GTA Tree Permit Guide
GTA Tree Permit Requirements
by Municipality
Permit requirements vary significantly across the Greater Toronto Area and the townships ringing it. A tree that needs no permit in one municipality may require a full arborist report and a 45-day review in the next. This guide covers the verified rules for 36 municipalities, sourced directly from official bylaw text and municipal websites.
Quick Reference
Minimum diameter at breast height (DBH), measured at 1.37-1.4 m above ground unless otherwise noted.
Every bylaw number, fee, and threshold here is checked directly against the municipality's own bylaw text, fee schedule, or official website, never a third-party summary. Each row links to its primary source and shows the date we last confirmed it. A municipality with a bylaw or fee change actively moving through council carries a watch note below, and its entry gets rechecked once that change lands. Where a detail could not be confirmed anywhere in the source material, the cell says so instead of guessing.
| Municipality | Min. DBH | Dead Trees | Permit Timeline | Official Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aurora | 20 cm | Contact the Town | Not published | Official page →Verified 2026-07-24 |
| Brampton | 30 cm | Dead or hazardous trees with documentation | ~30 business days | Official page →Verified 2026-07-24 |
| Burlington | 20 cm | Dead, terminal-condition, or high-risk trees (permit still required; application fee waived) | Contact city for timeline | Official page →Verified 2026-07-24 |
| Caledon | 30cm DBH | Trees with no living tissue or 70%+ dead crown | Contact the Town for current timelines | Official page →Verified 2026-07-24 |
| East Gwillimbury | 20cm DBH | Dead, dying, or hazardous trees | Not publicly published by the Town; permits are valid for 1 year from issuance | Official page →Verified 2026-05-08 |
| Hamilton | No uniform threshold. Some mapped or designated areas use 10 cm, 15 cm, 20 cm, 30 cm, or 45 cm triggers. Woodland rules depend on woodland size and density. | Check with city | Varies by area | Official page →Verified 2026-07-28 |
| Markham | 20 cm | A permit is still required for dead, dying, and hazardous trees; replacement planting or cash-in-lieu does not apply when the permit classifies the tree in one of those categories | 45 days | Official page →Verified 2026-07-18 |
| Mississauga | 15 cm | Dead or dying trees (no permit fee) | 30 business days | Official page →Verified 2026-07-24 |
| Newmarket | 20cm DBH | Dead or dying trees (permit still required, no arborist report needed) | Not publicly published by the Town; confirm current timelines with Planning & Building Services | Official page →Verified 2026-06-10 |
| Oakville | 15 cm DBH | Dead trees (no fee) | Inspector contacts within 5 business days | Official page →Verified 2026-07-24 |
| Pickering | 2.5 cm DBH | Dead or dangerous trees with certified arborist report (permit fee waived, permit still required) | Contact the City for current timelines | Official page →Verified 2026-07-24 |
| Richmond Hill | 15 cm | Dead, dying, and hazardous trees use an Exemption Permit with category-specific evidence | No published standard timeline | Official page →Verified 2026-07-18 |
| Toronto | 30 cm | Trees confirmed 100 percent dead by the City, once the permit exception confirmation is received (unless emergency work is needed first) | Varies; no standard time published | Official page →Verified 2026-07-24 |
| Vaughan | 20 cm | Dead, Hazardous, or Emerald Ash Borer-infected trees: a Tree Removal Permit is still required, but the arborist report is not required for this permit type | Initial response within 30 business days | Official page →Verified 2026-08-09 |
| Whitchurch-Stouffville | 30cm DSH (settlement areas only) | Check with city | Tied to the timeline of the underlying Planning Act application; not separately published | Official page →Verified 2026-05-08 |
Data sourced from official municipal websites and bylaw text. "Check with city" indicates the information was not available in official source material at time of publication.
City-by-City Details
Aurora
York Region
- Minimum DBH
- 20 cm
- Dead Trees
- Contact the Town
- Permit Timeline
- Not published
- Regional Overlay
- York Region Forest Conservation Bylaw: Woodlands of 1 hectare or more, or woodlots of 0.2 to 1 hectare with qualifying tree density. Does not apply within Aurora, since the town already regulates smaller treed areas under its own bylaw.
Aurora is the only municipality in this group with its own private-tree bylaw. A permit is needed to remove a tree over 20 cm in diameter at 1.4 metres above ground, though an owner can remove up to two qualifying trees every 12 months without one. Heritage-designated trees and trees inside a heritage conservation district need a permit regardless of size.
Sources: Town of Aurora, Trees, York Region tree cutting permits, LSRCA regulated-area map
Brampton
City of Brampton
- Minimum DBH
- 30 cm
- Dead Trees
- Dead or hazardous trees with documentation
- Permit Timeline
- ~30 business days
- Regional Overlay
- Woodlots 0.2ha+ are separately protected under Woodlot Conservation By-law 402-2005. Heart Lake Conservation Area and adjacent lands have additional protections
A separate Woodlot Conservation By-law applies to properties containing 50 or more trees over 20 cm DBH per 0.2 hectare.
Burlington
City of Burlington
- Minimum DBH
- 20 cm
- Dead Trees
- Dead, terminal-condition, or high-risk trees (permit still required; application fee waived)
- Permit Timeline
- Contact city for timeline
- Regional Overlay
- Niagara Escarpment plan area has separate regulations. Trees 75 cm+ are classified as 'significant' and receive additional scrutiny
Heritage trees and species at risk may require additional approvals beyond the standard permit. The bylaw applies within the City's Urban Planning Area Boundary.
Caledon
Town of Caledon
- Minimum DBH
- 30cm DBH
- Dead Trees
- Trees with no living tissue or 70%+ dead crown
- Permit Timeline
- Contact the Town for current timelines
- Regional Overlay
- Trees in the Niagara Escarpment Plan area may require additional Niagara Escarpment Commission approval; woodlands regulated separately under By-law 2000-100
East Gwillimbury
York Region
- Minimum DBH
- 20cm DBH
- Dead Trees
- Dead, dying, or hazardous trees
- Permit Timeline
- Not publicly published by the Town; permits are valid for 1 year from issuance
- Regional Overlay
- Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority (LSRCA) review required in regulated areas and on the Oak Ridges Moraine; York Region Forest Conservation By-law applies to woodlands over 1.0 hectare and woodlots 0.2 to 1.0 hectare
Hamilton
City of Hamilton
- Minimum DBH
- No uniform threshold. Some mapped or designated areas use 10 cm, 15 cm, 20 cm, 30 cm, or 45 cm triggers. Woodland rules depend on woodland size and density.
- Dead Trees
- Check with city
- Permit Timeline
- Varies by area
- Regional Overlay
- Niagara Escarpment plan area, Conservation Authority lands, Heritage Trees in Ancaster, Urban Woodlands 0.2ha+
Hamilton has no single private-tree threshold. Legacy rules in Ancaster, Dundas, and Stoney Creek apply only to specified trees, mapped lots, designated land, or qualifying woodlands. Other city-wide and mapped rules can overlap anywhere in Hamilton. The City continued consultation on a proposed harmonized bylaw in 2026. It is not used by this screening unless and until Council enacts it.
Markham
City of Markham
- Minimum DBH
- 20 cm
- Dead Trees
- A permit is still required for dead, dying, and hazardous trees; replacement planting or cash-in-lieu does not apply when the permit classifies the tree in one of those categories
- Permit Timeline
- 45 days
- Regional Overlay
- Heritage conservation districts and environmentally significant areas may have additional tree-related requirements through the planning process
Markham's threshold is 20 cm DBH. The non-refundable processing fee is $20.50, due within 24 hours of the billing email. Permits generally take 45 days from payment received. The 2026 tariff separately lists $203.50 for the first removed tree and $102 for each additional tree. A Qualified Tree Expert report may be required.
Mississauga
City of Mississauga
- Minimum DBH
- 15 cm
- Dead Trees
- Dead or dying trees (no permit fee)
- Permit Timeline
- 30 business days
- Regional Overlay
- Environmentally Significant Areas (ESAs) and woodlots have additional protections under the city's Official Plan
One replacement tree required for every 15 cm of diameter removed. Ornamental trees such as Japanese maples, cedars, and junipers are not accepted as replacement plantings.
Newmarket
York Region
- Minimum DBH
- 20cm DBH
- Dead Trees
- Dead or dying trees (permit still required, no arborist report needed)
- Permit Timeline
- Not publicly published by the Town; confirm current timelines with Planning & Building Services
- Regional Overlay
- Significant and Heritage Trees cannot be removed under any permit type regardless of size; York Region Forest Conservation By-law applies to woodlands over 1.0 hectare; Woodlot By-law 2007-71 applies to woodlots 0.2 to 1.0 hectare
Oakville
Town of Oakville
- Minimum DBH
- 15 cm DBH
- Dead Trees
- Dead trees (no fee)
- Permit Timeline
- Inspector contacts within 5 business days
- Regional Overlay
- Heritage trees, Bronte Creek and Sixteen Mile Creek corridors, and lakefront properties may have additional environmental protections
Permit fee is $65 for the first tree (15-24 cm DBH) and $425 for each additional tree or any tree over 24 cm DBH. One replacement tree required per 10 cm of removed tree's DBH.
Pickering
City of Pickering
- Minimum DBH
- 2.5 cm DBH
- Dead Trees
- Dead or dangerous trees with certified arborist report (permit fee waived, permit still required)
- Permit Timeline
- Contact the City for current timelines
- Regional Overlay
- Environmentally sensitive areas including significant woodlands, watercourses, and adjacent green spaces covering approximately 38% of the city
Richmond Hill
City of Richmond Hill
- Minimum DBH
- 15 cm
- Dead Trees
- Dead, dying, and hazardous trees use an Exemption Permit with category-specific evidence
- Permit Timeline
- No published standard timeline
- Regional Overlay
- Oak Ridges Moraine and other natural heritage areas can trigger additional planning requirements
The threshold was reduced from 20 cm to 15 cm DBH when By-law 19-25 came into effect. The non-refundable application fee is $314 + HST for the first tree and $109 + HST for each additional tree, to a maximum of $859 + HST. Active Plan of Subdivision or Site Plan applications do not require a separate Tree Permit.
Toronto
City of Toronto
- Minimum DBH
- 30 cm
- Dead Trees
- Trees confirmed 100 percent dead by the City, once the permit exception confirmation is received (unless emergency work is needed first)
- Permit Timeline
- Varies; no standard time published
- Regional Overlay
- Ravine and Natural Feature Protection (RNFP) areas under Chapter 658 protect trees of ANY size in ravine areas and may involve site inspections by city staff
Trees on City streets and in ravines are protected regardless of size. The ordinary private-tree threshold remains 30 cm. Council endorsed studying a possible 20 cm threshold, with a report due in 2027. Toronto does not publish a standard review time. A denied application may be appealed to Community Council.
Vaughan
City of Vaughan
- Minimum DBH
- 20 cm
- Dead Trees
- Dead, Hazardous, or Emerald Ash Borer-infected trees: a Tree Removal Permit is still required, but the arborist report is not required for this permit type
- Permit Timeline
- Initial response within 30 business days
- Regional Overlay
- Woodlot and ravine edge properties have additional protections under separate regulations
An arborist report is required when applying to remove a private tree. Permits must be posted on the lot during removal. Non-public trees need a permit at 20 cm Diameter, measured at 1.37 metres above ground; Base Diameter applies only when a tree was already cut below 1.37 metres. Multi-stem Diameter is the square root of the sum of the diameters of the three largest stems squared. Public trees are protected regardless of size. Residential permits cost $270 for the first tree and $153.25 for each additional tree; construction or infill permits cost $360.50 for the first tree and $178.27 for each additional tree. The published 30 business days is the standard for an initial response, not a final permit decision. Dead, Hazardous, or Emerald Ash Borer permits do not require an arborist report, but a Tree Removal Permit is still required.
Whitchurch-Stouffville
York Region
- Minimum DBH
- 30cm DSH (settlement areas only)
- Dead Trees
- Check with city
- Permit Timeline
- Tied to the timeline of the underlying Planning Act application; not separately published
- Regional Overlay
- By-law 2023-060-RE applies only within Stouffville, Gormley, Vandorf-Preston Lake, Ballantrae-Musselman Lake, and the Hamlet of Bloomington; Heritage Trees under the Ontario Heritage Act cannot be removed or relocated under any circumstances
Why Each City Has Its Own Rules
Municipal tree protection in Ontario is governed by the Municipal Act and the Conservation Authorities Act, which give each municipality the authority to pass its own tree bylaw. There is no single provincial standard. That same Act's section 429 caps general by-law fines at $100,000, which is why Toronto's own tree bylaw cites it directly for a $500 to $100,000 per-tree penalty range.
Cities set their own DBH thresholds based on local canopy cover targets, political priorities, and staff capacity to process permits. A municipality with a well-staffed urban forestry department can handle more applications and may lower its threshold to protect smaller trees. A city that has historically had lower canopy cover may have less developed permit infrastructure.
The result: a 20 cm tree on one side of a city boundary requires a full permit with an arborist report, while the same tree on the other side needs nothing. Move further out, past Toronto, Peel, York, and Durham, and most townships have no private tree bylaw at all. If your property is near a municipal boundary, always confirm which bylaw applies.
The dead tree column above is one example of this variation in practice. Some cities drop the permit requirement entirely, some just waive the fee, and each one wants different documentation before agreeing the tree qualifies. See our dead tree permit comparison for the full breakdown.
Municipalities With No Blanket Private Tree Bylaw
A large ring of GTA and GTA-adjacent municipalities either has no bylaw covering an ordinary residential tree, or only requires a permit once a property crosses a specific zoning or lot-size trigger. Even where no bylaw applies to an ordinary yard tree, that does not mean every tree on every lot is unregulated: where a property crosses a woodland size threshold, sits in a protected zone, or falls under a conservation authority's jurisdiction near a ravine, wetland, or shoreline, separate rules can still apply regardless of what the local tree bylaw says.
No Local Permit for an Ordinary Yard Tree
| Municipality | What the local bylaw actually covers | Regional or county rule that still applies | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adjala-Tosorontio | No township bylaw covers an ordinary tree on a private lot.+The township's own by-law list has no tree protection or removal by-law. The only rule reaching private land is Simcoe County's Forest Conservation By-law, and it only applies once a wooded property reaches 1 hectare (2.47 acres). | Simcoe County Forest Conservation By-law: Privately owned forest or woodland of 1 hectare (2.47 acres) or more. Cutting needed to erect an approved building is not restricted, and an owner can still cut wood for personal use if the land remains a woodland. | 2026-07-24Township of Adjala-Tosorontio by-laws, Simcoe County Forest Conservation By-law, NVCA regulated-area map |
| Bradford West Gwillimbury | No town bylaw restricts tree removal on an ordinary residential lot.+The town's 2019 Tree Canopy and Natural Vegetation Protection Policy names a private tree cutting by-law only as a future option worth studying after public consultation, not a rule in force. A 2024 resident survey shows that consultation was still underway, and nothing has since been enacted. | Simcoe County Forest Conservation By-law: Properties of 1 hectare (2.47 acres) or more. Does not apply to typical residential lots or stop an owner from cutting wood on their own property for personal use. | 2026-07-24Tree Canopy and Natural Vegetation Protection Policy, Town of BWG, Private Tree Protection, NVCA regulated-area map |
| Brock | No township bylaw covers tree removal on an ordinary residential lot.+Brock's own by-laws cover property standards, fill and site alteration, and fencing. None of them touch tree cutting. Durham Region's Woodland Conservation By-law 30-2020 is the only overlay, and it applies solely to woodlands of 1 hectare (2.5 acres) or more, an area far larger than a typical yard. | Durham Region Woodland Conservation By-law 30-2020: Woodlands of 1 hectare (2.5 acres) or more anywhere in Durham Region. Woodlands under that size are left to the local municipality, and Brock has no equivalent by-law of its own. | 2026-07-24Township of Brock by-laws and policies, Region of Durham Woodland By-law, Kawartha Conservation property mapping tool |
| Erin | No town bylaw restricts tree removal on an ordinary residential lot.+Erin's own Tree Protection Policy, approved in January 2026, applies only to trees on town-owned land and to development applications under the Planning Act. It does not reach an ordinary homeowner cutting a tree in their own yard. The County of Wellington's woodlands by-law is the only rule with real teeth, and it only applies once a wooded property reaches 1 hectare (2.47 acres) with a minimum tree density. | County of Wellington By-law No. 5115-09: Woodlands of 1 hectare (2.47 acres) or more measured to the drip line, with a minimum stocking density. An annual allowance of up to 20 trees or 15 cubic metres of wood is exempt even within a qualifying woodland. | 2026-07-24Town of Erin Tree Protection Policy, Wellington County forestry permits, Credit Valley Conservation regulation map |
| Grimsby | By-law 24-37 covers town-owned trees only. Private trees are unregulated.+Grimsby's By-law 24-37 is titled the Public Tree By-law for a reason. Section 1.2 applies it to trees growing on public property, and section 1.6 states plainly that private trees are the owner's sole responsibility. Niagara Region's Woodland Conservation By-law 2020-79 is the only overlay, and it applies only to woodlands of 1 hectare or more. | Niagara Region Woodland Conservation By-law 2020-79: Woodlands of 1 hectare or more. Ordinary yard trees fall well outside this threshold. | 2026-07-24Town of Grimsby By-law 24-37 (Public Tree By-law), Niagara Region Woodland Conservation By-law |
| King Township | No private tree bylaw; woodlots (0.2-1 ha) and woodlands (1+ ha) with qualifying tree density regulated under York Region Forest Conservation By-law | Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan area adds further restrictions on development and tree removal; Conservation Authority regulated areas along watercourses | 2026-07-24 |
| Milton | No private tree bylaw for individual trees. Halton Region woodlots 0.5 ha+ (more than 500 trees/ha, over 12 cm DBH) regulated under By-law 121-05. Development site plans require trees 15 cm DBH and larger to be inventoried. | Halton Region woodlots under By-law 121-05; Conservation Halton regulated watercourse and floodplain areas | 2026-06-19 |
| New Tecumseth | No private tree bylaw; the town says so directly on its own site.+The town's own FAQ states outright that "New Tecumseth does not have a Private Tree By-law." Its Tree By-law 2022-063 only protects town-owned trees, designated Significant or Heritage trees, and a tree of 20 cm DBH or more tied to an active development application. An ordinary backyard tree removed with no development underway faces no permit or fee. | County of Simcoe Forest Conservation By-law: Properties of 1 hectare (2.47 acres) or more that qualify as woodland. | 2026-07-24Town of New Tecumseth, Trees and Urban Forest, By-law 2022-063 (Tree By-law), NVCA regulated-area map |
| Orangeville | No private tree bylaw is in force. One has been in consultation since 2023.+Orangeville's only tree document, the 2020 Municipal Tree Canopy Policy, is aspirational: it encourages residents to protect private trees without requiring it. Council directed staff in May 2023 to draft a private tree preservation bylaw, and as of the most recent reporting found, in December 2025, that bylaw was still in public consultation with no thresholds or fees set. Dufferin County has rescinded its own tree conservation bylaw and does not regulate cutting on private land, per the recitals of neighboring Mono's Tree Bylaw 2014-47 (not independently confirmed on the county's own site). | None verified. | 2026-07-24Town of Orangeville, Urban Forestry, Orangeville Citizen, bylaw consultation coverage, Town of Mono Tree Bylaw 2014-47 (cites the Dufferin County rescission in its recitals), Credit Valley Conservation regulation map |
| Oshawa | No private tree bylaw. Durham Region Woodland By-law 30-2020 regulates woodlands of 1 hectare or more. | Durham Region Woodland By-law 30-2020 woodlands of 1 hectare or more; conservation authority regulated areas near ravines and watercourses | 2026-07-24 |
| Scugog | No township bylaw covers tree removal on an ordinary residential lot.+Scugog's own by-law index lists a site alteration by-law, a property standards by-law, and a design criteria by-law, with nothing for trees. Durham Region's Woodland By-law names Scugog as a covered municipality, but it only applies to woodlands of 1 hectare or more, and it exempts tree removal within 15 metres of a building for which a building permit was issued. | Durham Region Woodland By-law (030-2020, formerly 31-2012): Woodlands of 1 hectare or more with a minimum tree density. | 2026-07-24Township of Scugog by-laws, Region of Durham Woodland By-law, Kawartha Conservation property mapping tool |
| York Region | Woodlands 1+ ha or woodlots 0.2-1 ha with qualifying tree density; no per-tree permit for individual trees outside woodland areas | Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan, Regional Natural Heritage System (valleylands, wetlands, ANSI, river corridors), York Regional Forest Conservation Areas | 2026-07-24 |
Permits That Depend on Zoning or Lot Size
Whitby, Ajax, Clarington, and the six municipalities below each stop short of a blanket bylaw but still require a permit once a property meets a specific size or zoning trigger. A homeowner on a small standard lot is usually exempt, but the exemption has edges worth checking before cutting anything down.
| Municipality | When a permit is required | Regional or county rule that still applies | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ajax | Zone-based permit: required in parks, Greenbelt land, Environmental Protection land, and certain open-space zones. Single-dwelling lots under 1.2 hectares are exempt unless zoned Private Open Space. | Durham Region Woodland By-law 30-2020 also applies for woodlands 1 hectare or more, on top of Ajax's own zone and lot-size triggers | 2026-07-24 |
| Barrie | Private Tree By-law 2014-115 covers woodlots only, not an ordinary yard tree.+The city's own guidance is direct: a typical residential lot does not need a tree removal permit unless the removal is tied to a development application. The bylaw only reaches trees inside a woodlot, defined as 0.2 hectares (0.5 acres) or more at a minimum tree density. Council's April 2023 vote on the bylaw adopted a $57,500-per-hectare ecological offsetting fee for woodland removal once a permit is required. | None verified. | 2026-07-24City of Barrie Private Tree By-law, BarrieToday, council's April 2023 fee vote, NVCA regulated-area map |
| Clarington | Zone-based permit: required for woodlots of 0.2 hectares or more, Environmental Protection-designated lands, and trees within 120 metres of a mapped wetland. No permit needed for an ordinary tree on a standard lot outside those areas. | Durham Region Woodland By-law 30-2020 also applies for woodlands 1 hectare or more, on top of Clarington's own woodlot and wetland-buffer triggers | 2026-07-24 |
| Georgina | No town bylaw; York Region's Forest Conservation Bylaw applies over 0.2 hectares.+Georgina's 2025 Tree Preservation and Compensation Policy update states directly that "the Town is not implementing a tree-cutting bylaw at this point." A homeowner removing a tree from an ordinary yard needs no municipal permit. York Region's Forest Conservation Bylaw is the only trigger, and it only requires a permit once the treed area being cleared exceeds 0.2 hectares (0.5 acres) in a single contiguous stand. | York Region Forest Conservation Bylaw: Treed areas over 0.2 hectares (0.5 acres) in a single contiguous stand. A single tree or a small residential cluster below that area needs no regional permit. | 2026-07-24Town of Georgina, Tree Preservation, Georgina Tree Preservation and Compensation Policy Update, LSRCA regulated-area map |
| Halton Hills | No town bylaw; Halton Region's Tree By-law 121-05 applies over 0.5 hectares.+Halton Hills has never enacted a private tree bylaw of its own. The only rule that can reach a private lot is the regional overlay, Halton Region's Tree By-law 121-05, triggered only where a property contains a woodland larger than 0.5 hectares (1.1 acres) or land inside the Regional Greenlands system. Up to 24 cubic metres of wood per year can still be harvested for personal use without a permit even inside a qualifying woodland. | Halton Region Tree By-law 121-05: A woodland larger than 0.5 hectares (1.1 acres), or land within the Regional Greenlands or Natural Heritage System. | 2026-07-24Halton Region Tree By-law, Town of Halton Hills by-laws, Conservation Halton regulated-area map |
| Innisfil | No permit on an ordinary inland lot; shoreline lots need a Community Planning Permit.+An ordinary residential lot away from the water needs no tree removal permit under Innisfil's rules. The Community Planning Permit System, By-law 058-25, changes that only for the Shoreline Residential Precinct: a property there needs a Class 2 permit ($3,182.70 in 2026) to remove regulated vegetation within the 30 metre waterfront buffer, or elsewhere on the lot within 120 metres of a provincially significant wetland, natural heritage area, or slope over 30 percent. Dead, dying, and hazard trees are exempt, as is reasonable pruning. The County of Simcoe's Forest Conservation By-law still applies on top of this for any woodland of 1 hectare or more. | County of Simcoe Forest Conservation By-law: Woodlands of 1 hectare (2.47 acres) or more. | 2026-07-24Innisfil Community Planning Permit By-law 058-25, Innisfil CPPS timeline, LSRCA regulated-area map |
| Mono | Tree Bylaw 2014-47 covers 0.5 hectare woodlots and any Greenlands designation.+Mono's Tree Bylaw 2014-47 requires a permit to destroy or injure a tree in a woodlot of 0.5 hectares or larger, and separately in any land the town's Official Plan designates as Greenlands, an Environmental Protection, Escarpment Natural Area, or Greenbelt Natural Area, regardless of the woodlot's size. A single yard tree inside one of those designations is covered even on an ordinary lot. By-law 2025-42 reset the fees effective January 1, 2026: a Harvesting Permit now costs $1,000 and a Special Council Permit $2,000. | None verified. | 2026-07-24Town of Mono Tree Bylaw 2014-47, By-law 2025-42, fee amendment, Credit Valley Conservation regulation map |
| Uxbridge | No township bylaw; Durham Region's Tree By-law applies over 1 hectare.+Uxbridge's own by-law page states that tree regulation is handled at the regional level, not the township level. The Region of Durham's Tree By-law No. 27-2008 only reaches a property that qualifies as a Woodland, defined by a minimum tree density across at least 1 hectare. An ordinary suburban yard tree falls well short of that threshold, and even inside a qualifying woodland, removal within 15 metres of a permitted building is exempt. | Regional Municipality of Durham Tree By-law No. 27-2008: A Woodland of 1 hectare or more meeting a minimum tree density. | 2026-07-24Township of Uxbridge regulatory by-laws, Regional Municipality of Durham Tree By-law No. 27-2008 |
| Whitby | Zone-based permit: required for woodlots of 0.2 to 1.0 hectares, land zoned Environmental Protection, Conservation, Greenbelt, or Oak Ridges Moraine, mature woodlands and Environmentally Significant Areas, residential lots of 2.02 hectares or more, and heritage districts. No permit needed for an ordinary tree on a standard residential lot outside those categories. | Durham Region Woodland By-law 30-2020 also applies for woodlands 1 hectare or more, on top of Whitby's own zone and lot-size triggers | 2026-07-24 |
Whitby, Ajax, and Clarington all sit in Durham Region, so Durham Region Woodland By-law 30-2020 also applies on top of each municipality's own zone and lot-size triggers, adding a permit requirement for woodlands of 1 hectare or more.
A missing tree bylaw covers removal on its own. It says nothing about what happens once a property owner applies for a building permit, severance, or site plan approval. Municipalities that never ask a homeowner for an arborist report will routinely require one, along with a tree protection plan, before approving a development application. If a project on your property involves grading, an addition, or a new structure near existing trees, check with the municipality's planning department before assuming the absence of a tree bylaw means no paperwork at all. Our construction arborist report service covers exactly this gap.
Councils keep revisiting this.
Bradford West Gwillimbury: The town has signalled it intends to adopt a private tree by-law eventually. This entry will be updated once one passes.
Innisfil: The Community Planning Permit System's remaining Priority Areas, covering Stroud, Lefroy, Cookstown, Churchill, and the rest of the rural town, are targeted for adoption around summer 2026. This entry will be rechecked once that rollout lands.
Orangeville: Orangeville's private tree bylaw was still in consultation as of December 2025. This entry will be updated once council adopts one.
Every bylaw number, threshold, and exemption in this section was checked against the municipality's own bylaw text or official website, not a third-party summary.
Common Questions
What is the minimum tree size requiring a permit in Toronto?+
Do I need a permit to remove a dead tree?+
Which GTA city has the strictest tree removal bylaws?+
What happens if I remove a tree without a permit in Ontario?+
Can I remove a tree on my own property without a permit?+
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Oshawa?+
Is Milton exempt from tree bylaws entirely?+
Does Whitby require a tree permit?+
If my municipality has no private tree bylaw, can I remove any tree I want?+
Does every township outside Toronto, Peel, York, and Durham have a private tree bylaw?+
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