Trees & tree removal — Oxford County, Ontario

Do I need a permit to cut down a tree?

In the Regional municipality of Oxford County, Ontario, permit required: True; applies to private property: True; protected threshold: All living trees in qualifying woodlands (≥1 ha; ≥1,000 trees any size/ha, or ≥750 trees >5 cm DBH/ha, or ≥500 trees >12 cm DBH/ha, or ≥250 trees >20 cm DBH/ha); species-specific diameter/circumference thresholds govern self-harvest exception per Schedule "B"; replacement required: Court may order rehabilitation or replanting with silvicultural treatment (s. 11(b)); exemption applicants asked if willing to replant on property or pay in lieu of destruction (Schedule "E"); By-law Officer may impose site restoration and/or compensation plan as exemption condition (s. 6(g)). Source: Woodlands Conservation By-law No. 6607-2024, verified 2026-08-29.

Woodlands Conservation By-law No. 6607-2024 adopted bylaw
permit required True s. 8(a), s. 8(b); s. 1.26 "Permit means the written authorization of the By-law Officer"
applies to private property True s. 2; s. 5(l) references "owner of a woodland" harvesting for own use
protected threshold All living trees in qualifying woodlands (≥1 ha; ≥1,000 trees any size/ha, or ≥750 trees >5 cm DBH/ha, or ≥500 trees >12 cm DBH/ha, or ≥250 trees >20 cm DBH/ha); species-specific diameter/circumference thresholds govern self-harvest exception per Schedule "B" s. 1.38; s. 2; Schedule "B"
replacement required Court may order rehabilitation or replanting with silvicultural treatment (s. 11(b)); exemption applicants asked if willing to replant on property or pay in lieu of destruction (Schedule "E"); By-law Officer may impose site restoration and/or compensation plan as exemption condition (s. 6(g)) s. 11(b); s. 6(g); Schedule "E"
fine range First conviction: minimum $10,000 or $1,000 per tree injured or destroyed, whichever is greater; subsequent conviction: minimum $25,000 or $2,500 per tree injured or destroyed, whichever is greater s. 11(a)(i) and s. 11(a)(ii)
scout note

County-wide by-law prohibiting the harvest, injury or destruction of any living tree in a woodland except in accordance with a silvicultural prescription prepared or approved by a Registered Professional Forester, or under an exemption, with a Notice of Intent or permit filed with the By-law Officer. A woodland owner may cut for their own use without a prescription only if

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