Etobicoke Tree Removal Permit: Rules, Fees & Arborist Reports

Etobicoke and Toronto’s Tree Bylaws

Etobicoke became part of the City of Toronto with the 1998 amalgamation. Tree removal in Etobicoke is governed by the same City of Toronto bylaws that apply across the entire municipality: Chapter 813 (Private Tree Bylaw) and, for properties within designated natural features, Chapter 658 (Ravine and Natural Feature Protection). All permit applications go to Toronto’s Urban Forestry department, not to any local Etobicoke office. Toronto adopted new amendments effective September 1, 2026, including a Distinctive Tree category for trees over 61 cm DBH, and they apply in Etobicoke exactly as they do across the rest of the city.

Etobicoke is notable in the GTA context because the Humber River runs north-south through the district. A large share of Etobicoke’s most desirable residential neighbourhoods sit along or near the Humber valley, and the RNFP designations that follow the river make Etobicoke one of the parts of Toronto where dual-bylaw applications are most common. Dual-bylaw means a permit is needed under both Chapter 813 and Chapter 658 at the same time.

The Humber River and Mimico Creek Ravine System

Two waterways shape how tree permits work in Etobicoke:

The Humber River enters Etobicoke near Finch Avenue and flows south to Lake Ontario. The valley system is wide in some stretches and narrows in others, but the RNFP designation follows the river’s course throughout. Key neighbourhoods along the Humber with frequent RNFP implications include Humber Valley Village, Thorncrest Village, Edenbridge-Humber Valley, and Princess Anne Manor. Properties backing directly onto the valley are almost universally in RNFP territory. Lots on streets that run parallel to the valley may or may not be designated, depending on their exact location relative to the mapped boundary.

Mimico Creek flows through the southern part of Etobicoke, passing through areas near Islington Village and Mimico before reaching Lake Ontario. The creek’s ravine corridor has RNFP designations in several stretches. Properties near Mimico Creek should check the city’s mapping tool before assuming a straightforward Chapter 813 application is all that is required.

Outside these waterway corridors, Etobicoke has large-lot neighbourhoods including The Kingsway, Sunnylea, and the Islington-City Centre West area, where mature trees are common on private lots. These areas are generally Chapter 813 territory: trees over 30 cm DBH on private property, no ravine overlay.

Why Etobicoke Has More Dual-Permit Applications

The combination of the Humber River and the neighbourhood character of Etobicoke produces more dual-bylaw situations than most other parts of Toronto. Humber Valley Village and Thorncrest Village, in particular, have a concentration of older homes with large lots, mature trees, and river-facing rear yards. A homeowner removing a large tree near the back of a Humber-facing lot is working simultaneously with the Chapter 813 size threshold and the RNFP boundary. In these situations, permits under both bylaws are required, and the RNFP process adds a site visit and potentially more documentation to what would otherwise be a routine application.

Chapter 813: Private Tree Bylaw

Chapter 813 applies across all of Etobicoke. Trees on private property with a trunk diameter of 30 cm or more, measured at breast height (1.4 metres above ground), require a permit before removal. The bylaw also covers activities that injure or damage a protected tree, including root cutting, significant pruning, and construction work within a tree’s root zone.

Species does not change the ordinary threshold.

Exemptions

A permit is not required in these situations:

• Trees that are an immediate hazard to people or structures (document the emergency; notify the city after the fact)
• Certain invasive species designated by the city
• Fruit trees in active agricultural use

When uncertain, confirm with the city before proceeding.

Chapter 658: Ravine and Natural Feature Protection

Chapter 658 covers properties the city has mapped as ravines, valleys, and other natural features. Within RNFP areas, all trees regardless of size are protected. The 30 cm threshold from Chapter 813 does not apply. An RNFP permit is required for removal, grading, filling, and any construction that could affect the designated area.

RNFP applications are more involved than standard Chapter 813 filings. City staff will typically conduct a site visit. Depending on the site, additional documentation such as a slope stability assessment, landscape plan, or environmental impact summary may be required. Processing takes longer than routine Chapter 813 applications.

Along the Humber River in Etobicoke, properties within RNFP territory often need permits under both Chapter 813 and Chapter 658. The city generally reviews both applications together, but the requirements for the RNFP portion are more demanding.

How to Apply for a Tree Removal Permit

Step 1: Determine What Applies

Measure the tree’s DBH to determine if Chapter 813 applies. Use the city’s online RNFP mapping tool to check if your property is in a designated area. Etobicoke addresses use the same City of Toronto portal as any other Toronto property.

Step 2: Hire an ISA Certified Arborist

Toronto requires an arborist report from an ISA Certified Arborist for most permit applications. The report should document the tree’s species, size, health, and the reason for removal. If construction is involved, it should address the protection of other trees on and near the site.

Step 3: Submit Through the City Portal

Applications go to Toronto’s Urban Forestry department through the city’s online permit portal. Standard requirements include:

• Completed application form
• Arborist report from an ISA Certified Arborist
• Site plan showing the tree’s location and property boundaries
• Permit fee ($145.87 per tree for a standard residential removal not tied to construction; $436.39 per tree if the removal is part of a construction or development project)
• Photographs of the tree

RNFP applications may require a landscape plan, slope stability information, or other environmental documentation. Near the Humber valley, be prepared for city staff to request more than the minimum.

Step 4: Review and Outcome

Urban Forestry reviews the application and typically conducts a site inspection for RNFP files. Toronto does not publish a standard review time on its current application guidance. Timing varies with application completeness, inspection needs, construction impacts, and ravine review. The city will approve, deny, or approve with conditions. A denied application may be appealed to the applicable Community Council, whose decision is final.

Fees and Processing

Under Chapter 813, the permit fee is $145.87 per tree for a standard residential removal not tied to construction, and $436.39 per tree where the removal is part of a construction or development project, as of the City’s 2026 fee schedule. Toronto adjusts these fees annually. RNFP applications carry separate fees. Review time varies with the application and the site.

Penalties for Unauthorized Removal

Removing a protected tree in Etobicoke without a permit can result in fines from $500 to $100,000 per tree. In RNFP areas, the city may pursue enforcement under both Chapter 813 and Chapter 658. The fines from both bylaws can apply to the same removal. The city investigates complaints in Etobicoke as it does everywhere in Toronto.

Replanting Requirements

Approved removals require replacement planting at 1 tree per 10 cm of DBH removed. A 60 cm tree would require 6 replacements. Cash-in-lieu at $583 per tree is available when planting space genuinely does not exist, but the city is stricter about granting this than it used to be. In Etobicoke’s larger-lot neighbourhoods, expect to plant.

Frequently Asked Questions

My Etobicoke property backs onto the Humber River. What permits do I need to remove a tree near the back of my lot?

If your property is within the RNFP-mapped area and the tree is 30 cm or larger, you need permits under both Chapter 813 and Chapter 658. If the tree is smaller but still within the RNFP zone, you need a Chapter 658 permit only. The Humber River valley has RNFP designations along most of its Etobicoke stretch, so properties backing onto the valley are likely in RNFP territory. The RNFP application requires an arborist report, may involve a city site inspection, and may require a landscape plan or slope assessment depending on the location. Processing takes longer than a standard Chapter 813 application. Given that Humber valley properties frequently face dual-bylaw applications, it is worth engaging an arborist before starting the process to make sure the submission is complete.

Working with The Arborist Group

Etobicoke accounts for a meaningful portion of our dual-bylaw work. Humber valley properties and their combination of Chapter 813 and RNFP requirements are something we handle regularly. We know what the city’s reviewers expect for ravine applications near the Humber and Mimico Creek, and our reports reflect that. If your property is near the river, or if you have a tree removal that touches any part of the Etobicoke ravine system, contact us before filing to avoid an incomplete application.