Do I need a permit to cut down a tree?

Trees & tree removal — Fort Erie, Ontario

In the Town of Fort Erie, Ontario, permit required: True; applies to private property: True; protected threshold: >10 cm DBH in Natural Heritage System; ≥30 cm DBH in Urban Boundary; Heritage Trees (any size); any size on Planning Application lands; any size on public property; replacement required: Residential: 1:1 basis; Planning Act applications: 1–5 trees per Table B.1 by DBH; cash-in-lieu max $150,000.00 per 5.5 ha site, $30,000.00 per additional hectare where replanting not feasible. Source: Tree By-law 27-2026 (repeals By-law 33-2024), verified 2026-08-28.

Tree By-law 27-2026 (repeals By-law 33-2024) adopted bylaw

permit required	True	s. 5.1
applies to private property	True	s. 3.1
protected threshold	>10 cm DBH in Natural Heritage System; ≥30 cm DBH in Urban Boundary; Heritage Trees (any size); any size on Planning Application lands; any size on public property	s. 3.1.1; s. 3.1.2; s. 3.1.3; s. 3.2.1
replacement required	Residential: 1:1 basis; Planning Act applications: 1–5 trees per Table B.1 by DBH; cash-in-lieu max $150,000.00 per 5.5 ha site, $30,000.00 per additional hectare where replanting not feasible	s. 9.1.1; Schedule "B"
boulevard trees	Public property trees of any size are regulated; activities undertaken by the municipality are exempt	s. 3.2.1; s. 4.1.1
fine range	Administrative Penalties $350–$10,000 (tiered); injure/destroy without permit: $1,500; stump removal without permit: $4,500/$9,000/$10,000 (Tiers 1–3)	Schedule "A"

scout note

Prohibits injuring/destroying protected trees (>=30 cm DBH in urban areas, >=10 cm DBH in the Natural Heritage System) without a permit; permit and administrative-penalty system; replacement-tree ratios by trunk diameter.