Metro Vancouver
Tree bylaw and arborist report rules in Burnaby, BC
Burnaby, BC protects trees by site and species: 20.3 cm on development sites, otherwise 30.5 cm conifers and 45.7 cm broadleaf, measured at 1.3 m.
- Application fee
- $97 application fee
Tree bylaws in Burnaby
Burnaby has no single size that triggers a tree permit. The Burnaby Tree Bylaw sets the line by what is happening on the lot and what kind of tree stands on it.
Where a development application is current, protection starts at 20.3 cm. On other lots a conifer is protected from 30.5 cm and a broadleaf tree from 45.7 cm, with diameter taken at 1.3 m. Some trees are protected at any size, such as streamside, covenanted and retained trees.
Permit fees run $97 a tree, capped at $691, when no development application is in play.
Burnaby Tree Bylaw at a Glance
Minimum Diameter
Depends on the site and species. On property under a current development application, a tree is protected at 20.3 cm DBH. On other property, conifers are protected at 30.5 cm and broadleaf trees at 45.7 cm. DBH is measured at 1.3 m, and a multi-stem tree sums its three largest stems.
Permit Fee
$97 per tree to a maximum of $691 with no development application. $207 per tree to a maximum of $1,380 with a residential development application. Non-residential development sites pay a base fee set by site size plus $207 per tree; confirm the band with the City of Burnaby.
Processing Time
Confirm with the City of Burnaby
Penalty
Confirm with the City of Burnaby
Special Zones
Covenanted, streamside, cemetery-district, landscaping-plan, replacement and retained trees are protected at any size.
Bylaw details verified 2026-09-01.
See how Burnaby compares to other municipalities in our Metro Vancouver tree bylaw comparison.
Before starting tree work in Burnaby
We confirm availability for your address before we quote. We do not offer emergency service.
If the removal ground is a hazardous or high-risk tree, ask us first. Some Metro Vancouver bylaws require a report author who also holds the ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification.
Reports for Burnaby properties
Burnaby in our Metro Vancouver bylaw references
Our reference pages compare one rule at a time across Metro Vancouver. These links go straight to the Burnaby entry.
Burnaby tree permit guide
What triggers a permit in Burnaby, what it costs and how to apply, drawn from the bylaw and the municipality's own pages.
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