Urban Forestry Regulations And Tree By-Laws

Through our daily work at Beechwood Tree, we are very much aware that our urban forests contribute to maintaining a healthy environment. Needless to say, our day to day work sometimes includes performing tree removal. Fortunately, urban forestry regulations have been established to protect healthy trees from being removed unnecessarily. These by-laws must first be considered before such work can be done.

When Permit Applications Are Not Required to Remove a Tree

• Trunk diameter is less than 30 centimetres at a height of 137 centimetres above ground.
• Tree is located within 2 metres of an occupied building as measured from building edge to trunk centre.
• Tree is located within an area of approved building construction, and a building construction permit has been issued.
• A tree is deemed hazardous by the City of Brampton’s arborists (Beechwood Tree requires documented proof of inspection).
• Removal is required because of emergency situation due to potentially hazardous property or pedestrian conditions.

When Permit Applications Are Unlikely To Be Considered

There are situations when a removal permit application will most likely be denied, as unreasonable request. City-employed arborists may recommend alternative courses of actions to lessen particular issues listed below.

• A tree’s location does not meet your landscaping expectations.
• A canopy is shading your garden or patio.
• Roots are damaging sidewalk or your driveway.
• The tree is blocking lights or obstructing other grounds’ view.
• The tree produces excessive or unsightly falling leaves, fuit, or seeds.
• Roots are growing into underground utility pipes or line.
• Fallen leaves fill eaves troughs or block water catch basins.
• You dislike flying insects or creepy crawly things that are attracted to it.
• You are unable to clean up fallen seeds, fuit, or leaves due to age or physical inability.
• Roots extruding through to your lawn thereby interfere with grass cutting machines.

When Removal Permit Applications Are Considered

• 30% or more of crown is dead or disease-infected.
• Individual trees are deemed inappropriate for space occupied within given area.
• A City-employed arborist concluded there are one or more major branches posing a potential property or pedestrian hazard.
• A City-employed arborist determined one or more overhanging branches cannot be removed without structural destabilization thereby causing a potential hazard.
• A City-employed arborist acknowledged a history of valid repeat maintenance calls resulting from weak wood conditions and concluded perpetual major maintenance burdens exist.
• If a removal permit application is approved, it may be conditional on replanting another.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

The information presented here is intended for general awareness only, and MUST NOT be relied upon as an official by-law guide. Beechwood Tree Co. makes no representation of legal advice. It is your responsibility to contact City of Brampton Urban Forestry Section at 905‑874‑2906 for official documentation.

Permission and Permit Application Processes

The City of Mississauga’s by-laws set is quite different from other GTA communities. With other information presentations on by-laws, we offer some basic insight on removal processes. In the case of Mississauga, we are simply going to refer you to the source. We recommend reading the 4-page Mississauga Tree Permit/Permission Process PDF document which will give you a good overview of what to expect. Additionally, their full 7-page By-Law Number 474-05 PDF document is recommended for full legal wordings and understanding. Please keep in mind that we are very accustomed to sorting through the sometimes confusing details of these types of legal documents; it is part of our daily routine. Our Certified Arborists are only one phone call away if we may be of help to point you in the right direction. Ask us about our free estimates at the same time.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

The information presented here is intended for general awareness only, and MUST NOT be relied upon as an official by-law guide. Beechwood Tree Co. makes no representation of legal advice. It is your responsibility to contact City of Mississauga Urban Forestry at 905‑615‑4311 for official permits or opinions.

Permit Exemption - Work May Proceed Without Contacting Toronto Urban Forestry Services

It is not necessary to fill an application to injure or destroy a tree on a commercial or residential private property as indicated by Etobicoke tree by-law details outlined in unofficial general terms below:

• Trunk’s diameter is less than 30 centimetres at a height of 140 centimetres above ground.
• Trunk’s diameter exceeds 30 centimetres at 140 centimetres above ground but is 100% dead as per a qualified opinion.
• The tree is an imminent hazard due to structural destabilization with potential to cause personal injury.
• The tree is considered terminally diseased as determined by a professional arborist having knowledge of differences between casual diseases as compared to destructive ones.

Removal Permit Applications Are Unlikely To Be Approved Under These Circumstances

There are situations when a removal permit applications will most likely be denied. Request examples below may be considered as a burden by some residential homeowners (but a joy for others) and will be rejected.

• The tree interferes with landscaping expectations.
• Roots are interfering with underground utility pipes.
• Expanding roots are damaging driveways, roadways, or walkways.
• Canopy cover is obstructing street lights (pruning will resolve that).
• Canopy cover is providing too much shade in an area where light is preferable.
• You are unable to clean up falling fuit, seed pods, or leaves due to personal physical limitations.

Permit Applications to Injure or Destroy Urban Property Trees

If you are unsure of circumstances as it relates to your commercial or residential property, call Beechwood Tree’s qualified personnel for further general guidance. If you have determined that you must submit an application consideration they may be hand delivered, mailed, or sent by courier to Etobicoke York District: Etobicoke Civic Centre, 399 The West Mall, M9C 2Y2. Complete regulatory information is available by downloading the document entitled Toronto Private Tree By-law Article III, Chapter 813.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

The information presented here is intended for general awareness only, and MUST NOT be relied upon as an official by-law guide. Beechwood Tree Co. makes no representation of legal advice. It is your responsibility to contact the City of Toronto concerning trees on private property at 416‑392‑2489 for official documentation.