About the Tree Protection Bylaw Review

Council identified a Tree Protection Review in the 2019 Strategic Plan. Staff initiated a review of the current Tree Bylaw and, with the help of a consultant, drafted a new Tree Management Bylaw.

We want your input!

Highlights of the new bylaw include:

• Introducing a Tree Density Target of 50 trees per hectare
• Trees 20 cm or more in diameter are protected
• Removals of any protected tree must be replaced with three trees, up to the target density, to get the canopy to grow back quicker
• New application fees to recover District costs. There would be no cost to remove hazardous trees, a $75 base fee plus $25 per tree to a maximum of $200, and a fee of $75 to amend a permit.
• Landscape deposit required for replacement trees until trees established
• Cash in lieu option for when trees cannot be planted on the same property to fund planting on municipal property
• Tree retention incentivized with credit for retention of trees
• Tree removal on lands within the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) remains exempt from the requirement for a permit, however, a written statement from the owner declaring that the trees are to be removed for an agricultural use is required.

View the bylaw.

Questions or comments?

Comments can be emailed to planning@csaanich.ca.

With questions, please contact Ivo van der Kamp at 236-638-3520.