Tree Removal Permit Guide for District of North Vancouver, BC

When the District of North Vancouver requires a permit

Tree Protection Bylaw 7671 has two classes of tree, and a permit can turn on either one.

The first class is size-based. A large-diameter tree is one above a set DBH that no other rule already protects. The size is 75 cm (large-diameter tree that is not otherwise a protected tree).

The second class, the protected tree, has no diameter floor at all. The bylaw protects, at any size:

1. any tree on District land;
2. trees in a protected streamside area, on wetland, or within the 30 m waterfront zone;
3. trees on a steep slope, meaning over 20° or 36%;
4. trees inside the Natural Environment, Streamside Protection and Slope Hazard development permit areas;
5. replacement, covenant, heritage, wildlife and old-growth trees;
6. six species: Arbutus, Garry Oak, Oregon Ash, Pacific Yew, Western White Pine and Yellow-cedar.

Screen a lot by category first and by diameter second. A small Pacific Yew near a creek needs a permit, while a maple below the large-diameter size in a flat backyard, outside every listed area and category, does not.

What the permit costs

The Fees and Charges Bylaw 6481, amended through Bylaw 8777, sets the District’s current fees. The confirmed fees:

Amount	Applies to
$2,908	Development removing 10 or more protected trees on over 1 ha
$581	Five or more protected trees
$116	Large-diameter tree, cut, per tree
$581	Large-diameter tree, remove, per tree
$116	protected tree removed, up to and including four trees, per tree

If the work already happened, a retroactive permit costs double.

Replacement trees and cash in lieu

The District holds security of 125% of the estimated cost of the work.

The fees bylaw also sets a compensation fee per large-diameter tree, higher for Douglas fir or western red cedar. Confirm with District of North Vancouver for the amounts.

Unlawful removal costs more. The owner owes the replacements the bylaw requires plus at least 2 more, plus 250% of that compensation fee.

How to apply

The District takes tree permit applications on a paper form, available from its tree permit page. Planning, Properties and Permits handles the file, and its email is building@dnv.org.

What the arborist report covers

DBH is measured at 1.3 m on the uphill side of the trunk. For a multi-stem tree the report takes the largest stem at 100% and adds 60% of each additional stem, up to 6 stems. Each stem is rounded up to the nearest cm before the sum, so a reading just under the size line can round into the large-diameter class.

For trees that stay, the bylaw sets the protected area around the roots at 10 times the DBH, with room to adjust it for site and species. The barrier goes at the outside edge of that area and carries “Tree Protection Zone” signs. The Environmental Protection Officer inspects it before work starts, and each failure is ticketable at $300.

Replacement depends on canopy cover

Replacement in the District turns on 20% canopy cover on the lot after removal.

If the lot keeps 20% canopy or more once the tree is gone, the bylaw asks for no replacement tree. If canopy would drop below 20%, replacement applies, and lot size sets the count. A lot under 420 m² owes 1 tree for each large-diameter tree removed. A lot of 420 m² or more owes 3.

A report for a District permit therefore sets out the lot area and the canopy cover after removal, so the District can see which side of the line the lot falls on.

What we do and do not do

We prepare tree removal permit reports. Ask us before you order a District of North Vancouver report. We tell you whether we can take your file. We confirm availability for your address before we quote.

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.

We do not offer emergency service. We do not supervise construction.