Trees & tree removal — Richmond Hill, Ontario

Do I need a permit to cut down a tree?

In the City of Richmond Hill, Ontario, permit required: True; applies to private property: True; protected threshold: Any tree with DBH > 15 cm; also Replacement Trees regardless of size; replacement required: Permit conditions may require planting Replacement Trees or, where not possible or owner declines, cash in lieu calculated as number of Replacement Trees × current Tree replacement fee in Tariff of Fees By-law. Source: Tree Preservation By-law No. 19-25 (Municipal Code Chapter 1015); Trees on City Lands By-law No. 20-25 (Municipal Code Chapter 821), verified 2026-08-29.

Tree Preservation By-law No. 19-25 (Municipal Code Chapter 1015) adopted bylaw
permit required True s. 4.1
applies to private property True "Trees on Private Property in the City of Richmond Hill"
protected threshold Any tree with DBH > 15 cm; also Replacement Trees regardless of size s. 4.1
replacement required Permit conditions may require planting Replacement Trees or, where not possible or owner declines, cash in lieu calculated as number of Replacement Trees × current Tree replacement fee in Tariff of Fees By-law s. 6.2(b), s. 6.2(c)
boulevard trees Trees on Corporation lands are exempt from this by-law and not regulated by it s. 2.2(a)
fine range Maximum $100,000 per offence; special fines may exceed $100,000 s. 10.3(a); s. 10.4
scout note

Requires a permit to injure or destroy any tree on private property with a trunk diameter greater than 15 centimetres DBH, and any replacement tree regardless of size. Provides Exemption Permits for dead, dying, hazardous and woodlot trees (with arborist or managed-forest documentation), Retrospective Permits for emergency work, and exemptions including limited normal farm practices. 'Woodlot' is defined by tree-density

Trees on City Lands By-law No. 20-25 (Municipal Code Chapter 821) adopted bylaw
permit required True s. 3.1 — "Without prior written approval of the Commissioner, no Person shall"
applies to private property False s. 2.1 — "provisions of this by-law apply to all Persons in their dealings with City Trees"
protected threshold All City Trees: any perennial woody plant capable of reaching 4.5 metres at physiological maturity, with 50% or more of trunk on City Lands s. 1.2(h) — "50 percent or more of its trunk situated on City Lands"; s. 1.2(s) — "height of at least 4.5 metres at physiological maturity"
replacement required Payment of Tree Value, removal and replacement costs, and replanting of replacement Tree or Trees required s. 2.3(i) — "payment of Tree Value, removal and replacement costs and the replanting of a replacement Tree or Trees"
boulevard trees City Lands includes any Highway; boulevard trees are City Trees subject to full bylaw prohibitions and approval requirements s. 1.2(f) — "City Lands means all lands under the jurisdiction of the City, including any Highway"
fine range Maximum $100,000 per offence; special fines may exceed $100,000; administrative penalties per Schedule "A" of Administrative Penalty By-law 69-16 s. 6.4(a) — "maximum fine for an offence shall be $100,000.00"; s. 6.5 — "special fine may exceed $100,000.00"; s. 6.6(b) — "administrative penalty in the amount specified in Schedule 'A'"
scout note

Prohibits or regulates injuring/destroying trees on lands under the City's jurisdiction, including boulevard and municipal-property trees; companion to the private-property Tree Preservation By-law.

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