazardous Trees; and emergency removal of a severely damaged tree about to fall.
No permit is issued for a tree within 15 m of a watercourse unless it blocks drainage. Trees within 30 m of a watercourse may also fall under the provincial Riparian Area Protection Regulation.
If you destroy a tree in breach of the bylaw, you must replace it with a tree of like species and size. A broadleaf of 6 m or more may be replaced by one 6 m high, and a conifer of 5 m or more by one 5 m high. The Director may require a cash deposit or letter of credit for the full cost of replacement trees, and a planting plan.
If you refuse to replace a tree within 30 days' notice, the City may do it at your cost.
Fee and fine: the bylaw, the City's page and the fee bylaw state no permit fee, and Bylaw 4152 is not in the bylaw notice or municipal ticket schedules. Ask the City.
Boulevard trees are the City's. Parks and Public Places Bylaw 5057 bars cutting, removing or damaging any tree in a public place without the Park Manager's authorization. Damaging a tree there can bring a bylaw notice of $100 ($90 early) or a municipal ticket of $200 ($190 early).

Official forms and pages

The same question in other places

Coldstream · Lake Country · Spallumcheen · Armstrong · Lumby · Enderby

Tree removal permits in British Columbia, by municipality →

Sources

Tree Maintenance, City of Vernon (read 2026-11-05)
Tree Protection Bylaw 4152, consolidated (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Parks and Public Places Bylaw 5057 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw 6048 (PDF) (read 2026-11-05)
Municipal Ticket Information Bylaw 6049 (PDF) (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.