Tree Removal Permit

• When a Permit is Required

  If you are planning to remove or cause injury to one or more trees that are part of a woodlot (forested area) of ½ acre in size or larger, you will require a Tree Removal Permit from the City of Barrie. 

  The perimeter of the woodlot is defined by the ecological boundary and not by the private property. If you have a tree on your property that is part of a woodlot, that woodlot does not end at your property line. You will need to determine the size of the woodlot to find out if a permit is required. Woodlots are mapped on our interactive map. If you are unsure, please contact Service Barrie at 705-726-4242 or ServiceBarrie@barrie.ca. 

• When a Permit is not Required

  If an arborist has deemed the tree on your property to be dead or hazardous, you do not require a tree removal permit to remove it. Normal property maintenance on residential lots (e.g. pruning) does not require a tree removal permit. 

  The typical residential lot does not require a tree removal permit to remove a tree from the property and should be addressed by the property owner, unless it is part of a development application (e.g. subdivision).

  However, if you are planning to do any work that requires a building permit and will result in the removal of trees (e.g. building a deck or installing a pool) and you are unsure if you require a tree removal permit, it is best to contact Service Barrie at 705-726-4242 or ServiceBarrie@barrie.ca to confirm. 

Private Tree Removal Permit Process

• Tree Inventory & Assessment

  The Tree Inventory and Assessmen needs to be submitted and stamped by a qualified registered professional forester or landscape architect. This includes:

  • Descriptions of the subject tree(s) including:
     
    • species (scientific and common name)
    • size (DBH) 
    • condition (a general rating of poor, fair or good based on tree age, presence of disease, canopy structure, proportion of live wood, etc.) 
  • A tree ID number which is illustrated on the tree preservation plan drawing
  • An explanation as to why each subject tree is proposed to be injured or destroyed
  • Recommendation of preservation and tree protection methodology for subject trees being retained.
  • Ownership of the trees
  • Any endangered, threatened, or special concern tree species as defined in the Endangered Species Act. R.S.O. 1900, c.E.15, or the Species at Risk Act, S.C. 2002, c. 29 on site must be included in the inventory. 
• Tree Preservation Plan

  The Tree Preservation Plan  (large format plan visually displaying the information presented in the tree inventory)needs to be submitted and stamped by a qualified registered professional forester or landscape architect. This includes:

  • All subject trees identified for removal and preservation must be clearly illustrated and include the tree ID number from inventory and location, trunk, and canopy limit.
  • Tree Protection zone limits must be clearly illustrated along with the location of tree preservation fencing. Any temporary preservation measures required to protect preserved trees must be specified (i.e., hoarding, mitigation, etc.). 
  • Boundary trees, hedges and neighbouring trees located within 6 meters of the property line and any trees with a canopy that extends over the subject lands. 
  • The location of any endangered, threatened, or special concern trees 
  • Details and specifications of the site including: 
     
    • The location of existing and proposed structures and driveways.
    • Property lines and street names. (Note that if subject trees are close to the property line the City may require that their location be accurately identified by a land surveyor). 
• Consent from neighbouring property owners (boundary trees only)

  Any Boundary Trees identified for injury or removal will need signed consent from neighbouring property owners. A sample letter is provided Consent to Remove or Cause Harm Declaration of Adjacent Property Owner letter. 
  
  Trees are considered common property when trunks grow between adjoining lands. Common property is determined through interpretation of property lines information (survey, maps or plans provided by the owner). In Ontario, boundary trees are common property. It is a prosecutable offense for one co-owner to injure or cut down a boundary tree without the other co-owner’s permission. For additional details, see the Ontario Forestry Act Section 10.
  
  Please remember: There is a 5-meter setback from the foundation limit to the drip line of the boundary tree or neighbouring tree (See BSD-1234, detail for Limit of Tree Preservation). If a neighbour’s tree canopy extends into the work zone and more then 1/3 of the root zone will be disturbed, you will need signed consent. 

Frequently Asked Questions

• If there is a dead or hazardous tree on my property but is not part of a woodlot, do I need a permit to remove it?

  If a tree is dead or hazardous, a permit is not required regardless of where it is located on your property. If the tree is on City property, you cannot remove it. Please call Service Barrie at 705-726-4242 to report the dead tree and the City will arrange to have it safely removed.

• I back onto a woodlot. Can I remove the tree and leave the wood in the woodlot?

  No, you must take the wood to the landfill or store it on your own property. Dumping the wood into park land and natural areas is considered encroachment and an offence under the Nuisance (Use of Public Property) By-law. 

• How long will it take to review my tree removal application and have the permit issued?

  In most cases, the application and permit should be reviewed and issued within 10 business days. If there is complexity with the application, it may take longer.

• What happens if I remove a tree without a permit?

  If a permit was required and property owners are found to have removed a tree that is part of a woodlot without a permit, they will be subject to the penalties/fines set out under the Private Tree By-law.

• There is a boundary tree I need removed but the co-owning neighbour does not give consent. What can I do?

  Any boundary tree identified for injury or removal will need signed consent from neighbouring property owner(s). The City has no jurisdiction over boundary trees and, therefore, does not mediate a disagreement over boundary trees. When a neighbour refuses to approve the removal of a boundary tree it becomes a civil dispute and falls under the legal provisions of the Ontario Forestry Act. Your next step would be to consult a lawyer to determine legal rights.