Do I need a permit to cut down a tree?

Trees & tree removal — North Saanich, British Columbia

In the District Municipality of North Saanich, British Columbia, permit required: True; applies to private property: True; protected threshold: Tree: DBH 20 centimetres (8 inches)+ (10cm in DPA); Protected Species: DBH 10 centimetres+; Significant Tree: DBH 60 cm (24 inches)+; District Tree: any size; replacement required: 2 Replacement Trees per removed Tree (3 for Significant); $250 cash-in-lieu per tree if cannot plant on lot ($700 for subdivision); District Trees require cash compensation per Schedule D. Source: Tree Protection Bylaw No. 1548, 2022, verified 2026-08-28.

Tree Protection Bylaw No. 1548, 2022 adopted bylaw

permit required	True	s. 3.1
applies to private property	True	s. 2.1
protected threshold	Tree: DBH 20 centimetres (8 inches)+ (10cm in DPA); Protected Species: DBH 10 centimetres+; Significant Tree: DBH 60 cm (24 inches)+; District Tree: any size	s. 1 Definitions
replacement required	2 Replacement Trees per removed Tree (3 for Significant); $250 cash-in-lieu per tree if cannot plant on lot ($700 for subdivision); District Trees require cash compensation per Schedule D	s. 12.1, 12.2, 12.3, 12.4
boulevard trees	District Trees require cash compensation per Schedule D upon removal.	s. 12.2(c)
fine range	$500.00-$50,000.00 (general); $5,000.00-$50,000.00 (Tree loss); $10,000-$50,000 (Significant Tree loss)	s. 16.2

scout note

Provides for protection, preservation and regulation of trees; requires tree permits for removal, sets replacement tree and compensation requirements, and deters clear-cutting of treed lots.