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

# Williams Lake tree removal rules and permits

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

**Short answer:** In Williams Lake, Tree Protection Bylaw 2404 exempts residential parcels under 1 hectare, but trees on City land always need permission. Steep-slope and wildfire development permit rules in the Official Community Plan may still apply, so confirm with the City before cutting. A permit is $50 for five trees or fewer.

**Who handles it:** Municipal (City of Williams Lake, https://www.williamslake.ca)  
**Cost:** $50 for a permit for five trees or fewer; $150 for six or more and for developments. No fee for hazardous trees. Replacement trees or $300 per tree may be required.  
**Where:**
- Phone: Development Services, 250-392-1765
- Email: Development Services, developmentservices@williamslake.ca
- In person: City Hall, 450 Mart Street, Williams Lake, BC V2G 1N3 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

## Key facts

- **When a permit is needed:** Cutting a Protected Tree needs a permit: any tree on City land, and elsewhere trees 10 cm DBH or more on sloping terrain or hazard lots, riparian trees, and specimen, heritage or wildlife trees. Parcels under 1 ha zoned Residential are exempt, but a development permit may still apply in OCP hazard areas (DPA 4).
  - Source: [Tree Protection Bylaw No. 2404, 2024, s. 3.1, 2.2, 2.1 Protected Tree](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/160023)
  - Official wording: "No person shall Cut, Remove, or move any Protected Tree" … "This Bylaw applies to all land within the City." … "any Tree having a DBH of 10 cm or more on Sloping" … "Terrain and/or within a Lot subject to Geotechnical" … "or Tree in a Riparian Area;"
  - Source: [Official Community Plan, Schedule 2.4 and 2.5, OCP Schedule 2.4 DPA 4 guidelines; Policy 11.1.3](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/44168/)
  - Official wording: "Removal of vegetation is not permitted unless reviewed and supported by a qualified environmental professional" … "Prohibit re-grading, excavation, or tree removal within designated hazard areas unless supported by qualified professional advice"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Exemptions:** No permit for normal pruning, parcels under 1 ha zoned Residential, or trees under 5 m tall and 10 cm DBH. A tree in imminent danger of falling may be cut first but stays on the lot until the Director confirms. In OCP DPA 4 hazard areas, vegetation removal still needs professional review under a development permit.
  - Source: [Tree Protection Bylaw No. 2404, 2024, s. 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 2.3](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/160023)
  - Official wording: "A Tree Cutting Permit is not required to Cut or Remove a Protected Tree where the" … "Constitutes normal pruning of Trees in accordance with Sound Arboricultural" … "Is located on parcels of land less than 1 hectare (ha) in size and zoned Residential" … "Is less than 5m in height and less than 10cm DBH." … "In the event that a Tree is in imminent danger of falling, the Owner may Cut the Tree" … "The Owner shall not remove the Tree from the Lot until the Director has attended the"
  - Source: [Official Community Plan, Schedule 2.4 and 2.5, OCP Schedule 2.4 DPA 4](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/44168/)
  - Official wording: "Unless an owner obtains a development permit, or an exemption applies, within DPA-4:" … "Removal of vegetation is not permitted unless reviewed and supported by a qualified environmental professional"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fee:** $50 for a permit covering five trees or fewer; $150 for six or more and for developments. Non-refundable. No fee for hazardous trees, trees inside the building envelope needed for an approved building permit, and some utility or subdivision cases.
  - Source: [Tree Protection Bylaw No. 2404, 2024, s. 4.4(a), (b)](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/160023)
  - Official wording: "A non-refundable application fee in the amounts as follows:" … "$50.00 for a permit relating to five Trees or less, and" … "$150.00 for a permit relating to six Trees or greater, and for Developments." … "no permit fee is required where any of the" … "Provided that there shall be no Tree Cutting Permit fee charged in respect of"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Replacement trees:** Standard permit: two replacement trees for each protected tree removed. Development: 30 trees per hectare after completion. A $300 cash security deposit per replacement tree is paid before the permit issues and is released 24 months after planting if the tree is healthy. The Director may accept $300 per tree instead of planting. None required for hazardous trees.
  - Source: [Tree Protection Bylaw No. 2404, 2024, s. 5.3 to 5.10](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/160023)
  - Official wording: "Standard Permit – Two Replacement Trees for each Protected Tree Cut or" … "each lot subject to or created by development shall achieve a Development Tree" … "security deposit in the amount of $300 cash for each Replacement Tree to be" … "24 months after planting, provided the Director is satisfied the Tree is in good health." … "payment in lieu in an amount of $300 per Tree into the Tree Planting" … "Replacement Trees are not required for Removal or Cutting of a Hazardous Tree,"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **City trees:** Any tree on City land, including parks, boulevards, roads, lanes and rights-of-way, is a Protected Tree. No one may plant a tree or hedge on City lands without the Director's written authorization.
  - Source: [Tree Protection Bylaw No. 2404, 2024, s. 3.3, 3.4](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/160023)
  - Official wording: "Any Tree on land owned by or under the jurisdiction of the City, including, without" … "is considered a Protected Tree." … "No person shall plant a Tree or Hedge on City lands or cause Trees or Hedges to be" … "planted on City lands without prior written authorization from the Director."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Fine:** Bylaw notice for cutting a protected tree without a permit (s. 3.1): $400, or $300 if paid within 14 days; $500 if paid late. Other tree offences: $100 to $250. Court alternative: $1,000 to $10,000 plus costs. Each tree is a separate offence.
  - Source: [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2196, Schedule A-24, Tree Removal and Retention Fines](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/61839)
  - Official wording: "Tree Removal and Retention Fines (1 Page)" … "$400.00 $300.00 $500.00 No" … "$250.00 $190.00 $315.00 Yes"
  - Source: [Tree Protection Bylaw No. 2404, 2024, s. 7.1, 7.2](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/160023)
  - Official wording: "A fine and/or penalty provided under the Community Charter of not less than" … "$1,000 and not more than $10,000, plus the costs of prosecution" … "a separate offence" … "is committed in respect of each such Tree."
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06
- **Bylaw:** City of Williams Lake Tree Protection Bylaw No. 2404, 2024
  - Source: [Tree Protection Bylaw No. 2404, 2024, s. 1.1](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/160023)
  - Official wording: "This Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as "City of Williams Lake Tree Protection"
  - Check: wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06

## How it works

Under the City of Williams Lake's [Tree Protection Bylaw 2404](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/160023), cutting a protected tree needs a permit. Protected trees are:

- any tree on City land (parks, boulevards, roads, lanes, rights-of-way);
- elsewhere, trees 10 cm diameter or more on sloping terrain (over 20% across 6 m or more) or hazard lots, riparian trees, and specimen, heritage or wildlife trees.

**No permit is needed for** normal pruning, parcels under 1 hectare zoned Residential, or trees under 5 m tall and 10 cm diameter. A tree in imminent danger of falling may be cut first but must stay on the lot until the Director confirms it.

## Steps

1. Check your lot's size and zone (see the zoning lookup answer).
2. Before cutting, ask Development Services (250-392-1765) whether a development permit applies.
3. If a permit is needed, apply to Development Services and pay the fee.

## Good to know

- The residential exemption does not settle everything. The Official Community Plan's DPA 4 (steep slopes and hazards) requires professional review for vegetation removal, and DPA 5 (wildfire) covers the entire City. Confirm with the City before cutting.
- Fee: $50 for five trees or fewer; $150 for six or more and for developments; non-refundable. No fee for hazardous trees.
- Replacement: two trees per protected tree removed, with a $300 cash security deposit per replacement tree, released 24 months after planting if the tree is healthy. The Director may accept $300 per tree instead of planting. None for hazardous trees.
- No one may plant a tree or hedge on City land without the Director's written authorization.
- A bylaw notice for cutting a protected tree without a permit is $400 ($300 if paid within 14 days, $500 late). In court the penalty is $1,000 to $10,000 plus costs, and each tree is a separate offence.

## Official forms and pages

- [Tree Protection Bylaw 2404, 2024 (PDF)](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/160023)

## Related questions

- [Williams Lake zoning: find your zone and what it allows](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/williams-lake/zoning-lookup.md)
- [Williams Lake building permits: when you need one and how to apply](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/williams-lake/building-permit.md)

## The same question elsewhere

- [Tree removal permits in British Columbia, by municipality](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/tree-removal.md)
- [100 Mile House](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/100-mile-house/tree-removal.md)
- [Quesnel](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/quesnel/tree-removal.md)
- [Wells](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/wells/tree-removal.md)
- [Clearwater](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/clearwater/tree-removal.md)
- [Lillooet](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/lillooet/tree-removal.md)
- [Ashcroft](https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/ashcroft/tree-removal.md)

## Sources

- [Tree Protection Bylaw No. 2404, 2024 (PDF)](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/160023) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Official Community Plan (PDF), Schedule 2.4 and 2.5](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/44168/) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2196 (PDF)](https://williamslake.civicweb.net/document/61839) (read 2026-11-05)
- [Adding a Residence, City of Williams Lake (Development Services contact)](https://www.williamslake.ca/1060/Adding-a-Residence) (read 2026-11-05)

_Checked by script, not yet by a person: the official wording behind 7 of 7 facts was matched to the official text. Gov Handbook is an independent guide, not affiliated with City of Williams Lake. How answers are checked: https://govhandbook.com/methods/ · Canonical page: https://govhandbook.com/ca/bc/williams-lake/tree-removal/_