What does Stratford's tree by-law cover on a private lot?

The by-law says no one may injure or destroy a private tree with a trunk diameter of 30 centimetres or more, measured 1.37 metres above the ground, without a permit, and it counts a tree as private when more than 40% of its trunk at ground level is on private property. An application needs an arborist report and the written consent of any neighbour on whose land part of the tree's base stands. Schedule A sets the application fee at $100 for fewer than 10 trees and $250 for more than 10, with no fee for dead, diseased or hazardous trees; removing a dead, terminally diseased or hazardous tree is exempt where an arborist report confirms it to the Director's satisfaction.

A permit can require replacement trees under Schedule C: one tree ($400) for a removal of 30 to 50 centimetres, two ($800) for 51 to 75, three ($1,200) for 76 to 100 and four ($1,600) above 100 centimetres, paid to the City where they are not replanted on the lot. The by-law says a permit is deemed revoked when the owner changes and can't be transferred without the Director's written consent. A rule summary says what the by-law covers; it doesn't say who owns a given tree or how wide its trunk is.

• Private Tree Preservation By-law 86-2020: the by-law, with its exemptions, fees and replacement schedule (PDF)
• By-laws: the City's list of by-laws, with the Parks and Forestry contact for the tree by-law

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