Private Tree Protection By-law in Effect

The Town of Oakville enacted its Private Tree Protection By-law 2008-156 (pdf, 2 MB) regulating the destruction or injury of all private trees on October 1, 2008. The Private Tree Protection By-law was adopted by Council to support a greener community and a healthier environment. It exists to preserve significant trees on all private properties within the Town and to sustain Oakville's urban forest.

Anyone contravening the Private Tree Protection By-law and found guilty of an offence will be subject to penalties.

How do I know if the new Private Tree Protection By-law applies to me?
If you can say yes to any of the below statements, the Private Tree Protection By-Law does not apply to you. If none of the below statements apply, you must fill out one of the two forms listed below the statements.

I want to remove a private tree...

with a diameter less than 20 centimetres.
for the purpose of satisfying a condition to a development permit authorized by regulation made under section 70.2 of the Planning Act or as a requirement of an agreement entered into the regulation; examples include but are not limited to the Development Permit System.
located next to a transmitter or distributor as defined in the Electricity Act , 1998 for the purpose construction and maintaining a transmission system or a distribution system, as defined under that Act.
to permit the construction of a building or structure where the removal, injury, or destruction is required under a building permit. Example include, but are not limited to, Residential-New and Residential Addition under Site Alteration Application (pdf, 86 kB).
located within woodlands or greenlands governed by the Halton Region Tree By-Law 121-05.
for emergency work.
located on rooftop gardens, interior courtyards or solariums.
located on a nursery.
using a person licensed under the Surveyors Act to engage in the practice of cadastral surveying or his agent while making a survey.
for the purpose of satisfying a condition to the approval of a site plan, a plan of subdivision, or a consent under sections 41 (Site Plan Application), 51(Plan of Sub-division Approval), and 53 (Consent Application) of the Planning Act, or as a requirement of a site plan or subdivision agreement under those sections of the Act. Examples include but not limited to Commercial/Industrial-New, Commercial/Industrial-Addition and Subdivision-Multi residence applications. Download the Site Alteration Application (pdf, 86 kB).
in the sole discretion of the Director of Development Services for the Town of Oakville, as a result of activities or matter undertaken as part of the approved process for the Environmental Implementation and Functional Servicing requirements for the lands in the North Oakville Secondary Plan area other than the lands designated Natural Heritage System.
that is required under a Property Standards By-Law order.

You Must Fill Out a Notification Form if Removing: You Must Fill Out an Application for Tree Permit Form if Removing:

Four or less trees between 20 to 76 centimetres diameter measured at 1.37 metres per calendar year.
Dead and/or hazardous trees greater than 20 centimetres diameter measured at 1.37 metres.

Five or more trees between 20 and 76 centimetres in diameter measured at 1.37 metres per calendar year.
Four trees have already been removed and for the fifth or more trees between 20 and 76 centimetres in diameter measured at 1.37 metres per calendar year.
Any tree greater that 76 centimetres in diameter, measured at 1.37 metres in this calendar year.

Notification Form Process
Form shall be submitted at least 24 hours prior to the proposed removal of the tree(s).

Fill out the Notification form (pdf, 15 kB)

Submit the completed form by one of the following methods:

In person:
Town of Oakville, Central Operations
1140 South Service Road West
Oakville, ON L7L 5T7

By fax:
905-338-4227

By mail:
Town of Oakville, Forestry Section
PO Box 310, 1225 Trafalgar Road
Oakville, ON L6J 5A6

No permit or confirmation of the Notification Form shall be issued by the Town. The homeowner can proceed with the work 24 hours after a complete Notification Form has been submitted to the Town.

Permit Application Form Process
To remove five or more trees, property owners must apply for a permit at a cost of $200 per tree. The fee for the permit increases to $500 for any tree over 76 centimetres in diameter, recognizing that mature trees require additional protection due to their critical role in providing natural habitat, tree canopy and pollution reduction.

Fill out the Permit Application form (pdf, 24 kB)

Submit the completed application by one of the following methods:

In person:
Town of Oakville, Central Operations
1140 South Service Road West
Oakville, ON L7L 5T7

By fax:
905-338-4227

By mail:
Town of Oakville, Forestry Section
PO Box 310, 1225 Trafalgar Road
Oakville, ON L6J 5A6

File the required, non-refundable permit fee. Fees are determined by size and number of trees being cut down. Refer to Section A of the Private Tree Protection By-law for permit fees.
No tree shall be injured or destroyed until a permit has been issued by the Town.
If the Permit Application is associated with a development application, the matter will be deferred to the Planning and Development Commission to be addressed as part of the development application. No trees shall be removed until the development application has been dealt with.

Download instructions on how to measure a tree's diameter (pdf, 140 kB).

Still have questions?
Visit the FAQ page.

Contact Information
Forestry Section
Parks and Open Space Department
905-845-6601, ext. 3348
forestry@oakville.ca

Related Information
Council Reports and Background Information
Halton Tree By-Law 121-05

Forestry Information
Urban Forestry
Emerald Ash Borer
Gypsy Moth