Service Area

Arborist Reports in Burlington

Tree removal permits and construction arborist reports for City of Burlington, prepared by an ISA Certified Arborist for municipal review.

Permit required at 20 cm DBH

Application fee: $54 application fee
Processing time: Contact city for timeline

20 cm

protected tree threshold

2 days

report turnaround

21+

GTA municipalities served

Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Ontario.

Permit required at 20 cm DBH

Application fee: $54 application fee
Processing time: Contact city for timeline

Tree Bylaws in Burlington

Burlington's Private Tree By-law 40-2022 protects all trees with a trunk diameter of 20 cm or more on private property within the Urban Planning Area. The bylaw replaced an older framework and significantly tightened the rules, including a structured fee system and replanting requirements based on tree size.

Permit fees in Burlington are among the more complex in the GTA: a $54.00 processing fee plus $351.50 issuance fee for one to three trees, plus HST. Replanting requirements are tiered by the size of the tree being removed, from two replacement trees for the smallest protected sizes up to four for significant trees. If you cannot replant on site, cash-in-lieu payments are $257.50 per tree.

Burlington's location along the Niagara Escarpment adds another layer of regulation. Properties within the Escarpment's Area of Development Control may need a Niagara Escarpment Commission Development Permit when tree removal is part of a construction or development project, though the NEC's own rules spare most ordinary hazard and dead-tree removals. We work with property owners, builders, and developers across Burlington to handle both sets of requirements and keep projects moving.

Burlington Tree Bylaw at a Glance

Minimum Diameter

20 cm

Permit Fee

$54.00 processing + $351.50 issuance (1-3 trees); 4th tree $243.50, each tree from the 5th $135.50; permit to injure $81.50/tree. All plus HST

Processing Time

Contact city for timeline

Penalty

$500-$100,000 per day (individuals); $1,000-$100,000 per day (corporations); subsequent-offence minimums $1,000 and $5,000; per-tree fines $1,000-$10,000 uncapped

Special Zones

Niagara Escarpment plan area has separate regulations. Trees 75 cm+ are classified as 'significant' and receive additional scrutiny

View official bylaw

Bylaw details verified 2026-07-24.

See how Burlington compares to other municipalities in our GTA tree bylaw comparison.

Before starting tree work in Burlington

Review the current municipal permit and exemption requirements before work begins. Removing or injuring a protected tree without approval can lead to fines and replanting orders.