British Columbia
Metro Vancouver tree bylaw dataset
Tree bylaw rules for every Metro Vancouver municipality in one file. Each value is copied from the bylaw, fees bylaw or municipal page that states it.
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One row for each of the 21 municipalities
A row gives the private tree permit trigger, the permit fee, the replacement rule and how to apply. It also gives the security the municipality holds, any cash-in-lieu payment and how the bylaw treats hedges. Each row names its primary source and the date we last checked it.
The two files hold the same rows. The JSON file keeps every field, including the full list of sources for each municipality. The CSV file keeps one value per cell, so it opens directly in a spreadsheet, and it has 22 lines: a header and one line per municipality.
Field dictionary
The table lists every CSV column. A column name with a dot, such as securities.security, comes from one of our resource tables. In the JSON file that value sits inside an object named for the table. The object is null when the table has no row for the municipality. When a table has several rows for one municipality, such as the bylaw changes table or the Vancouver schedules, the JSON file holds a list of objects and the CSV file leaves that table out. An empty value is null in the JSON file and an empty cell in the CSV file.
| Column | Meaning |
|---|---|
| slug | Identifier for the municipality, also the anchor on our Metro Vancouver tree bylaw comparison. |
| name | Municipality name. |
| tier | Coverage tier on this site. Tier A municipalities have their own area and permit guide pages. Tier B and C municipalities appear in the comparison table. |
| privateTreeBylaw | true when a bylaw regulates trees on private property, false when the only tree bylaw covers municipal land or none exists. |
| statusLine | One-line bylaw status for Tier B and C municipalities. |
| protectedTree | Which trees need a permit: size, measurement height and multi-stem rule as the bylaw words them. |
| permitFee | Private tree permit fee. |
| replacement | Replacement tree rule. |
| applicationMethod | How to apply. |
| bylawPage | This municipality on our Metro Vancouver tree bylaw comparison. |
| permitGuide | Our permit guide for the municipality (Tier A only). |
| sourceLabel | Primary source for the row. |
| sourceUrl | Link to the primary source. |
| lastVerified | Latest date any value in the row was checked against its source (YYYY-MM-DD). |
| hedgeRules.hedgeRule | How the bylaw treats hedges. |
| hedgeRules.sourceUrl | Source for the hedge rule. |
| hedgeRules.lastVerified | Date the hedge rule was checked. |
| protectionDistances.thresholdCm | Single diameter trigger in centimetres, as a number. Empty where protection depends on the tree category, no private tree bylaw exists, or the trigger is not confirmed. |
| protectionDistances.measuredAt | Height where the bylaw measures trunk diameter, as the source writes it. |
| protectionDistances.section | Bylaw section, schedule, bulletin or standard drawing that sets the barrier rule. |
| protectionDistances.trigger | Which trees are protected by size, in words. |
| protectionDistances.rule | The tree protection barrier rule, as the source words it. The printed distance table and the rule as numbers are in the JSON file only. |
| protectionDistances.noPrivateTreeBylaw | true where no bylaw regulates trees on private property. |
| protectionDistances.scheduleNote | Note on a printed barrier table that we could verify only in part. |
| protectionDistances.sourceUrl | Source for the barrier rule. |
| protectionDistances.lastVerified | Date the barrier rule was checked. |
| securities.security | Security the municipality holds for replacement or retained trees. |
| securities.cashInLieu | Payment in place of planting a replacement tree, where the bylaw offers one. |
| securities.sourceUrl | Source for the security and cash-in-lieu values. |
| securities.lastVerified | Date the security and cash-in-lieu values were checked. |
| stemMeasurement.measuredAt | Measuring height for trunk diameter and the ground it is measured from, as the bylaw writes it. |
| stemMeasurement.heightCm | Measuring height in centimetres, as a number. |
| stemMeasurement.slope | Ground a tree on a slope is measured from: high-side (the uphill side or the highest grade), base, or unstated where the bylaw does not say. |
| stemMeasurement.multiStemText | How the bylaw combines the stems of a multi-stem tree, in words. The method as numbers is in the JSON file only. |
| stemMeasurement.thresholdCm | Single diameter trigger in centimetres, as a number. Empty where protection depends on the tree category, no private tree bylaw exists, or the trigger is not confirmed. |
| stemMeasurement.threshold | The diameter trigger in words, with any category triggers. |
| stemMeasurement.noPrivateTreeBylaw | true where no bylaw regulates trees on private property. |
| stemMeasurement.thresholdWithheld | true where the trigger is not confirmed and the threshold text reads Confirm with the municipality. |
| stemMeasurement.circumferenceDivisor | Number the bylaw divides a girth measurement by to get the diameter. Empty where the bylaw gives no conversion. |
| stemMeasurement.sourceUrl | Source for the measuring rule. |
| stemMeasurement.lastVerified | Date the measuring rule was checked. |
| treeRuleMap.sourceUrl | Official bylaw behind the tree rule map answers. The two task answers (removing a private tree, building near trees) are in the JSON file only. |
| treeRuleMap.lastVerified | Date the tree rule map record was checked. |
Every value comes from the municipality's own text
We read each municipality's tree bylaw, its fees bylaw and its own permit pages. A value goes into the dataset only when that text states it.
Securities, cash-in-lieu and hedge rules by municipality
A security is money the municipality holds until replacement trees are planted or retained trees survive the work. Cash-in-lieu is a payment made instead of planting, and only some bylaws offer it. Hedge rules decide whether a hedge counts as a tree at all, and how many trees replace one.
| Municipality | Security | Cash-in-lieu | Hedges |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anmore | $500 (per replacement tree, held 3 years). | Confirm with the Village of AnmoreSource for Anmore security and cash-in-lieu | The tree definition in s.2(1) excludes hedges.Source for Anmore hedge rule |
| Belcarra | No private tree bylaw | No private tree bylaw | No private tree bylaw |
| Bowen Island | No private tree bylaw | No private tree bylaw | Bowen Island has no tree removal bylaw for private property. The Site Alteration Bylaw No. 568 tree definition excludes hedges, but it only scopes soil volumes.Source for Bowen Island hedge rule |
| BurnabyPermit guide for Burnaby | The greater of the Fees Bylaw minimum or 120% of the estimated replacement cost (s.7). The minimum is $1,500 (minimum security for tree replacement). | $1,500 per tree, paid to the Civic Tree Reserve Fund.Source for Burnaby security and cash-in-lieu | Confirm with the City of Burnaby |
| Coquitlam | 100% of the estimated value (s.11). The administrative rate is $300 (per replacement tree, based on the number of Class A trees). | The bylaw has no cash-in-lieu provision.Source for Coquitlam security and cash-in-lieu | Confirm with the City of Coquitlam |
| DeltaPermit guide for Delta | $700 per replacement tree. | A flat cash-in-lieu rate of $700 per replacement tree.Source for Delta security and cash-in-lieu | Replacement for a hedge is 2 trees per 5 m of hedge (Schedule B).Source for Delta hedge rule |
| City of Langley | $100 (refundable tree protection security per cm of DBH of each retained tree, only when retaining a protected tree is a condition of a tree permit issued with a development application, Director may waive it, capped for lots zoned for small-scale multiple housing and capped per application); $1,000 (tree replacement security per replacement tree) | $1,000 (per Replacement Tree not planted, when the Director finds planting on the lot not feasible; for a city tree of 30 cm DBH or more the appraised value applies instead when it is higher; plus applicable taxes)Source for City of Langley security and cash-in-lieu | Confirm with the City of Langley |
| Township of Langley | Confirm with the Township of Langley | Bylaw 5838 replaced replacement planting for private removals with cash-in-lieu. The amounts are $600 (per tree 20 to 30 cm DBH, building envelope, driveway or septic field conflict); $1,200 (per tree over 30 cm DBH, building envelope, driveway or septic field conflict). Confirm with Township of Langley for the other cases.Source for Township of Langley security and cash-in-lieu | Confirm with the Township of Langley |
| Lions Bay | No private tree bylaw | No private tree bylaw | No private tree bylaw |
| Maple RidgePermit guide for Maple Ridge | Confirm with the City of Maple Ridge | $800 per replacement tree not planted.Source for Maple Ridge security and cash-in-lieu | Hedging cedar is not accepted as replacement stock (Schedule C).Source for Maple Ridge hedge rule |
| New WestminsterPermit guide for New Westminster | $792 (per replacement tree, general, non-resident applicant); $686 (per replacement tree, general, resident applicant); $12,933 (per replacement tree, non-hazardous specimen tree, non-resident applicant); $6,335 (per replacement tree, non-hazardous specimen tree, resident applicant, minimum); $3,959 (per retained protected tree, not a specimen tree, non-resident applicant); $2,703 (per retained protected tree, not a specimen tree, resident applicant or CRZ resident requestor, minimum); $15,836 (per retained specimen tree, non-resident applicant); $10,811 (per retained specimen tree, resident applicant or CRZ resident requestor) | $792 (per replacement tree, general, non-resident applicant); $686 (per replacement tree, general, resident applicant); $12,933 (per replacement tree, non-hazardous specimen tree, non-resident applicant); $6,335 (per replacement tree, non-hazardous specimen tree, resident applicant, minimum); $897 (per replacement tree, per City tree removed)Source for New Westminster security and cash-in-lieu | A hedge 5 m tall or taller is a protected tree. Replacement is 1 tree per 4 m of hedge (s.7.2).Source for New Westminster hedge rule |
| City of North Vancouver | $1,015.37 (per replacement tree) | $781.06 (per tree removed, payable when a Certified Arborist finds the parcel cannot hold some or all required replacement trees)Source for City of North Vancouver security and cash-in-lieu | Confirm with the City of North Vancouver |
| District of North VancouverPermit guide for District of North Vancouver | 125% of the estimated cost of the work. | Confirm with the District of North VancouverSource for District of North Vancouver security and cash-in-lieu | Confirm with the District of North Vancouver |
| Pitt Meadows | Planting security: $2,000 (per Canopy Tree to be planted, before a City Permit issues); $1,500 (per Replacement Tree required to be planted, development permit, capped per hectare and per application). Confirm with Pitt Meadows for the protection deposit per retained tree. | $2,000 (per Canopy Tree not planted to meet the 30 per cent canopy target on a City Permit for new subdivision, new principal dwelling, addition over 25 per cent of floor area or development permit, large canopy class tree); $1,000 (per Canopy Tree not planted to meet the 30 per cent canopy target on a City Permit for new subdivision, new principal dwelling, addition over 25 per cent of floor area or development permit, medium canopy class tree); $500 (per Canopy Tree not planted to meet the 30 per cent canopy target on a City Permit for new subdivision, new principal dwelling, addition over 25 per cent of floor area or development permit, small canopy class tree); $1,000 (per Replacement Tree not planted, large canopy class tree, any permit type); $500 (per Replacement Tree not planted, medium canopy class tree, any permit type); $250 (per Replacement Tree not planted, small canopy class tree, any permit type)Source for Pitt Meadows security and cash-in-lieu | Confirm with the City of Pitt Meadows |
| Port Coquitlam | $500 (per required replacement tree; may be waived under s.8.5 and s.8.6) (s.8.2). | $500 (per replacement tree not planted, where the lot cannot accommodate it and the Parks Section Manager approves) (s.7.7(b)).Source for Port Coquitlam security and cash-in-lieu | The bylaw's definition of a tree excludes hedges.Source for Port Coquitlam hedge rule |
| Port Moody | $5,000 (per retained tree that is a landmark/legacy tree or a protected tree of 50 cm DBH or more); $1,000 (per retained tree, all other retained trees) | $370 (per medium or large replacement tree species not planted, RS and RT zoned residential property subject to development approval); $370 (per medium or large replacement tree species not planted, property not subject to development approval); $740 (per medium or large replacement tree species not planted, property subject to development approval other than RS and RT zoned residential)Source for Port Moody security and cash-in-lieu | A removed hedge is replaced with 1 medium or large tree per 4 m of hedge, or 2 small trees per 4 m (s.13.2).Source for Port Moody hedge rule |
| RichmondPermit guide for Richmond | Replacement security of $750 per tree for a subdivision. Retained-tree security on a subdivision: $5,000 (20 to 30 cm), $10,000 (31 to 91 cm) or $20,000 (significant tree). | Confirm with the City of RichmondSource for Richmond security and cash-in-lieu | Confirm with the City of Richmond |
| SurreyPermit guide for Surrey | $3,000 (protected tree other than significant or specimen quality, tree retained as a requirement of a subdivision, development permit, development variance permit, building permit or demolition permit); $550 (replacement tree, 5 cm caliper deciduous or 3 m conifer, plus taxes, not part of the landscaping required under a development permit, development variance permit or subdivision); $1,100 (replacement tree, 8 cm caliper deciduous or 4 m conifer, plus taxes, not part of the landscaping required under a development permit, development variance permit or subdivision); $10,000 (significant tree, tree retained as a requirement of a subdivision, development permit, development variance permit, building permit or demolition permit); $5,000 (specimen quality tree, tree retained as a requirement of a subdivision, development permit, development variance permit, building permit or demolition permit) | Cash-in-lieu is $550 plus tax per tree.Source for Surrey security and cash-in-lieu | Confirm with the City of Surrey |
| VancouverPermit guide for Vancouver | $500 per replacement tree, or $750 where the replacement tree is 8 cm caliper or more (s.4.10(c)). | Cash-in-lieu of $1,000 per tree (s.6.2) is an owner election that applies only if the site keeps at least the Schedule C tree count after the removal.Source for Vancouver security and cash-in-lieu | Section 2.2 of By-law 9958 applies the 20 cm size rule "except for a replacement tree or a tree that is part of a hedge." A hedge tree under 20 cm still needs a permit.Source for Vancouver hedge rule |
| West VancouverPermit guide for West Vancouver | $1,000 (per replacement tree, total security capped at ten trees) | $1,000 (per replacement tree, when planting a replacement tree is not possible)Source for West Vancouver security and cash-in-lieu | Confirm with the District of West Vancouver |
| White RockPermit guide for White Rock | Confirm with White Rock for the amount per replacement tree and for the retained-tree security, held one year. | Confirm with White Rock for the amount per tree. The bylaw applies cash-in-lieu to City trees removed for Type 3 construction only.Source for White Rock security and cash-in-lieu | Any hedge of any size on City-owned property, road rights-of-way included, is protected.Source for White Rock hedge rule |
Cite the dataset with its date
The Arborist Group. Metro Vancouver tree bylaw dataset. https://arboristgroup.com/bc/resources/metro-vancouver-tree-bylaw-data/ (last updated 2026-10-19).
The files live at stable addresses: /data/metro-vancouver-tree-bylaws.json and /data/metro-vancouver-tree-bylaws.csv. The slug column stays the same between updates, so a script can match rows across two downloads.
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