Williams Lake tree removal rules and permits

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

Williams Lake, British ColumbiaChecked against official textSources read 2026-11-05

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.

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).Tree Protection Bylaw No. 2404, 2024, s. 3.1, 2.2, 2.1 Protected Tree; Official Community Plan, Schedule 2.4 and 2.5, OCP Schedule 2.4 DPA 4 guidelines; Policy 11.1.3 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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; 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
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.Tree Protection Bylaw No. 2404, 2024, s. 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 2.3; Official Community Plan, Schedule 2.4 and 2.5, OCP Schedule 2.4 DPA 4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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 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
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.Tree Protection Bylaw No. 2404, 2024, s. 4.4(a), (b) · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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
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.Tree Protection Bylaw No. 2404, 2024, s. 5.3 to 5.10 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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,
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.Tree Protection Bylaw No. 2404, 2024, s. 3.3, 3.4 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 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.
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.Bylaw Notice Enforcement Bylaw No. 2196, Schedule A-24, Tree Removal and Retention Fines; Tree Protection Bylaw No. 2404, 2024, s. 7.1, 7.2 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording Tree Removal and Retention Fines (1 Page) $400.00 $300.00 $500.00 No $250.00 $190.00 $315.00 Yes 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.
Bylaw	City of Williams Lake Tree Protection Bylaw No. 2404, 2024Tree Protection Bylaw No. 2404, 2024, s. 1.1 · Wording matched the official text retrieved 2026-11-06 Official wording This Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as "City of Williams Lake Tree Protection

How it works

Under the City of Williams Lake's Tree Protection Bylaw 2404, 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

Check your lot's size and zone (see the zoning lookup answer).
Before cutting, ask Development Services (250-392-1765) whether a development permit applies.
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.