British Columbia
Where the fence goes around a retained tree, municipality by municipality, and a lookup for one tree.
Vancouver here means the City of Vancouver, BC, under Protection of Trees By-law No. 9958. It is not Vancouver, Washington, whose rules turn up in many search answers.
Metro Vancouver has no single barrier rule. Each of the 21 municipalities writes its own, and the rules fall into a few kinds: a printed table of distances, a formula that multiplies the trunk diameter, the tree's dripline, or no distance at all.
7 municipalities publish a table of distances, in a bylaw schedule, a bulletin or a standard drawing. For a trunk of 90 cm, the tables give 2 different answers.
| Municipality | Printed distance | Where it is printed |
|---|---|---|
| New Westminster | 5.0 m | s.2.1(m) and Schedule B |
| City of North Vancouver | 5.4 m | Standard Drawing T1-S and s.3 |
| Port Coquitlam | 5.4 m | s.3.1(y) and Schedule B |
| Richmond | 5.0 mFallback where the dripline cannot be used | Bylaw 8057 s.5.2.4(a) and Bulletin TREE-03 |
| Surrey | 5.4 m | Schedule C Table 1 and s.63 |
| Vancouver | 5.0 m | Schedule A and s.7.5 to s.7.9 |
| West Vancouver | 5.4 m | Schedule A |
Where a bylaw uses a formula instead, most use 6 × DBH. The District of North Vancouver is the only municipality that uses 10 × DBH.
The dripline wins where it reaches further in Delta, Maple Ridge, City of North Vancouver and Pitt Meadows. In New Westminster and White Rock, a line 1 m beyond the dripline wins where it reaches further. Burnaby and Richmond put the barrier at the dripline itself. Anmore, Belcarra, Bowen Island and Lions Bay set no barrier distance.
| Municipality | Kind of rule | The rule | At 90 cm | Section |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anmore | Lot coverage | Anmore sets no barrier distance. The bylaw works by lot coverage: an owner keeps or replants tree cover, measured as drip-line area ÷ lot area × 100, from 10% on smaller lots up to 75% on the largest. | Confirm with the Village of Anmore | s.5 to s.7 |
| Belcarra | No barrier rule | The Village tree bylaw covers municipal land only, and it sets no protection zone formula. | Confirm with the Village of Belcarra | Bylaw 589 |
| Bowen Island | No barrier rule | Bowen Island has no tree removal bylaw for private property. A Development Permit can still attach tree conditions to a project. | Confirm with Bowen Island Municipality | FAQ: no private tree bylaw |
| Burnaby | Dripline | The fence goes on or outside the measured dripline and stands at least 1.2 m high. Burnaby prints no diameter table. | On or outside the dripline | s.8 |
| Coquitlam | Protection zone formula, no barrier distance | The City treats the dripline as the CRZ and sets a Minimum Protection Zone of six times the tree's DBH. Both definitions come from the City's Trees and Development page, not the bylaw. The page does not say where the barrier stands, so confirm the barrier distance with the City of Coquitlam. | Protection zone 6 × 90 cm = 5.4 m. Barrier: confirm with the City of Coquitlam | Trees and Development page |
| Delta | Formula or the dripline, whichever is greater | The protective barrier must equal the extent of the drip line or six times the tree diameter, whichever is greater. | 6 × 90 cm = 5.4 m, or the dripline if wider | Schedule C |
| City of Langley | Formula | The CRZ is a circle with a radius of DBH × 6. The TPZ must at least contain the CRZ, and an arborist sizes it beyond that to the Director's satisfaction. | 6 × 90 cm = 5.4 m | s.2(9) and s.2(34) |
| Township of Langley | Formula | The CRZ is a circle with a radius of DBH × 6. A barrier at least 1.2 m high is required where a CRZ is within 4 m of works. For a tree on the next lot, the barrier runs to the property line. | 6 × 90 cm = 5.4 m | §2 |
| Lions Bay | No barrier rule | The Village tree bylaw covers municipal land only. It sets no protection zone formula and no fencing spec. | Confirm with the Village of Lions Bay | Bylaw 393 |
| Maple Ridge | Formula or the dripline, whichever is greater | The CRZ is a circle whose radius is the greater of 6 × DBH or the tree's dripline. A barrier is required when a retained protected tree's CRZ is within 10 m of excavation, demolition, construction or servicing. | 6 × 90 cm = 5.4 m, or the dripline if wider | §3.1 and §10.1(a) |
| New Westminster | Printed table and formula, or the dripline if greater | The CRZ is a circle with a radius of DBH × 6, or 1 m beyond the dripline, whichever is greater. Schedule B prints a table as well, and its 90 cm row reads 5.0 m. Work within 4 m of a protected tree's dripline needs a barrier and a permit, or a CRZ work authorization (s.8.1). | Printed 5.0 m. Formula 6 × 90 cm = 5.4 m | s.2.1(m) and Schedule B |
| City of North Vancouver | Printed table or the dripline, whichever is greater | Standard Drawing T1-S sets the barrier: use the table value or the distance from the trunk face to the dripline, whichever is greater. The bylaw sets the CRZ at 6 × DBH in cm (s.3). | 5.4 m printed, or the dripline if wider | Standard Drawing T1-S and s.3 |
| District of North Vancouver | Formula | The protected area around the tree is 10 × DBH, and a certified arborist can adjust it for the site and species. The barrier sits on its outer edge with Tree Protection Zone signage, and the Environmental Protection Officer inspects it before work starts. A barrier failure is ticketable at $300. | 10 × 90 cm = 9.0 m | Bylaw 7671 |
| Pitt Meadows | Formula or the dripline, whichever is greater | The CRZ is a circle with a radius of DBH × 6, or the Drip Line, whichever is greater. The Tree Protection Zone is the CRZ or the protected area around a retained, replacement or canopy tree approved in the Tree Management Plan. The barrier construction spec is not in the bylaw. | 6 × 90 cm = 5.4 m, or the dripline if wider | s.3.1(p) and s.3.1(xx) |
| Port Coquitlam | Printed table from a formula | The root protection zone is a circle with a radius of 6 × the tree's diameter, and Schedule B prints it as a table. A barrier is needed when a tree's dripline is within 4 m of excavation, demolition, construction or fill (ss.9.1 and 9.2). | 5.4 m printed | s.3.1(y) and Schedule B |
| Port Moody | Formula | The CRZ is a circle with a radius of DBH × 6. The TPZ must at least contain the CRZ, and an arborist sizes it beyond that to the General Manager's satisfaction. A 1 m Temporary Disturbance Zone surrounds the TPZ. | 6 × 90 cm = 5.4 m | Bylaw 3531 |
| Richmond | Dripline first, then a printed table | The dripline comes first. Bylaw 8057 defines the tree protection barrier as a fence at least 1.2 metres high around the drip line of a retained tree. Where the dripline cannot be used, Bulletin TREE-03 prints a Tree Protection Distance Table. TREE-03 warns that failing to maintain a barrier can bring fines of up to $50,000 per offence. | At the dripline. Fallback table: 5.0 m | Bylaw 8057 s.5.2.4(a) and Bulletin TREE-03 |
| Surrey | Printed table from a formula | Schedule C Table 1 prints the protection barrier radius for each listed trunk diameter. A barrier is required whenever work happens within 10 m of a protected trunk. The fence stands at least 1.2 m high. | 5.4 m printed | Schedule C Table 1 and s.63 |
| Vancouver | Printed table | Schedule A of By-law 9958 prints the protection barrier distance for each listed trunk diameter. The owner installs a barrier for each retention tree before demolition, excavation or construction begins (s.7.5). For a neighbour's tree within two metres of the boundary, the barrier extends into the site by the greater of two metres or the distance an arborist or the Director of Planning sets (s.7.7). The Chief Building Official must inspect and approve each barrier before a demolition, excavation or construction permit (s.7.9). | 5.0 m printed | Schedule A and s.7.5 to s.7.9 |
| West Vancouver | Printed table | Schedule A, Protection Zone Minimum Fence Distance, prints the fence distance for each listed trunk diameter. The fence stands 1.2 m high. | 5.4 m printed | Schedule A |
| White Rock | Formula or the dripline, whichever is greater | The CRZ and the TPZ are the same zone: a radius of DBH × 6, or 1 m beyond the dripline, whichever is greater. Schedule A sites the barrier by the same rule. | 6 × 90 cm = 5.4 m, or 1 m past the dripline if wider | Schedule A |
Lot coverage
Anmore sets no barrier distance. The bylaw works by lot coverage: an owner keeps or replants tree cover, measured as drip-line area ÷ lot area × 100, from 10% on smaller lots up to 75% on the largest.
Source: primary source for Anmore.
No barrier rule
The Village tree bylaw covers municipal land only, and it sets no protection zone formula.
Source: primary source for Belcarra.
No barrier rule
Bowen Island has no tree removal bylaw for private property. A Development Permit can still attach tree conditions to a project.
Source: primary source for Bowen Island.
Dripline
The fence goes on or outside the measured dripline and stands at least 1.2 m high. Burnaby prints no diameter table.
Source: primary source for Burnaby.
Protection zone formula, no barrier distance
The City treats the dripline as the CRZ and sets a Minimum Protection Zone of six times the tree's DBH. Both definitions come from the City's Trees and Development page, not the bylaw. The page does not say where the barrier stands, so confirm the barrier distance with the City of Coquitlam.
Source: primary source for Coquitlam.
Formula or the dripline, whichever is greater
The protective barrier must equal the extent of the drip line or six times the tree diameter, whichever is greater.
Source: primary source for Delta.
Formula
The CRZ is a circle with a radius of DBH × 6. The TPZ must at least contain the CRZ, and an arborist sizes it beyond that to the Director's satisfaction.
Source: primary source for City of Langley.
Formula
The CRZ is a circle with a radius of DBH × 6. A barrier at least 1.2 m high is required where a CRZ is within 4 m of works. For a tree on the next lot, the barrier runs to the property line.
No barrier rule
The Village tree bylaw covers municipal land only. It sets no protection zone formula and no fencing spec.
Source: primary source for Lions Bay.
Formula or the dripline, whichever is greater
The CRZ is a circle whose radius is the greater of 6 × DBH or the tree's dripline. A barrier is required when a retained protected tree's CRZ is within 10 m of excavation, demolition, construction or servicing.
Source: primary source for Maple Ridge.
Printed table and formula, or the dripline if greater
The CRZ is a circle with a radius of DBH × 6, or 1 m beyond the dripline, whichever is greater. Schedule B prints a table as well, and its 90 cm row reads 5.0 m. Work within 4 m of a protected tree's dripline needs a barrier and a permit, or a CRZ work authorization (s.8.1).
| Trunk diameter (cm) | Distance (m) |
|---|---|
| 20 | 1.2 |
| 75 | 4.5 |
| 90 | 5.0 |
| 100 | 6.0 |
Schedule B prints these rows. Confirm other sizes with the City of New Westminster.
Source: primary source for New Westminster.
Printed table or the dripline, whichever is greater
Standard Drawing T1-S sets the barrier: use the table value or the distance from the trunk face to the dripline, whichever is greater. The bylaw sets the CRZ at 6 × DBH in cm (s.3).
| Trunk diameter (cm) | Distance (m) |
|---|---|
| under 10 | 1.2 |
| 10 to 29 | 1.8 |
| 30 to 40 | 2.4 |
| 41 to 50 | 3.0 |
| 51 to 60 | 3.6 |
| 61 to 70 | 4.2 |
| 71 to 80 | 4.8 |
| 81 to 90 | 5.4 |
| 91 to 100 | 6.0 |
Formula
The protected area around the tree is 10 × DBH, and a certified arborist can adjust it for the site and species. The barrier sits on its outer edge with Tree Protection Zone signage, and the Environmental Protection Officer inspects it before work starts. A barrier failure is ticketable at $300.
Formula or the dripline, whichever is greater
The CRZ is a circle with a radius of DBH × 6, or the Drip Line, whichever is greater. The Tree Protection Zone is the CRZ or the protected area around a retained, replacement or canopy tree approved in the Tree Management Plan. The barrier construction spec is not in the bylaw.
Source: primary source for Pitt Meadows.
Printed table from a formula
The root protection zone is a circle with a radius of 6 × the tree's diameter, and Schedule B prints it as a table. A barrier is needed when a tree's dripline is within 4 m of excavation, demolition, construction or fill (ss.9.1 and 9.2).
| Trunk diameter (cm) | Distance (m) |
|---|---|
| 20 | 1.2 |
| 25 | 1.5 |
| 30 | 1.8 |
| 35 | 2.1 |
| 40 | 2.4 |
| 45 | 2.7 |
| 50 | 3.0 |
| 55 | 3.3 |
| 60 | 3.6 |
| 75 | 4.5 |
| 90 | 5.4 |
| 100 | 6.0 |
Source: primary source for Port Coquitlam.
Formula
The CRZ is a circle with a radius of DBH × 6. The TPZ must at least contain the CRZ, and an arborist sizes it beyond that to the General Manager's satisfaction. A 1 m Temporary Disturbance Zone surrounds the TPZ.
Source: primary source for Port Moody.
Dripline first, then a printed table
The dripline comes first. Bylaw 8057 defines the tree protection barrier as a fence at least 1.2 metres high around the drip line of a retained tree. Where the dripline cannot be used, Bulletin TREE-03 prints a Tree Protection Distance Table. TREE-03 warns that failing to maintain a barrier can bring fines of up to $50,000 per offence.
| Trunk diameter (cm) | Distance (m) |
|---|---|
| 20 | 1.2 |
| 25 | 1.5 |
| 30 | 1.8 |
| 35 | 2.1 |
| 40 | 2.4 |
| 45 | 2.7 |
| 50 | 3.0 |
| 55 | 3.3 |
| 60 | 3.6 |
| 75 | 4.5 |
| 90 | 5.0 |
| 100 | 6.0 |
Source: primary source for Richmond.
Printed table from a formula
Schedule C Table 1 prints the protection barrier radius for each listed trunk diameter. A barrier is required whenever work happens within 10 m of a protected trunk. The fence stands at least 1.2 m high.
| Trunk diameter (cm) | Distance (m) |
|---|---|
| 20 | 1.2 |
| 60 | 3.6 |
| 75 | 4.5 |
| 90 | 5.4 |
| 100 | 6.0 |
Every Table 1 row is six times the trunk diameter.
Source: primary source for Surrey.
Printed table
Schedule A of By-law 9958 prints the protection barrier distance for each listed trunk diameter. The owner installs a barrier for each retention tree before demolition, excavation or construction begins (s.7.5). For a neighbour's tree within two metres of the boundary, the barrier extends into the site by the greater of two metres or the distance an arborist or the Director of Planning sets (s.7.7). The Chief Building Official must inspect and approve each barrier before a demolition, excavation or construction permit (s.7.9).
| Trunk diameter (cm) | Distance (m) |
|---|---|
| 20 | 1.2 |
| 25 | 1.5 |
| 30 | 1.8 |
| 35 | 2.1 |
| 40 | 2.4 |
| 45 | 2.7 |
| 50 | 3.0 |
| 55 | 3.3 |
| 60 | 3.6 |
| 75 | 4.5 |
| 90 | 5.0 |
| 100 | 6.0 |
Source: primary source for Vancouver.
Printed table
Schedule A, Protection Zone Minimum Fence Distance, prints the fence distance for each listed trunk diameter. The fence stands 1.2 m high.
| Trunk diameter (cm) | Distance (m) |
|---|---|
| 20 | 1.2 |
| 25 | 1.5 |
| 30 | 2.1 |
| 35 | 2.4 |
| 40 | 2.7 |
| 50 | 3.0 |
| 55 | 3.3 |
| 60 | 3.6 |
| 75 | 4.5 |
| 90 | 5.4 |
| 100 | 6.0 |
Source: primary source for West Vancouver.
Formula or the dripline, whichever is greater
The CRZ and the TPZ are the same zone: a radius of DBH × 6, or 1 m beyond the dripline, whichever is greater. Schedule A sites the barrier by the same rule.
Source: primary source for White Rock.
Pick the municipality and enter the trunk diameter measured at the height that municipality sets. For a tree with several stems, enter every stem, separated by commas. The lookup combines them by the municipality's own rule and shows the legal diameter at breast height (DBH). Add the dripline radius if you have measured it, because several bylaws use the dripline when it is wider.
Where a municipality asks for an arborist report before demolition or construction, the barrier plan belongs in that report.
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