Trees & tree removal — London, Ontario

Do I need a permit to cut down a tree?

In the City of London, Ontario, permit required: True; applies to private property: False; protected threshold: Any tree (woody perennial) capable of reaching 4.5 metres height at maturity, on City boulevards; replacement required: Abutting owner must pay fees per Schedule "A" covering estimated costs of removing tree and purchasing and planting similar new trees. Source: Boulevard Tree Protection By-law - CP-22; Consolidated Tree Protection By-law - C.P.-1555-252, verified 2026-08-28.

Boulevard Tree Protection By-law - CP-22 adopted bylaw
permit required True s. 5.2
applies to private property False s. 3.1
protected threshold Any tree (woody perennial) capable of reaching 4.5 metres height at maturity, on City boulevards s. 2.1 "Tree" definition
replacement required Abutting owner must pay fees per Schedule "A" covering estimated costs of removing tree and purchasing and planting similar new trees s. 6.5(3)(a)
boulevard trees No person may injure, destroy, plant, or attach objects to boulevard trees without written permission of Deputy City Manager s. 5.2
fine range Minimum fine of $500.00 and maximum fine of $100,000.00 s. 9.3
scout note

Prohibits injuring or destroying any tree on a City boulevard and planting trees on boulevards without City consent; owner must pay the City's cost to remove/replace a boulevard tree on request.

Consolidated Tree Protection By-law - C.P.-1555-252 adopted bylaw
permit required True s. 6.1, s. 6.2 — "except under authority of a Permit, no person shall Injure or Destroy"
applies to private property True s. 3.1 — "This By-law applies to private property in the City of London"
protected threshold Trees with trunk diameter of 50cm or greater (measured 1.4m above Natural Ground Level) within the Urban Growth Boundary (Distinctive Trees), and all trees of any size within a Tree Protection Area s. 3.1(a) and (b)
replacement required Replacement Trees must be planted on the same Site per Schedule A chart (1 tree for 50cm trunk diameter, scaling to 11 trees for >141cm); where insufficient space, $350 per Replacement Tree that cannot be planted on-site (Fee for Off-Site Tree Planting) s. 9.2(a), s. 9.2(b), Schedule A
boulevard trees City Boulevard Tree By-law applies; this By-law does not apply to boulevard boundary trees s. 7.6 — "the City's Boulevard Tree By-law will apply and this By-law will not apply"
fine range Minimum $500, maximum $100,000 (regular fine); continuing offence $500–$10,000/day; special fine up to $200,000 in addition to regular fine s. 14.3 (minimum $500, maximum $100,000); s. 14.4 ($500–$10,000/day continuing offence); s. 14.5 (special fine maximum $200,000)
scout note

Prohibits injuring/destroying trees ≥50 cm diameter within the Urban Growth Boundary, and all trees in designated Tree Protection Areas, without a permit; sets replacement-tree schedule by trunk diameter.

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