Tree Protection, Removal and Replacement Requirements

• Tree Management Plans

  Tree Management Plans are required for all building and development sites to ensure that each development project is designed to protect trees on and off site (within 5m (16.4’) of property line), support tree planting on site and provide the necessary growing conditions, management prescriptions and Arborist oversight to ensure that existing and planted trees remain healthy and are not detrimental to the community. Certified Arborists are required to prepare the Tree Management Plans. The certified Arborists are to be in good standing with the International Society of Arboriculture and have valid business licenses in the City of Pitt Meadows.

• Property Maintenance Permits (non-development)

  Permit for tree removal on properties for the purpose of routine property management.

  • Application fees: $50 plus $50 per tree removed.
  • Replacement Trees: 
    • Review the replacement tree planting and maintenance requirements in the Interim Tree Management Bylaw or in the Replacement Tree Requirements guide.
    • Where it is not feasible to plant a new tree onsite, the City may accept a cash-in-lieu option in the amount of $900 for each tree not replaced, as confirmed by the Director.
  • Must include rationale for tree removal and the name and contact for a tree removal company with a valid business license.

  Application Form
   

• Development (Building, subdivision, land clearing)

  Permit for tree removal associated with building permits, subdivision, and/or development permits.

  • Application fee: $300 plus $50 per tree removed
  • Arborist Letter of Undertaking
  • Tree survey and site plan(s)
  • Tree Management Plan
  • Replacement Trees for all trees removed.
    • Review the Replacement Tree planting and maintenance requirements in the Interim Tree Management Bylaw and in the Replacement Tree Requirements guide.
    • Where it is not feasible to plant a new tree, the City may accept a cash-in-lieu option in the amount of $1,500 for each tree not replaced, as confirmed by the Director.
    • Refundable security deposit in the amount of $1,500 per tree required to ensure that each Replacement Tree is planted and maintained for 12 months. 
    • Monitoring and reporting (Letters of Completion) by the Project Arborist are required for the release of securities.
      • Letter of Completion Replacement Planting
      • Letter of Completion Tree Maintenance

  Application Form
   

• Tree Removal Permit Exemptions

  Tree management permits are not required for:

  • Properties located in the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR)
  • Non-ALR properties that are actively farming under an accepted Farm Plan or are managing trees under the Forest Act or Private Managed Forest Land Act
  • Trees that are dead or hazardous, as confirmed by a Certified Arborist or approved by the Director
  • Trees removed on City lands for approved municipal projects
  • Trees removed by utility companies for the safety, installation, maintenance or operation of the utility’s infrastructure
     

Additional Information

• Helpful Documents and Resources

  • Project Arborist Letter of Undertaking
  • Letter of Completion guide
  • Tree Management Permit Fees, Securities, Cash in Lieu Payments guide
• Determining Tree Ownership

  Contact the City to help determine whether trees are City property or private property.  Should any discrepancies or uncertainties occur regarding the ownership of a tree on or near a property line, a land surveyor and/or certified arborist should be contacted to confirm the tree location in relation to property lines.

  City trees 

  City-owned trees and vegetation (e.g., boulevard trees, park spaces, etc.) are protected by:

  • Section 7.1 of the Boulevard Maintenance Bylaw No. 2377, 2008, 
  • Section 5 of the Parks and Community Facilities Regulations Bylaw No. 2653, 2014.  
  • Section 4 of the Interim Tree Management Bylaw No. 3035, 2026

  Written consent of the City is required to cut or prune any boulevard vegetation. Boulevard landscaping specifications, street tree planting design criteria and other provisions are provided in Schedule C: Design Criteria - Part H of the Subdivision and Development Servicing Bylaw No. 2589, 2013.

• Breeding Bird Considerations

  If vegetation removal or disturbance is to occur, please note that birds and their nests are protected by both the BC Wildlife Act and the Canada Migratory Birds Convention Act and Migratory Birds Regulation.  Vegetation refers to trees, shrubs and ground cover.  Eagles, peregrine falcon, gyrfalcon, burrowing owl, osprey or heron and their nests are protected year-round with an additional protection buffer during the breeding season (Wildlife Act Section 34(b) species). Most other breeding bird species, their eggs and their nests are protected during their active breeding period.  If vegetation removal and/or potential disturbance is required at any time of the year for Section 34(b) species, or, the least risk window of September 1 through to February 28 for most other bird species, a Qualified Environmental Professional should provide a signed and sealed due-diligence memo report, confirming:

  • whether any raptor / heron and/or their nests occur within the applicable breeding buffer distance of the proposed project footprint (refer to undeveloped/rural/urban buffers of Table 4-1, Develop with Care, MOE 2014); AND
  • whether any other protected bird species and/or their nests occur within 30m of the proposed project footprint; AND
  • if any protected raptor / herons, breeding birds and/or their nests occur within the proposed project footprint, provide management and monitoring recommendations for protection and mitigation. The QEP would certify that no adverse effects are expected to occur to nesting birds provided their management recommendations are followed.