Trees & tree removal — Simcoe County, Ontario

Do I need a permit to cut down a tree?

In the County of Simcoe County, Ontario, permit required: True; applies to private property: True; protected threshold: Trees in Woodlands (≥1000 trees/ha of any diameter, or ≥750/ha over 5cm DBH, or ≥500/ha over 12cm DBH, or ≥250/ha over 20cm DBH) or Sensitive Natural Areas; harvest permits require minimum circumference by species per Schedule A; replacement required: Court may order rehabilitation or replanting including silvicultural treatment, at court's discretion upon conviction. Source: By-law No. 6894, Sustainable Forest Management / Forest Conservation By-law, verified 2026-08-29.

By-law No. 6894, Sustainable Forest Management / Forest Conservation By-law adopted bylaw
permit required True s. 3.1 — except in accordance with a valid permit issued by the County
applies to private property True s. 2.1 — "This By-law shall apply to all Woodlands within the County"
protected threshold Trees in Woodlands (≥1000 trees/ha of any diameter, or ≥750/ha over 5cm DBH, or ≥500/ha over 12cm DBH, or ≥250/ha over 20cm DBH) or Sensitive Natural Areas; harvest permits require minimum circumference by species per Schedule A s. 1.1 definition of 'Woodlands'; s. 4.4(2); Schedule "A"
replacement required Court may order rehabilitation or replanting including silvicultural treatment, at court's discretion upon conviction s. 9.4 — "the court...may order the Person to rehabilitate the land or to plant or replant trees"
fine range Individual: first conviction up to $10,000 or $1,000/tree (max 10 trees); subsequent up to $25,000 or $2,500/tree (max 10 trees). Corporation: first up to $50,000 or $5,000/tree; subsequent up to $100,000 or $10,000/tree. Set fines: $175–$350 per offence. s. 9.2, s. 9.3; Part I Provincial Offences Act schedule (set fines $175.00–$350.00)
scout note

County-wide by-law prohibiting/regulating harvest, injury or destruction of trees in woodlands; requires a permit above density/size thresholds (e.g. 1000 trees/ha of any diameter, or larger stems above set DBH); this is the County's own upper-tier by-law.

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