What does Brantford's private tree by-law cover?

The by-law applies to trees of any size in a woodlot of 1 acre (0.4 hectares) or more shown on its Schedule A, trees of any size in the Core Natural Areas shown on Schedule 6 of the City's Official Plan, trees of the species listed in its Schedule C anywhere in the city, and land with a pending plan of subdivision or condominium application. Unless an exemption applies, a permit is needed before such a tree is injured or destroyed, and the City's page says damage to roots within the critical root zone, a radius of 10 centimetres for every centimetre of trunk diameter, can count as injuring the tree. An application needs an arborist report and a tree protection plan, and a boundary tree needs every owner to apply.

Where a permit is approved, replacement trees are generally required, from three for a tree up to 30 cm in diameter at breast height to ten for one of 91 cm or more, with a contribution to the City's Tree Replacement Fund for any that cannot be planted on the property. The City's notice of June 2024 said the by-law does not affect the average homeowner and protects trees in environmentally sensitive areas and woodlots above one acre. A rule summary says what the by-law covers; it doesn't say whether a given lot is inside a mapped woodlot or Core Natural Area, or which trees stand on it.

• Private Tree By-law: the City's page on when a permit is needed, exemptions and replacement trees
• Private Tree By-law 95-2024: the by-law's text and schedules
• City approves updates to the Private Tree By-law: the City's notice of 26 June 2024

Tree and ravine limits is in the free check as a summary of the City's rule, from our hand-kept table, with a link to the City's page. It is a rule for the city, not a survey of the trees on a lot.

Free check: pick “Tree and ravine limits” See the sample report