Arborist Report Toronto: Tree Permit Requirements & 2-Day Turnaround

Understanding Toronto’s Tree Protection

Toronto has the most complex tree regulation system in the Greater Toronto Area. Two separate bylaws govern tree removal depending on where your property is located, and in some cases both apply at once. Before you pick up a chainsaw or hire a tree service, you need to know which rules affect your property.

The city’s Urban Forestry department handles most applications, but properties in ravine or natural feature areas may also require approval from a different branch of city staff. Getting this wrong can result in fines from $500 to $100,000 per tree.

Chapter 813: Private Tree Bylaw

Toronto’s Municipal Code Chapter 813 protects all trees on private property with a trunk diameter of 30 cm or more, measured at 1.4 metres above ground (diameter at breast height, or DBH). This applies regardless of species, health, or condition. A dead tree still needs a permit before removal.

The bylaw covers removal, injuring (including root cutting and significant pruning), and destruction of protected trees. If construction activity will affect a tree’s root zone, you likely need a permit even if you are not planning to remove the tree.

Exemptions

A few situations do not require a permit under Chapter 813:

• Trees that are an immediate hazard to people or property (you may still need to document the emergency after the fact)
• Certain invasive species identified by the city
• Fruit trees in active agricultural production

Even if you believe an exemption applies, it is a good idea to confirm with the city before proceeding.

Chapter 658: Ravine and Natural Feature Protection

If your property falls within an area designated under Chapter 658, the Ravine and Natural Feature Protection (RNFP) bylaw, you face a second layer of regulation. RNFP areas include ravines, valleys, bluffs, and other natural features that the city has mapped and designated for protection.

Under RNFP, trees of ANY size are protected, and you need a permit for virtually any activity that could alter the natural landscape, including tree removal, grading, filling, and construction. The RNFP permit process is typically slower and more involved than a standard Chapter 813 application. City staff may conduct site visits and request environmental impact information.

Properties that fall in both Chapter 813 and Chapter 658 zones need permits under both bylaws. This is common along the Don Valley, Humber River corridor, Highland Creek, and the Scarborough Bluffs.

How to Apply for a Tree Removal Permit

Step 1: Determine if You Need a Permit

Check whether your tree is 30 cm or more in diameter at breast height. If yes, you need a permit. Then check the city’s RNFP mapping tool to see if your property is in a designated natural feature area.

Step 2: Hire an ISA Certified Arborist

Toronto requires an arborist report as part of most permit applications. The report must be prepared by an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist and should include the tree’s species, size, health condition, and the reason for removal. For construction-related applications, the report should also address how nearby trees will be protected during the work.

Step 3: Submit Your Application

Applications go to Toronto’s Urban Forestry department. You will need:

• A completed application form
• An arborist report
• A site plan showing tree locations
• The permit fee ($142.31 per tree for a standard residential removal not tied to construction; $425.75 per tree if the removal is part of a construction or development project)
• Photos of the tree

For RNFP applications, additional documentation including a landscape plan and environmental assessment may be required.

Step 4: Wait for Review

Urban Forestry staff review the application and may conduct a site visit. Standard processing time is 1 to 2 months (30 to 60 days), though RNFP applications can take longer. Applications can be submitted through the city’s online permit portal. The city may approve, deny, or approve with conditions (such as replanting requirements).

Fees and Processing

The permit fee is $142.31 per tree for a standard residential removal not tied to construction, and $425.75 per tree when the removal is part of a construction or development project, as of the City’s 2025 fee schedule; Toronto adjusts these fees annually. RNFP permits have separate fee schedules. Processing typically takes 1 to 2 months for straightforward applications, but complex cases or RNFP applications can take longer.

If a permit is denied, you can appeal the decision to Toronto’s Committee of Adjustment.

Penalties for Unauthorized Removal

Removing a protected tree without a permit in Toronto can result in fines from a minimum of $500 per tree up to $100,000 per tree. The city actively investigates complaints and has forestry bylaw enforcement officers. In addition to fines, the city can require you to plant replacement trees at your expense, often at a ratio significantly higher than what the original permit would have required.

Replanting Requirements

When a permit is approved, the city requires replacement plantings at a ratio of 1 tree per 10 cm of DBH removed. So a tree with a 40 cm diameter would require 4 replacement trees. If your property cannot accommodate replacement trees, the city may accept a cash-in-lieu payment at a rate of $583 per tree.

Toronto has become increasingly strict about accepting cash-in-lieu. The city prefers actual replanting and may deny cash-in-lieu requests if staff determine that planting space exists on the property.

Heritage Trees

Toronto does not maintain a formal heritage tree registry, but certain trees may receive additional protection through heritage designations on the property itself. Trees on properties designated under the Ontario Heritage Act may require additional approvals before removal.

Large, old, or historically significant trees often receive extra scrutiny during the permit review process, even without a formal heritage designation.

Working with The Arborist Group

We handle Toronto tree permit applications regularly and know what the city’s reviewers expect. Our reports are prepared to Toronto’s specific standards, which reduces the chance of requests for additional information and keeps the process moving. Contact us before you file to confirm your application package is complete.