Trees & tree removal — Lambton County, Ontario

Do I need a permit to cut down a tree?

In the County of Lambton County, Ontario, permit required: True; applies to private property: True; protected threshold: Trees in woodlands (≥1 ha meeting density thresholds in s.1(w)) at or above species-specific circumference limits in Schedule 'A': Species A 160–208 cm circ. / 51–66 cm dia.; Species B 127–175 cm / 41–56 cm dia.; Species C 79–127 cm / 25–41 cm dia., varying by point of measurement; replacement required: Court may order person to 'plant or replant trees' after conviction; exemption applicants asked if willing to replant or pay cash-in-lieu, but neither is mandated as a permit condition. Source: Woodlands Conservation By-Law (No. 4 of 2012, as amended Sept 2014), verified 2026-08-28.

Woodlands Conservation By-Law (No. 4 of 2012, as amended Sept 2014) adopted bylaw
permit required True s. 5(a); s. 5(b); s. 4(a)
applies to private property True s. 2(a); s. 3(m)
protected threshold Trees in woodlands (≥1 ha meeting density thresholds in s.1(w)) at or above species-specific circumference limits in Schedule 'A': Species A 160–208 cm circ. / 51–66 cm dia.; Species B 127–175 cm / 41–56 cm dia.; Species C 79–127 cm / 25–41 cm dia., varying by point of measurement s. 1(w); Schedule "A"
replacement required Court may order person to 'plant or replant trees' after conviction; exemption applicants asked if willing to replant or pay cash-in-lieu, but neither is mandated as a permit condition s. 9(b); Schedule "B"
fine range maximum fine of $100,000.00 or $10,000.00 per tree, whichever is greater s. 9(a)
scout note

County-wide woodlands conservation by-law under Municipal Act s.135(2). A permit from the Woodlot Officer is required to injure or destroy trees in "Woodlands" - land at least one hectare in area meeting the by-law's minimum tree-density thresholds (for example 1,000 trees of any size per hectare). "Woodlot" is separately defined as land between 0.2 and 1 hectare. Exemptions to the

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