Trees & tree removal — Bruce County, Ontario

Do I need a permit to cut down a tree?

In the County of Bruce County, Ontario, permit required: True; applies to private property: True; protected threshold: Trees within Woodlands (min 1 ha). Density/size: 1,000 trees/ha any size; 750 trees/ha >5cm DCH; 500 trees/ha >12cm DCH; 250 trees/ha >20cm DCH. Tree height >= 4.5 meters.; fines: First conviction: max $10,000 or $1,000 per tree, whichever is greater. Subsequent: max $25,000 or $2,500 per tree, whichever is greater.. Source: Forest Conservation By-law No. 2025-030, verified 2026-08-28.

Forest Conservation By-law No. 2025-030 adopted bylaw
permit required True s. 5.1
applies to private property True s. 3.13
protected threshold Trees within Woodlands (min 1 ha). Density/size: 1,000 trees/ha any size; 750 trees/ha >5cm DCH; 500 trees/ha >12cm DCH; 250 trees/ha >20cm DCH. Tree height >= 4.5 meters. s. 1 "Woodlands"; s. 1 "Tree"
fine range First conviction: max $10,000 or $1,000 per tree, whichever is greater. Subsequent: max $25,000 or $2,500 per tree, whichever is greater. s. 8.1
scout note

County-wide by-law prohibiting/regulating destruction or injuring of trees in designated woodlands; requires a permit to remove trees above set circumference limits and imposes good-forestry-practice standards.

Machine-readable: trees.json · Official website: http://www.brucecounty.on.ca/ · Last verified 2026-08-28 · Trees & tree removal in other municipalities