GTA Tree Permit Guide
GTA Tree Permit Requirements
by Municipality
Permit requirements vary significantly across the Greater Toronto Area. A tree that needs no permit in one city may require a full arborist report and a 45-day review in the next. This guide summarizes the verified thresholds for 9 GTA municipalities, sourced directly from official city websites.
Quick Reference
Minimum diameter at breast height (DBH), measured at 1.37–1.4 m above ground unless otherwise noted.
| Municipality | Min. DBH | Dead Trees | Permit Timeline | Official Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Toronto | 30 cm | Exempt: no permit required for 100% dead trees | Check with city | Official page → |
| City of Mississauga | 15 cm | Permit required, but no base fee for dead or dying trees | 30 business days from complete application | Official page → |
| City of Markham | 20 cm | Permit required, but dead or dying trees are exempt from replacement planting | 45 days from payment received | Official page → |
| City of Vaughan | 20 cm | Check with city | Check with city | Official page → |
| City of Brampton | 30 cm | Check with city | Inspection completed approximately 90 business days from request | Official page → |
| Town of Oakville | 15 cm | Permit required, but dead trees, high-risk trees, and ash trees are fee-exempt | Site consultation arranged within 5 business days of application | Official page → |
| City of Richmond Hill | 15 cm | Check with city | Check with city | Official page → |
| City of Burlington | 20 cm | Permit required, but dead trees and trees with terminal conditions are fee-exempt | Check with city | Official page → |
| City of Hamilton | No private tree bylaw currently in effect | N/A: no permit required on private property | N/A | Official page → |
Data sourced from official municipal websites. "Check with city" indicates the information was not available on the official website at time of publication. Last reviewed March 2026.
City-by-City Details
City of Toronto
Private Tree By-law, Municipal Code Chapter 813
- Minimum DBH
- 30 cm
- Dead Trees
- Exempt: no permit required for 100% dead trees
- Permit Timeline
- Check with city
- Handled By
- Urban Forestry, City of Toronto
Trees on City streets and in ravines are protected regardless of size. The City is currently reviewing the bylaw and may lower the 30 cm threshold.
City of Mississauga
Private Tree By-law 0021-2022
- Minimum DBH
- 15 cm
- Dead Trees
- Permit required, but no base fee for dead or dying trees
- Permit Timeline
- 30 business days from complete application
- Handled By
- Forestry and Environment, City of Mississauga
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.
City of Markham
Tree Preservation By-law 2023-164
- Minimum DBH
- 20 cm
- Dead Trees
- Permit required, but dead or dying trees are exempt from replacement planting
- Permit Timeline
- 45 days from payment received
- Handled By
- City of Markham Urban Forestry
Non-refundable processing fee of $20.50 per application (effective January 2026). Contact: TreePreservationAdmin@markham.ca.
City of Vaughan
Tree Protection By-law 177-2025
- Minimum DBH
- 20 cm
- Dead Trees
- Check with city
- Permit Timeline
- Check with city
- Handled By
- Parks and Forestry Operations, City of Vaughan
An arborist report is required when applying to remove a private tree. Permits must be posted on the lot during removal.
City of Brampton
Tree Preservation By-law 317-2012
- Minimum DBH
- 30 cm
- Dead Trees
- Check with city
- Permit Timeline
- Inspection completed approximately 90 business days from request
- Handled By
- Urban Forestry, City of Brampton
A separate Woodlot Conservation By-law applies to properties containing 50 or more trees over 20 cm DBH per 0.2 hectare.
Town of Oakville
Private Tree Protection By-law 2023-074 (amended 2024)
- Minimum DBH
- 15 cm
- Dead Trees
- Permit required, but dead trees, high-risk trees, and ash trees are fee-exempt
- Permit Timeline
- Site consultation arranged within 5 business days of application
- Handled By
- Forestry Section, Town of Oakville
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.
City of Richmond Hill
Tree Preservation By-law 19-25 (in effect April 23, 2025)
- Minimum DBH
- 15 cm
- Dead Trees
- Check with city
- Permit Timeline
- Check with city
- Handled By
- City of Richmond Hill Planning and Building Services
The threshold was reduced from 20 cm to 15 cm DBH when By-law 19-25 came into effect. Application fee is $314 + HST for the first tree, $109 + HST for each additional tree.
City of Burlington
Private Tree By-law 040-2022
- Minimum DBH
- 20 cm
- Dead Trees
- Permit required, but dead trees and trees with terminal conditions are fee-exempt
- Permit Timeline
- Check with city
- Handled By
- City of Burlington Forestry
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.
City of Hamilton
No private tree bylaw (public trees protected under By-law 15-125)
- Minimum DBH
- No private tree bylaw currently in effect
- Dead Trees
- N/A: no permit required on private property
- Permit Timeline
- N/A
- Handled By
- City of Hamilton Urban Forestry
Hamilton does not currently require a permit to remove private trees. A proposed private tree bylaw has been discussed but was not enacted as of this writing. Trees on City property are protected. Contact the city before any work near public trees.
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.
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. If your property is near a municipal boundary, always confirm which bylaw applies.
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?+
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