Do You Need a Permit to Cut Down a Tree in Ottawa?

The rule in one paragraph

Ottawa's Tree Protection By-law (No. 2020-340) protects trees on private property in the urban area. The one that applies to most homeowners is the distinctive tree: any tree 30 cm or more in diameter, measured at 1.3 m above the ground (called diameter at breast height), on a lot of one hectare or less. You need a City permit to injure or remove it, and you apply with a report from an arborist.

Step 1: Measure your tree

Wrap a soft tape measure around the trunk at 1.3 m up. Divide the number you get by 3.14 to get the diameter. If the tree forks below that height, measure the narrowest point below the fork. A tree close to 30 cm deserves a second measurement.

• Under 30 cm on a lot of one hectare or less in the urban area: not a distinctive tree, so no permit under the by-law.
• 30 cm or more on a lot of one hectare or less in the urban area: distinctive. A permit is required.
• A larger private lot in the urban area (more than one hectare): the by-law protects trees 10 cm or more across, so check with the City before cutting.
• A City tree, such as one on the boulevard: it belongs to the City anywhere in Ottawa. Call 3-1-1.

Step 2: Are you in the urban area?

The distinctive tree rule applies in Ottawa's urban area. Rural properties follow different rules, and many of our customers in Orleans, Cumberland, Navan and Metcalfe live close to that line. We do not guess about it: the City can tell you which rules apply to your address, and we can help you sort it out when we visit.

Step 3: Check whether an exemption applies

• A dead tree. The by-law exempts a tree that is dead as confirmed by an arborist. Get that confirmation in writing.
• An immediate threat to public health and safety. The City asks you to photograph the tree before it comes down, as a record of its condition.
• Emerald ash borer. Private ash trees infested with the beetle are exempt from the permit requirement, but the wood has to be handled properly.
• Pruning. Work that maintains the tree's health and follows good arboricultural practice needs no permit. Topping and heavy cuts can still count as injuring a protected tree. See our guide to pruning a large branch safely.

If you think your tree is hazardous, our guide to warning signs of a dangerous tree shows what to check.

Step 4: Apply, if a permit is needed

The application is made online through the City of Ottawa, with a Tree Information Report prepared by an arborist. The owner, the arborist and the contractor sign the application. The City charges its own fee, which is separate from any arborist or contractor cost. Look up the current fee on the City's site before you apply.

Step 5: Plan the replacement

Outside of development, the City requires one new tree for each tree removed under a permit. Decide where it will go and pick a species that suits the space and the soil.

Boundary trees and neighbours

A tree whose trunk grows across the property line is the common property of both owners under section 10 of Ontario's Forestry Act. Injuring or destroying it without both owners' consent is an offence, on top of any City permit. Talk to your neighbour first and keep the agreement in writing.

Nesting birds

Nests of most wild birds are protected under the federal Migratory Birds Convention Act. Look for active nests before any cutting, and wait until the young have left if you find one.

Outside Ottawa: Prescott-Russell

The Ottawa by-law applies inside the City of Ottawa. Towns in Prescott-Russell and Clarence-Rockland have their own rules, and some tree cutting is regulated at the county level. Call your municipality before you cut, and ask whether any permit or notice is needed. We serve both sides of the boundary and can point you to the right office.

What happens if you skip the permit

Fines under Ottawa's by-law range from $500 to $100,000, and the City can issue a stop work order. Checking first is far cheaper.

A short checklist before you book

1. Measure the trunk at 1.3 m.
2. Confirm whether the tree is yours, the City's or shared with a neighbour.
3. Check whether your property is in the urban area and what its size is.
4. Decide whether an exemption applies, and get it in writing if it does.
5. Look for nests and for wires near the tree.
6. Get a free estimate and ask the crew whether a permit is needed.

Questions about permits

Sources: City of Ottawa, Tree Protection By-law No. 2020-340 and its general information and permit pages; Forestry Act (Ontario), section 10; Migratory Birds Convention Act (Canada).

Need a tree taken down in Ottawa or Prescott-Russell? Call (613) 558-4806 or get a free estimate for tree cutting and removal.

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