Brampton Tree Removal Permit: Rules, Fees & Arborist Reports

Brampton protects private trees 30 cm and larger

Brampton’s Tree Preservation By-law 317-2012 protects all private trees with a trunk diameter of 30 cm or more measured at breast height (1.37 metres above ground, the height By-law 317-2012 specifies). Toronto also uses 30 cm. Mississauga uses 15 cm and Burlington 20 cm inside its Urban Planning Area, excluding Halton woodland.

The Tree Preservation By-law

By-law 317-2012 prohibits the removal, destruction, or injuring of any protected tree on private property without a permit. “Injuring” includes damage to roots, trunk, or branches that could compromise the tree’s health or structural integrity.

What Counts as a Protected Tree

Any tree with a trunk diameter of 30 cm or more at breast height qualifies. To measure, wrap a tape around the trunk at 1.37 metres above ground (the height the bylaw specifies) and divide the circumference by 3.14. If the result is 30 cm or more, you need a permit.

Exemptions

The bylaw provides several exemptions where a permit is not required:

• Trees within 2 metres of an occupied building
• Hazardous trees as the bylaw defines them: destabilized, structurally compromised, or pest-infested trees that may cause damage or injury (a dead tree that is stable and poses no such risk does not qualify, so it needs a permit unless it is within 2 metres of an occupied building)
• Trees in a nursery or orchard, where growing trees for sale is the principal active business on the property
• Trees with a diameter under 30 cm
• Routine pruning that does not injure the tree
• Emergency work responding to an immediate threat
• Trees in rooftop gardens, interior courtyards, or solariums

Woodlot Conservation

Brampton has a separate Woodlot Conservation By-law (316-2012) that applies to woodlots of 0.2 hectares or more. Trees in a woodlot are exempt from the Tree Preservation By-law. The woodlot bylaw governs them instead. A woodlot permit application needs a silvicultural prescription from a forester and trees marked by a Certified Tree Marker.

How to Apply for a Tree Removal Permit

Step 1: Confirm the Tree Requires a Permit

Measure the trunk diameter at 1.37 metres above ground. If it is 30 cm or more, and no exemption applies (such as the 2-metre building proximity rule), you need a permit.

Step 2: Get an Arborist Report

Brampton requires an arborist report from a qualified professional as part of the permit application. The report should document the tree’s species, size, health, structural condition, and the reason for removal.

Step 3: Submit Your Application

File your application through the City of Brampton’s tree removal application portal. You will need:

• A completed tree removal application form
• An arborist report
• A site plan or survey showing tree locations
• The application fee (flat per application, Confirm with Brampton for the amount)
• Photos of the tree

Step 4: City Review

Brampton’s forestry staff review the application and arborist report. The City allows up to 30 business days to process an application. An issued permit is valid for one year and can be renewed once. For a boundary tree shared with a neighbour, both owners sign a single application.

Step 5: Replanting Conditions

Unlike municipalities with fixed replanting ratios, Brampton determines replanting requirements on a case-by-case basis. The Commissioner of Community Services sets the conditions based on the specific circumstances of each removal.

Fees

Brampton’s permit fee is a flat fee per application, regardless of how many trees are included. Confirm with Brampton for the amount. The fee is non-refundable regardless of whether the permit is approved or denied.

Penalties

Unauthorized removal of a protected tree in Brampton can result in fines of up to $100,000. For continuing offences, additional penalties of up to $10,000 per day apply. The city investigates complaints and can issue fines after the fact based on evidence including neighbour reports, aerial imagery, and site inspections.

Development and Construction

Developers need to submit a tree inventory and preservation plan. Trees that cannot be preserved require individual permits, and replanting plans are negotiated as conditions of approval.

Working with The Arborist Group

Brampton allows up to 30 business days to process an application, so start the report early if your project has a fixed date.