Richmond Adopts New Tree Bylaw
9 May 2006
Richmond’s Tree Protection Bylaw 8057, adopted by City Council last night, provides protection to safeguard trees on private and City land from being unnecessarily removed, killed or substantially cut or damaged.
The bylaw states that a permit is required to remove trees from land owned privately or by the City, unless the land or tree falls under one of the bylaw exemptions.
All trees with a trunk diameter at breast height (dbh) measuring 20 centimetres (7.87 inches) or larger and capable of reaching a height of 4.5 metres are applicable to the bylaw and require a permit. All trees in environmentally sensitive areas are applicable under the bylaw.
It will be a requirement to plant and maintain one or more replacement trees for each tree cut or removed, except for cutting or removing one tree per year per parcel with a permit; for cutting or removing a hazard tree; or where a permit is not required, e.g., farm operations, emergency situations or normal pruning.
The application costs $50 per permit and it may include more than one tree. Property owners are required to obtain a permit but the permit fee is waived for a maximum of one tree during a 12 month period or for hazard trees.
A permit is not required:
- For any tree under 20 cm (7.87 inches) dbh unless it is in an environmentally sensitive area
- On an emergency basis because a tree has been severely damaged by natural causes and poses an imminent danger
- For the normal pruning of trees or hedges
- For specific lands including those used as golf courses
- For the production or cutting of tress under a valid, existing licence for a tree farm, nursery or Christmas tree farm
- For necessary farm operations under the Farm Practices Protection (Right to Farm) Act
- Where a Development Permit and/or Rezoning Application, which addresses the removal of the tree, has been approved by Council
- For public utility companies or their contractors providing a public service or utility
Bylaw 8057 replaces Bylaw 8014, which was adopted December 19, 2005 as an interim measure to safeguard trees on private and City land from being unnecessarily removed, killed or substantially cut or damaged.
Changes from the previous bylaw include:
- Trunk diameter has increased: to 20 cm (7.87 inches) dbh, from the original 10 cm (3.94 inches) dbh
- Permit fee waived: a permit is required but the fee and replanting requirement are waived to cut or remove a maximum of one tree 20 cm or greater dbh during a 12-month period
- Replacement trees: the like-for-like requirement has been removed allowing the property owner greater flexibility in landscape design. Replanting on City property is an option
- Replacement tree $500 bonding requirement withdrawn
- Right to Farm Act: farm practice exemption written in to the bylaw
Individuals convicted under this bylaw face fines up to $10,000 per tree and a requirement to replant. Each tree is considered a separate offence and each day an offence is continued shall constitute a separate offence.
The bylaw in its entirety is available for download from our City Bylaw section (Tree Protection - Bylaw 8057) or for a fee at Richmond City Hall. If you have questions regarding permit applications or general tree inquiries, please contact treeprotection@richmond.ca, or 604-247-4684. For questions about the bylaw provisions, please contact Gavin Woo, Manager, Building Approvals at 604-276-4113.
