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

# Wells tree removal rules and permits

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

**Short answer:** In Wells, you need a tree cutting permit to remove, cut or harm a tree inside the Tree Protection Area on the Zoning Maps. The fee is $25 for 1 to 3 trees. Ask the District Office whether your lot is inside the area.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (District of Wells, https://www.wells.ca)  
**Cost:** $25 for 1 to 3 trees; $50 for 4 to 10 trees; $100 for more than 10 trees.  
**How long:** The District's website does not state a processing time.  
**Where:**
- Phone: District Office, 250-994-3330
- Email: District Office, clerk@wells.ca
- In person: District Office, 4243 Sanders Ave, Wells, BC V0K 2R0 (Office hours are not stated on the District website.)

## Key facts

- **When a permit is needed:** A tree cutting permit is needed to remove, cut or harm a tree inside the Tree Protection Area shown on the Zoning Maps (Schedule B). A tree is a woody plant with a stem at least 10 cm across, measured 15 cm above the ground.
  - Source: [District of Wells Zoning Bylaw No. 26, 2000, s. 3.17, s. 3.17(a)-(b)](https://www.wells.ca/application/files/5615/9373/3636/Bylaw_No._26_2000_Zoning_Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "The Tree Protection Area is outlined on Schedule B, the Zoning Maps." … "No person may remove, cut or harm a tree within the Tree Protection Area:" … "without a tree cutting permit issued under this section; or"
  - Source: [District of Wells Zoning Bylaw No. 26, 2000, s. 3.17, s. 2.0, definition 176](https://www.wells.ca/application/files/5615/9373/3636/Bylaw_No._26_2000_Zoning_Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "a diameter of at least 10 centimetres when measured from a height of 15 centimetres above the natural grade of the land"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Exemptions:** The tree permit rule does not apply to lands within the Forest Land Reserve.
  - Source: [District of Wells Zoning Bylaw No. 26, 2000, s. 3.17, s. 3.17(e)](https://www.wells.ca/application/files/5615/9373/3636/Bylaw_No._26_2000_Zoning_Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "This section shall not apply to any lands within the Forest Land Reserve."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Fee:** $25 for 1 to 3 trees; $50 for 4 to 10 trees; $100 for more than 10 trees.
  - Source: [District of Wells Zoning Bylaw No. 26, 2000, s. 3.17, s. 3.17(d)](https://www.wells.ca/application/files/5615/9373/3636/Bylaw_No._26_2000_Zoning_Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "An application fee for a tree cutting permit is $25 for 1 to 3 trees; $50 for 4 to 10 trees and $100 for more than 10 trees."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Replacement trees:** The application must include a replanting plan showing the location, species, size and number of trees, bushes and shrubs to be planted. No replacement ratio or security is stated.
  - Source: [District of Wells Zoning Bylaw No. 26, 2000, s. 3.17, s. 3.17(c)](https://www.wells.ca/application/files/5615/9373/3636/Bylaw_No._26_2000_Zoning_Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "a proposed replanting plan indicating location, species, size and number of trees, bushes and shrubs which are to be planted"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **City trees:** Not confirmed. Not found in the official sources that were read.
- **Fine:** No ticket amount is stated. A zoning offence carries a fine of not more than $10,000 on summary conviction; each day is a new and separate offence.
  - Source: [District of Wells Zoning Bylaw No. 26, 2000, s. 3.17, s. 1.2.4](https://www.wells.ca/application/files/5615/9373/3636/Bylaw_No._26_2000_Zoning_Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "be liable to a penalty or fine of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000)" … "Each day or part thereof during which any contravention is continued shall constitute a new and separate offense"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08
- **Bylaw:** District of Wells Zoning and Tree Protection Bylaw No. 26, 2000, s. 3.17
  - Source: [District of Wells Zoning Bylaw No. 26, 2000, s. 3.17](https://www.wells.ca/application/files/5615/9373/3636/Bylaw_No._26_2000_Zoning_Bylaw.pdf)
  - Official wording: "Provincial Standards which may vary from those of the District of Wells. 3.17 TREE PROTECTION (a) The Tree Protection Area is outlined on Schedule B, the Zoning Maps." … "residential use, but not ancillary to a permitted non-residential use; District of Wells Zoning Bylaw 26" … "(c) no alteration may be made to the external appearance of the property which indicates"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-08

## How it works

Tree protection is part of the District's [Zoning Bylaw, s. 3.17](https://www.wells.ca/application/files/5615/9373/3636/Bylaw_No._26_2000_Zoning_Bylaw.pdf). A tree cutting permit is needed to remove, cut or harm a tree inside the Tree Protection Area shown on the Zoning Maps (Schedule B). A tree is a woody plant with a stem at least 10 cm across, measured 15 cm above the ground.

The rule does not apply to lands within the Forest Land Reserve. The bylaw states no hazard-tree or small-tree exemption, and no rule on District-owned or boulevard trees was found.

The application must include a replanting plan showing the location, species, size and number of trees, bushes and shrubs to be planted. No replacement ratio or security is stated. The Clerk may also ask for an engineer's report that cutting will not cause flooding or erosion.

## Steps

1. Check the Zoning Maps on the Planning Bylaws page, or ask the District Office, whether your lot is in the Tree Protection Area.
2. If it is, apply for a tree cutting permit with a replanting plan.
3. Pay the fee: $25 for 1 to 3 trees, $50 for 4 to 10 trees, $100 for more than 10.

## Good to know

- No ticket amount is stated. A zoning offence carries a fine of not more than $10,000 on summary conviction, and each day is a new offence.
- The Comprehensive Fees and Charges Bylaw lists no tree permit fee; the amounts above are from the Zoning Bylaw.

## Official forms and pages

- [Zoning Bylaw No. 26, 2000, s. 3.17 (PDF)](https://www.wells.ca/application/files/5615/9373/3636/Bylaw_No._26_2000_Zoning_Bylaw.pdf)
- [Planning Bylaws (zoning maps), District of Wells](https://www.wells.ca/district-wells/bylaws/planning-bylaws)

## Related questions

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

## The same question elsewhere

- [Tree removal permits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tree-removal.md)
- [Quesnel](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/quesnel/tree-removal.md)
- [Williams Lake](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/williams-lake/tree-removal.md)
- [Prince George](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/prince-george/tree-removal.md)
- [100 Mile House](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/100-mile-house/tree-removal.md)
- [Valemount](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/valemount/tree-removal.md)
- [Vanderhoof](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/vanderhoof/tree-removal.md)

## Sources

- [District of Wells Zoning Bylaw No. 26, 2000, s. 3.17 (PDF)](https://www.wells.ca/application/files/5615/9373/3636/Bylaw_No._26_2000_Zoning_Bylaw.pdf) (read 2026-11-08)
- [Planning Bylaws, District of Wells](https://www.wells.ca/district-wells/bylaws/planning-bylaws) (read 2026-11-08)

_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 District of Wells. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/wells/tree-removal/_