British Columbia
Burnaby Arborist Reports for Tree Removal Permits, BC
Burnaby sets its protection line by site and species, so the first question is which rule your lot falls under. Ask us about a report written to the Burnaby Tree Bylaw.
We confirm availability for your address before we quote. We do not offer emergency service.
The Burnaby permit, step by step
Burnaby Tree Bylaw No. 10482 has no single size trigger. What is happening on the lot decides the threshold and the fee.
Find the rule for your lot
On property with a current development application, one protected size applies. On other property, conifers and broadleaf trees each have their own size. Diameter is taken at 1.3 m, and a multi-stem tree sums its three largest stems. The sizes are listed by case in the size table in the city's card on the Metro Vancouver tree bylaws page.
Contact the Building Division
Start the application with the Building Division, Planning and Development, at the City of Burnaby.
Pay the fee for your application type
The fee depends on the application type: a fee per tree, up to a maximum, without a development application, and a higher scale with a development application. The amounts are listed by case in the fee tables in the city's card on the Metro Vancouver tree bylaws page.
Plan replacement and security
Under s.13(1), a small removed tree is replaced once, a mid-size tree twice, and a large tree three times. Security under s.7 is the greater of a minimum amount or 120% of the estimated replacement cost. The minimum is $1,500 (minimum security for tree replacement).
Burnaby permit fees and replanting
- Municipal permit fee
- Varies by case. See the fee tables in the city's card on the Metro Vancouver tree bylaws page
- Processing time
- Confirm with the City of Burnaby.
- Penalties
- Confirm with the City of Burnaby.
- Replanting
- Replacement under s.13(1) scales with the size of the removed tree: 1, 2 or 3 trees. Replacement conifers must be at least 2 m tall and broadleaf trees at least 5 cm in diameter. The security is $1,500 (minimum security for tree replacement). Cash-in-lieu is $1,500 per tree, paid to the Civic Tree Reserve Fund.
A permit is valid for 6 months (s.9).
How a BC report works
Send the address and the trees
Use the form or email us. Tell us the property address, which trees are involved and what the report is for.
We check the bylaw and confirm availability
We confirm which municipality's rules apply and whether we can take your file.
Site measurements and photos
We arrange the measurements and photos the report needs and tell you who attends when we confirm availability.
Your report
Sergiy Litvinov, ISA Certified Arborist, prepares and signs the report.
Current offer
Tree removal report: $250 $200 for up to 3 trees
Larger files get a custom quote.
Burnaby tree permit questions
Why does Burnaby have no single size threshold?
The bylaw ties protection to the lot and the species. A current development application sets one protected size for every tree. Otherwise a conifer and a broadleaf tree each have their own size. Every confirmed size is in the Burnaby card on the Metro Vancouver tree bylaws page.
Which Burnaby trees are protected at any size?
Covenanted, streamside, cemetery-district, landscaping-plan, replacement and retained trees are protected whatever their diameter.
What does Burnaby charge in cash-in-lieu?
Cash-in-lieu money goes to the Civic Tree Reserve Fund. The amount is $1,500 per tree.
Can you take my Burnaby file?
We confirm availability for your address before we quote.
What if the tree looks dangerous?
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.
Do you offer emergency service?
We do not offer emergency service.
More about Burnaby
Tree removal report pages for other municipalities:
Get a quote
Tell us about your property. An ISA Certified Arborist will reply with a firm quote.
- Free consultation, response within 24 hours.
- We confirm availability for your address before we quote.
- We do not sell tree removal.
ISA Certified Arborist · ISA Member