Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Clarington?

Service Area

Arborist Reports in Clarington

Tree removal permits and construction arborist reports for Durham Region, prepared by an ISA Certified Arborist for municipal review.

Permit required in specific zones only

Permit required in: Woodlots of 0.2 hectares or more, Environmental Protection-designated lands, and trees within 120 metres of a mapped wetland
Regional rule: Durham Region Woodland By-law 30-2020 also applies for woodlands 1 hectare or more, on top of Clarington's own woodlot and wetland-buffer triggers

Woodlots only

permit trigger

2 days

report turnaround

21+

GTA municipalities served

Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Ontario.

Permit required in specific zones only

Permit required in: Woodlots of 0.2 hectares or more, Environmental Protection-designated lands, and trees within 120 metres of a mapped wetland
Regional rule: Durham Region Woodland By-law 30-2020 also applies for woodlands 1 hectare or more, on top of Clarington's own woodlot and wetland-buffer triggers

Tree Bylaws in Clarington

Clarington's Woodlot Preservation By-law 97-35 protects trees in woodlots of 0.2 hectares or more, Environmental Protection-designated lands, and trees within 120 metres of a mapped wetland. An individual tree on an ordinary residential lot outside those areas needs no municipal permit.

Clarington is Durham Region's largest municipality by area and includes substantial rural and wooded land alongside its urban centres of Bowmanville, Courtice, and Newcastle. Properties with any meaningful tree cover are worth checking against the woodlot and wetland-buffer triggers before assuming no permit applies.

Durham Region's Woodland By-law 30-2020 applies on top of Clarington's own rules, adding a permit requirement for woodlands of 1 hectare or more anywhere in the Region.

We assess whether a Clarington property's treed area meets the 0.2 hectare woodlot threshold or falls inside the wetland buffer before recommending a removal path, and prepare the documentation the Municipality's planning reviewers expect.

Clarington Tree Bylaw at a Glance

Minimum Diameter

Zone-based permit: required for woodlots of 0.2 hectares or more, Environmental Protection-designated lands, and trees within 120 metres of a mapped wetland. No permit needed for an ordinary tree on a standard lot outside those areas.

Permit Fee

Contact the Municipality of Clarington for current tree removal permit fees.

Processing Time

Contact the Municipality for current timelines

Penalty

Contact the Municipality of Clarington for current penalty amounts under By-law 97-35.

Special Zones

Woodlots of 0.2 hectares or more, Environmental Protection-designated lands, and trees within 120 metres of a mapped wetland

View official bylaw

Bylaw details verified 2026-07-24.

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

Before starting tree work in Clarington

Check the Clarington permit portal before any tree work begins. Bylaw requirements change, and fines for unpermitted removal start at Contact the Municipality of Clarington for current penalty amounts under By-law 97-35..