Do I need a permit to cut down a tree?

Trees & tree removal — Haliburton County, Ontario

In the County of Haliburton County, Ontario, permit required: True; applies to private property: True; protected threshold: any woody perennial plant that has reached or can reach a height of at least 4.5 metres at physiological maturity; replacement required: court may order planting or replacing of trees upon conviction. Source: Shoreline Preservation By-law No. 4169; Shoreline Tree Preservation By-law No. 3505 (as amended, Consolidated), verified 2026-08-28.

Shoreline Preservation By-law No. 4169 adopted bylaw

permit required	True	s. 4.2: "No person shall injure or destroy or cause to be injured or destroyed a tree without a shoreline permit."
applies to private property	True	s. 3: applies to shoreline and prohibited areas in geographical areas of lower-tier municipalities
protected threshold	any woody perennial plant that has reached or can reach a height of at least 4.5 metres at physiological maturity	s. 1.1: "tree" means any species of woody perennial plant...which has reached or can reach a height of at least 4.5 metres at physiological maturity
replacement required	court may order planting or replacing of trees upon conviction	s. 10.6(e): "by planting or replacing of trees"
fine range	first offence: no more than $50,000; second and subsequent offences: no more than $100,000	s. 10.2(a)-(b): first offence no more than $50,000.00; second offence no more than $100,000

scout note

Requires a permit for grade/topography changes and substantial removal of trees or vegetation within the shoreline buffer, applying to the rest of Haliburton County outside Dysart et al.

Shoreline Tree Preservation By-law No. 3505 (as amended, Consolidated) adopted bylaw

permit required	False	s. 6 — relief by written request to Director; no permit system established
applies to private property	True	s. 2 — 'all lands within the County situated within 30 metres'
protected threshold	Trees with DBH of 10 cm or greater; any species of woody perennial plant reaching at least 4.5 metres at maturity	s. 3(t) — 'injury or destruction of trees measuring less than 10 centimeters DBH' exempted; 'Tree' definition — 'height of at least 4.5 metres at physiological maturity'
replacement required	Officer may require rehabilitation of land or planting/replanting trees in such manner and within such period as the Officer considers appropriate, including any treatment necessary to re-establish the trees	s. 7(a)(ii) — 'plant or replant trees in such a manner and within such a period as the Officer considers appropriate'
boulevard trees	No person shall destroy or injure trees on municipally owned road allowance or shore road allowance except adjacent registered owners acting under s. 3	s. 4(b) — 'No person shall destroy or injure any tree...on municipally owned road allowance or shore road allowance'
fine range	Maximum fine of $100,000; continuing offence up to $10,000 per day; multiple offence up to $10,000 per offence; special fine may exceed $100,000 where economic advantage gained	s. 8(b)(i)-(iv) — 'maximum fine of $100,000'; '$10,000 for each day'; '$10,000 for each offence'; 'special fine may be imposed and may exceed $100,000'

scout note

County of Haliburton Shoreline Tree Preservation By-law 3505, consolidated to amending By-law 3630 (effective May 28, 2014). Prohibits injuring or destroying trees, and requires a County permit, on all lands in the County within 30 metres measured inland from the high water mark of a navigable waterway; woodlands over 4 hectares are excluded and remain under County Forestry By-law 3196.