North York Tree Removal Permit: Rules, Fees & Arborist Reports

North York and Toronto’s Tree Bylaws

North York joined the City of Toronto through the 1998 amalgamation and has been under Toronto’s municipal bylaws ever since. Tree removal in North York is governed by the same Chapter 813 and Chapter 658 bylaws that apply across Toronto: the Private Tree Bylaw and, where properties fall within designated natural features, the Ravine and Natural Feature Protection bylaw. All applications go to Toronto’s Urban Forestry department. The North York Civic Centre at 5100 Yonge Street is a city office, but tree permit processing runs through Urban Forestry the same as any other Toronto address. Note that Toronto’s bylaw amendments effective September 1, 2026 add a Distinctive Tree category for trees over 61 cm DBH, and North York properties fall under the new rules automatically.

North York’s tree story is shaped largely by the Don River valley. The Don and its tributaries cut through the heart of the district, and a significant portion of North York’s residential neighbourhoods sit within or adjacent to the ravine system. For many North York homeowners, a tree removal that would be a routine Chapter 813 application in a flat part of Toronto turns into a more complex RNFP application because of their proximity to a valley.

The Don Valley and North York’s Ravine System

The Don River enters North York near the top of the watershed and flows southward through a network of tributaries that spread across the district. Key areas where RNFP designations concentrate include:

Hoggs Hollow and York Mills: a well-known ravine community in Toronto. Properties here are more likely than most in the city to carry RNFP designations. The low-lying land along the West Don River, with its mature flood-plain trees, receives close scrutiny from the city.

Bayview and Lawrence area: the Bayview corridor running north from Lawrence Avenue along the Don tributaries covers a stretch of established neighbourhoods where large mature trees are common and RNFP status is frequent.

Burke Brook corridor: the Burke Brook ravine runs through the Armour Heights and Avenue Road area, connecting to the North Toronto trail network. Properties near this corridor carry RNFP designations and fall into the same dual-bylaw situation as Hoggs Hollow.

Don Mills corridor: the Don River proper through the Don Mills area carries RNFP protections. Development activity in this part of North York regularly requires RNFP review alongside Chapter 813.

Outside the ravine system, established North York neighbourhoods including Willowdale, Lansing, Don Mills, Bayview Village, and Armour Heights contain some of the densest concentrations of mature street and yard trees in the city. These are predominantly Chapter 813 situations: trees over 30 cm DBH on flat private lots with no ravine proximity.

North York Centre and Redevelopment

The Yonge and Sheppard corridor, known as North York Centre, has seen substantial high-rise and mixed-use development over the past two decades. Construction projects in this area regularly require tree permits for trees on or near development sites. Trees that would not ordinarily attract attention can become the subject of detailed arborist reports and protection plans when a construction project is planned nearby. If you are purchasing or developing property near Yonge/Sheppard, tree permit obligations should be part of the due diligence process.

Chapter 813: Private Tree Bylaw

Chapter 813 applies across all of North York. Any tree with a trunk diameter of 30 cm or more, measured at 1.4 metres above ground (DBH), requires a permit before it can be removed or significantly damaged. This includes root cutting within the tree’s critical root zone, substantial pruning, and construction activity that would disturb the root zone.

The size threshold generally triggers the bylaw regardless of species or age.

Exemptions

The bylaw does not apply in a few specific circumstances:

• Trees posing an immediate hazard to people or property (document the situation and notify the city after the fact)
• Certain city-designated invasive species
• Fruit trees in active agricultural production

If an exemption seems to apply, confirm with the city before acting.

Chapter 658: Ravine and Natural Feature Protection

Chapter 658 covers properties within areas the city has mapped and designated as ravines, valleys, and natural features. In North York, this primarily means the Don River system and its tributaries. Within RNFP areas, trees of any size are protected. The 30 cm threshold from Chapter 813 does not apply. Even a small tree requires a permit if it is within a designated zone.

RNFP permits are required for removal, grading, filling, and any construction that could affect the natural feature. City staff typically conduct a site visit for RNFP applications and may ask for environmental impact information. The process is more intensive than a standard Chapter 813 application and generally takes longer.

Properties in the ravine system often need permits under both Chapter 813 and Chapter 658 at the same time. This is standard practice in North York’s ravine neighbourhoods and something an experienced arborist can help you work through.

How to Apply for a Tree Removal Permit

Step 1: Establish What Bylaws Apply

Measure the tree’s DBH to see if Chapter 813 applies. Check the city’s RNFP mapping tool to determine if your property is in a designated area. North York addresses work with the same City of Toronto online system as any other Toronto property.

Step 2: Hire an ISA Certified Arborist

Toronto requires an arborist report prepared by an ISA Certified Arborist as part of most applications. The report should document the tree’s species, size, condition, and the reason for removal. For construction-related removals, it should address how other trees on the property will be protected.

Step 3: Submit Through the City Portal

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

• Completed application form
• Arborist report from an ISA Certified Arborist
• Site plan with tree locations indicated
• 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)
• Photos of the tree

RNFP applications may require a landscape plan, slope stability information, or other environmental documentation depending on the property.

Step 4: Review and Decision

Urban Forestry reviews the application, which may include a site inspection. 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

Unauthorized removal of a protected tree in North York can result in fines from $500 to $100,000 per tree. The city investigates complaints, and in established North York neighbourhoods, neighbours do call. In RNFP areas, penalties can compound. Removing an unpermitted tree in a ravine zone can result in enforcement action under both Chapter 813 and Chapter 658.

Replanting Requirements

Approved permits require replanting at 1 tree per 10 cm of DBH removed. A 40 cm tree requires 4 replacements. Cash-in-lieu is available at $583 per tree when planting space is genuinely not available, but the city is applying this less liberally than in past years. If your property has any usable planting space, expect to plant.

Frequently Asked Questions

I live near the Don Valley in North York. Does the ravine bylaw apply to my property?

It depends on exactly where your property falls relative to the RNFP boundary. The Don Valley system has a wide RNFP footprint in North York, but the mapped boundary does not follow the valley edge uniformly. Properties directly backing onto the valley are almost always within RNFP territory. Properties one or two lots removed from the valley edge may or may not be, depending on the specific location. The city’s online RNFP mapping tool will give you a definitive answer for your address. If you are in a designated area, any tree removal requires an RNFP permit in addition to Chapter 813, and the process is more involved than a standard application.

Working with The Arborist Group

We work throughout North York, including properties along the Don Valley where dual-bylaw applications are common. Ravine applications require more documentation and more back-and-forth with city staff, and our reports are prepared with that in mind. If your North York property is near a valley system or you are managing a construction project that affects trees, contact us to discuss the permit requirements before work begins.