Trees & tree removal — Northumberland County, Ontario

Do I need a permit to cut down a tree?

In the County of Northumberland County, Ontario, permit required: True; applies to private property: True; protected threshold: Trees in woodlands >1 hectare; species-specific minimum circumferences per Table 1 (e.g., Hard Maple/Yellow Birch/White Ash/etc.: 57"–82" depending on measurement height; Black Ash/Poplar/Spruce/etc.: 25"–50"); basal area must not fall below 15 sq metres/hectare; replacement required: Council may require security be posted to ensure trees can be replaced; silvicultural treatment to re-establish trees may be required. Source: By-law No. 2015-27, Northumberland County Forest Conservation By-law, verified 2026-08-29.

By-law No. 2015-27, Northumberland County Forest Conservation By-law adopted bylaw
permit required True s. 4(1)(a): "the owner of the woodland...has a valid permit"
applies to private property True s. 2: "This By-law applies to woodlands greater than one (1) hectare in the County"
protected threshold Trees in woodlands >1 hectare; species-specific minimum circumferences per Table 1 (e.g., Hard Maple/Yellow Birch/White Ash/etc.: 57"–82" depending on measurement height; Black Ash/Poplar/Spruce/etc.: 25"–50"); basal area must not fall below 15 sq metres/hectare s. 4(3)(d) and Table 1
replacement required Council may require security be posted to ensure trees can be replaced; silvicultural treatment to re-establish trees may be required s. 6(5): "require that security be posted...trees that are destroyed or injured...can be replaced"; "including any Silvicultural treatment which may be necessary to re-establish the trees"
fine range $250 to $800 per offence (set fines schedule) Set Fine Schedule: Column 3 ranges from $250 (items 5, 8) to $800 (item 3)
scout note

County-wide forest conservation by-law under Municipal Act s.135, applying to woodlands greater than 1 hectare. No one may injure or destroy a tree in such a woodland without a permit, an exemption, or relief. Cutting may not reduce the basal area of the cut area below 15 m2 per hectare, may not occur within 15 m of the high water

Machine-readable: trees.json · Official website: https://northumberland.ca/ · Last verified 2026-08-29 · Trees & tree removal in other municipalities