Most GTA homeowners assume a permit is only required for large or heritage trees. The actual threshold is lower than that, and the rules shift depending on which municipality your property sits in. Getting this wrong before you call a tree service can cost you far more than the permit itself.
The 30 cm Rule Is Not Universal
Toronto, Brampton, and several other GTA municipalities protect any tree on private property with a trunk diameter of 30 cm or more at breast height (measured at 1.4 metres above ground). That measurement is a diameter, not a circumference. To check it, wrap a flexible tape around the trunk at the right height and divide by 3.14.
Mississauga’s threshold drops to 15 cm. Burlington sits at 20 cm. Those differences mean a tree that would be exempt in Toronto may require a permit two kilometres away in Mississauga. If you are not certain which municipality your property falls under, check your property tax bill or the relevant city’s website before assuming.
Toronto Has Two Overlapping Bylaws
Toronto is the most layered case in the region. Chapter 813 of the Municipal Code covers private trees at 30 cm diameter and above, regardless of species or condition. A dead tree still needs a permit before removal.
Properties in designated ravine and natural feature areas fall under a second bylaw, Chapter 658 (the Ravine and Natural Feature Protection bylaw). Under Chapter 658, trees of any size are protected, and permits are required for removal, grading, filling, or any construction that could alter the area. Properties along the Don Valley, Humber River corridor, and Highland Creek frequently fall under both bylaws at once.
If your property sits in both zones, you need approval under both. The RNFP process is typically slower and more documentation-intensive than a standard Chapter 813 application.
What the Permit Application Requires
Across the GTA, a permit application for tree removal on private property generally requires:
- A completed application form (city-specific)
- An arborist report prepared by an ISA Certified Arborist
- A site plan showing the location of the tree relative to structures and property lines
- Photographs of the tree
- The applicable permit fee
In Toronto, the fee is $137.50 per tree. Brampton charges $150 for the first tree plus $50 for each additional tree, capped at $400 per application. Processing typically takes 30 to 60 business days, though complex applications, RNFP submissions, and peak season volumes can push that longer.
The arborist report is the document that carries the most weight. It needs to cover the tree’s species, trunk diameter, health condition, structural integrity, and the reason the removal is being requested. A report that skips any of these points will generate a request for additional information from city staff, which restarts the clock.
Replanting Is Part of the Approval
Approval does not mean removal without conditions. Toronto requires replacement planting at a ratio of one tree for every 10 cm of diameter removed. A 40 cm tree requires four replacement plantings. If your property cannot accommodate that many trees, the city may accept cash-in-lieu at $583 per tree, though city reviewers have become more reluctant to approve cash-in-lieu when planting space exists.
Brampton takes a different approach: replanting conditions are set case-by-case by the Commissioner of Community Services, so the obligation can vary significantly between applications.
Penalties for Unauthorized Removal
Removing a protected tree without a permit carries real consequences. Toronto’s fines range from $500 to $100,000 per tree. Brampton’s maximum fine is $100,000 per tree, with continuing offences adding up to $10,000 per day. These are not theoretical numbers. City bylaw enforcement staff investigate complaints, review aerial imagery, and conduct site visits after the fact.
Beyond fines, the city can require you to plant replacement trees at a ratio higher than what the standard permit process would have required. The penalty replanting requirement is typically more onerous than the permit condition would have been.
Construction Projects Face Additional Requirements
If tree removal is part of a construction or development project, the permit process runs through site plan approval rather than a standalone tree removal application. Developers need to submit a tree inventory and preservation plan as part of the site plan package.
Trees that cannot be preserved in place still require individual removal permits. The preservation plan must address how retained trees will be protected during construction, including root zone protection and construction exclusion zones. For construction projects near trees, an arborist report addressing construction impact is typically required alongside the removal permit application.
When an Exemption Applies
Most bylaws include exemptions for trees that are dead, diseased, or pose an immediate safety hazard. Brampton also exempts trees within two metres of an occupied building. However, “immediate hazard” is interpreted narrowly. A tree that leans toward a fence does not automatically qualify. Documentation from a certified arborist identifying the hazard before removal is the only reliable way to establish that an exemption applies, particularly if a neighbour files a complaint after the fact.
Getting the Report Right the First Time
The arborist report is the piece most likely to cause delays when it is incomplete or prepared to a different municipality’s standards. Toronto’s reviewers have specific expectations around documentation format and the level of detail required for different types of applications. A report prepared for a simple backyard removal differs from one supporting a construction impact assessment.
If you are working on a permit application in Toronto, Brampton, or anywhere else in the GTA, our team prepares reports to the specific standards each municipality expects. See our tree removal reports page for details on how we approach the process, or contact us to discuss your specific situation.