Tree Bylaws by City
Every municipality has different rules for tree removal. Find out what permits you need and avoid costly fines. We can help navigate the process.
Quick Reference
Summary of tree protection bylaws across our service area. Click any city for full details.
| City | Protected DBH | ESA Threshold | Permit Fee | Permit Valid | Max Fine | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Port MoodyHome Base Tri-Cities | 30cm+ DBH on any property | 10cm+ DBH in an ESA, riparian zone, or for protected native species | $75 application fee + $370 security deposit per tree (no fee for hazardous/dead) | 6 months | Significant penalties for unauthorized removal, including doubled fees and deposit forfeiture | View Details |
| Coquitlam Tri-Cities | 30cm+ DBH | Any size within a streamside or ESA setback | -- | -- | -- | View Details |
| Port Coquitlam Tri-Cities | 15cm+ DBH or 5m+ height | Any size within stream setback areas | $100 (waived for dead or hazardous trees) | -- | $200 for permit violations; up to $4,000 for unauthorized removal of significant trees (45cm+) | View Details |
| Anmore Tri-Cities | All trees (no size exemption) | -- | -- | -- | $1,000 per tree for bylaw violations | View Details |
| Belcarra Tri-Cities | All trees subject to permit (no size threshold specified) | -- | $200 | -- | -- | View Details |
| Pitt Meadows Tri-Cities | No general bylaw | Any tree within 30m of a watercourse or streamside protection area | -- | -- | -- | View Details |
| Maple Ridge Tri-Cities | 20cm+ DBH | Any size within ESA or riparian setback | -- | 4 months | -- | View Details |
| New Westminster Metro Vancouver | 20cm+ DBH | -- | -- | -- | -- | View Details |
| Burnaby Metro Vancouver | 30cm+ DBH | -- | -- | -- | $500 ticket; up to $10,000 for serious violations | View Details |
| Surrey Metro Vancouver | 30cm+ DBH | Any size in watercourse setback zones | -- | -- | Up to $20,000 per tree | View Details |
| Delta Metro Vancouver | Most trees (see exemption below) | -- | -- | -- | -- | View Details |
| Langley Metro Vancouver | 20cm+ DBH (both Township and City) | -- | $150 (Township); confirm current City fee | -- | Up to $10,500 per tree (Township); $3,000+ per tree (City) | View Details |
Port Moody
Tri-Cities
Protected: 30cm+ DBH on any property
Under the 2026 Tree Protection Bylaw (No. 3531), a permit is required for trees 30cm+ DBH on any property, and for trees 10cm+ DBH in an ESA/riparian zone, of a protected native species, or on a development site. Fee $75 + $370 deposit per tree; no fee for hazardous or dead trees (permit still required).
Coquitlam
Tri-Cities
Protected: 30cm+ DBH
Permit required to remove more than 2 protected trees (30cm+) within 12 months, or any tree near a stream. Replacement and security bonds apply.
Port Coquitlam
Tri-Cities
Protected: 15cm+ DBH or 5m+ height
Protected trees are 15cm+ diameter or 5m+ tall. Permits cost $100, waived for dead or hazardous trees. Fines up to $4,000 for significant trees (45cm+).
Anmore
Tri-Cities
Protected: All trees (no size exemption)
Permit required for any tree removal in Anmore. Even dead or dangerous trees need arborist confirmation. Fine is $1,000 per tree.
Belcarra
Tri-Cities
Protected: All trees subject to permit (no size threshold specified)
Tree Cutting Bylaw requires a $200 permit for tree removal. Arborist assessment may be required. Replacement trees expected. Bylaw currently under review.
Pitt Meadows
Tri-Cities
Protected: No general bylaw threshold
No general tree removal bylaw on private property. However, trees within 30m of watercourses require approval. Bird nests protected year-round.
Maple Ridge
Tri-Cities
Protected: 20cm+ DBH
Permits required for trees 20cm+ DBH. Significant trees (50cm+ urban, 70cm+ rural) have extra protection. Arborist report required for 5+ trees. Permits valid 4 months.
New Westminster
Metro Vancouver
Protected: 20cm+ DBH
Protected trees are 20cm+ diameter. Permits required for removal. Replacement trees required with security deposit. Violations may result in legal action.
Burnaby
Metro Vancouver
Protected: 30cm+ DBH
Trees under 30cm diameter can generally be removed without a permit unless protected. Permits require a $941 security bond. Fines up to $10,000.
Surrey
Metro Vancouver
Protected: 30cm+ DBH
Protected trees are 30cm+ diameter. Permits required for removal. Valid reasons include dead/hazardous or within 2m of a foundation. Replacement typically 2 trees per removed. Fines up to $20,000.
Delta
Metro Vancouver
Protected: Most trees (see exemption below)
Most trees protected under Bylaw 7969. One tree under 60cm can be removed per 24 months without replacement. Hedges with trunks 20cm+ also require permits.
Langley
Metro Vancouver
Protected: 20cm+ DBH (both Township and City)
Township: Trees 20cm+ protected, $150 permit, fines up to $10,500 per tree. City: Trees 20cm+ protected, fines $3,000+ per tree. Arborist reports required for 5+ trees.
How Each City Handles Common Scenarios
The same situation can have very different outcomes depending on where you live. These five real-world scenarios show how each city's bylaw applies in practice.
City-owned tree with limbs over your roof
Boulevard and road allowance trees belong to the municipality, not the adjacent homeowner. Even if the tree sits directly in front of your property and hangs over your roof, you cannot prune or remove it without city approval -- doing so is an offence under the same bylaw that governs private trees. You submit a hazard service request; the city decides what happens next.
Port Moody
Contact CityCoquitlam
Contact CityPort Coquitlam
Contact CityAnmore
Contact CityBelcarra
Contact CityPitt Meadows
Contact CityMaple Ridge
Contact CityNew Westminster
Contact CityBurnaby
Contact CitySurrey
Contact CityDelta
Contact CityLangley
Contact CityLarge tree lifting your driveway
Surface roots from a mature tree have cracked and lifted the driveway. DBH (diameter at breast height, measured at 1.4m) determines whether the tree is protected. Property-damage trees often qualify as hazardous under bylaw, which can waive fees or speed up review -- but a permit is still required in most cities.
Port Moody
Permit (fee waived)Coquitlam
Permit RequiredPort Coquitlam
Permit (fee waived)Anmore
Permit RequiredBelcarra
Permit RequiredPitt Meadows
No PermitMaple Ridge
Permit RequiredNew Westminster
Permit RequiredBurnaby
Permit RequiredSurrey
Permit RequiredDelta
Permit RequiredLangley
Permit RequiredRow of trees near a creek (ESA)
ESA stands for Environmentally Sensitive Area -- typically land within the riparian setback alongside a creek or watercourse. These zones carry lower DBH thresholds than standard lots (sometimes 10cm vs. 30cm), and federal DFO (Fisheries Act) rules apply independently of the municipal bylaw near any fish-bearing stream. A mixed row of 10--40cm trees means some trees fall under one set of rules, others under another.
Port Moody
Permit RequiredCoquitlam
Permit RequiredPort Coquitlam
Permit RequiredAnmore
Permit RequiredBelcarra
Permit RequiredPitt Meadows
Permit RequiredMaple Ridge
Permit RequiredNew Westminster
Permit RequiredBurnaby
Permit RequiredSurrey
Permit RequiredDelta
Permit RequiredLangley
Permit RequiredDead tree in your yard (not in ESA)
A dead tree still requires a permit in most cities -- the bylaw does not end when the tree does. However, most jurisdictions have specific provisions that simplify the process: fees waived, reduced replacement obligations, faster review. The key is an arborist letter confirming the tree is dead or imminently hazardous. Dead trees also still host active bird nests and are protected year-round under provincial and federal law.
Port Moody
Permit (fee waived)Coquitlam
Permit RequiredPort Coquitlam
Permit (fee waived)Anmore
Permit RequiredBelcarra
Permit RequiredPitt Meadows
No PermitMaple Ridge
Permit RequiredNew Westminster
Permit RequiredBurnaby
Permit RequiredSurrey
Permit RequiredDelta
VariesLangley
Permit RequiredMassive healthy cedar (600cm DBH)
DBH is diameter at breast height (1.4m above ground). At 600cm DBH, this tree is approximately 6 metres across the trunk -- likely 300 to 500+ years old. This exceeds every "significant tree" threshold in our entire service area, often by a factor of 10 or more. No standard removal permit will be granted. The question is what management options exist to address the specific concern while the tree stays standing.
Port Moody
Not PermittedCoquitlam
Not PermittedPort Coquitlam
Not PermittedAnmore
Not PermittedBelcarra
Not PermittedPitt Meadows
No PermitMaple Ridge
Not PermittedNew Westminster
Not PermittedBurnaby
Not PermittedSurrey
Not PermittedDelta
Not PermittedLangley
Not PermittedInteractive Bylaw Map
Hover over any city to see a quick summary of their tree bylaws. Click for full details.
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Detailed Bylaws by Region
TCTri-Cities & Area
Port Moody
Home BaseProtected: 30cm+ DBH on any property
Under the 2026 Tree Protection Bylaw (No. 3531), a permit is required for trees 30cm+ DBH on any property, and for trees 10cm+ DBH in an ESA/riparian zone, of a protected native species, or on a development site. Fee $75 + $370 deposit per tree; no fee for hazardous or dead trees (permit still required).
Full DetailsCoquitlam
Protected: 30cm+ DBH
Permit required to remove more than 2 protected trees (30cm+) within 12 months, or any tree near a stream. Replacement and security bonds apply.
Full DetailsPort Coquitlam
Protected: 15cm+ DBH or 5m+ height
Protected trees are 15cm+ diameter or 5m+ tall. Permits cost $100, waived for dead or hazardous trees. Fines up to $4,000 for significant trees (45cm+).
Full DetailsAnmore
Protected: All trees (no size exemption)
Permit required for any tree removal in Anmore. Even dead or dangerous trees need arborist confirmation. Fine is $1,000 per tree.
Full DetailsBelcarra
Protected: All trees subject to permit (no size threshold specified)
Tree Cutting Bylaw requires a $200 permit for tree removal. Arborist assessment may be required. Replacement trees expected. Bylaw currently under review.
Full DetailsPitt Meadows
No general tree removal bylaw
No general tree removal bylaw on private property. However, trees within 30m of watercourses require approval. Bird nests protected year-round.
Full DetailsMaple Ridge
Protected: 20cm+ DBH
Permits required for trees 20cm+ DBH. Significant trees (50cm+ urban, 70cm+ rural) have extra protection. Arborist report required for 5+ trees. Permits valid 4 months.
Full DetailsMVMetro Vancouver
New Westminster
Protected: 20cm+ DBH
Protected trees are 20cm+ diameter. Permits required for removal. Replacement trees required with security deposit. Violations may result in legal action.
Full DetailsBurnaby
Protected: 30cm+ DBH
Trees under 30cm diameter can generally be removed without a permit unless protected. Permits require a $941 security bond. Fines up to $10,000.
Full DetailsSurrey
Protected: 30cm+ DBH
Protected trees are 30cm+ diameter. Permits required for removal. Valid reasons include dead/hazardous or within 2m of a foundation. Replacement typically 2 trees per removed. Fines up to $20,000.
Full DetailsDelta
Protected: Most trees (see exemption below)
Most trees protected under Bylaw 7969. One tree under 60cm can be removed per 24 months without replacement. Hedges with trunks 20cm+ also require permits.
Full DetailsLangley
Protected: 20cm+ DBH (both Township and City)
Township: Trees 20cm+ protected, $150 permit, fines up to $10,500 per tree. City: Trees 20cm+ protected, fines $3,000+ per tree. Arborist reports required for 5+ trees.
Full DetailsNeed help figuring out if you need a permit?
Navigating tree bylaws can be confusing. Our team handles permit applications regularly and can help ensure your tree removal is compliant with local regulations.
Send us photos of the tree and your address or neighbourhood, and we'll tell you whether a permit applies and what it takes to get one.
Bylaws change. The figures here are a starting point — always verify current requirements directly with your municipality before starting any work.
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