Construction Insights
Tree Bylaws and Arborist Reports: What to Know Before You Build in Vancouver or Burnaby
If there are mature trees on your lot, they can shape your new home as much as the zoning does. Both Vancouver and Burnaby protect trees on private property, and on a building project the tree review is built into the permit process. Planning for it early avoids redesigns, delays and fines. This guide explains which trees are protected, when you need an arborist report, how replacement trees work, and what the rules mean for your schedule.Which trees are protected?
The two cities measure trees slightly differently, but the threshold is similar: on a property being developed, a trunk about 20 cm (8 inches) across is enough to make a tree protected.| City of Vancouver | City of Burnaby | |
|---|---|---|
| Protected size | Trunk diameter of 20 cm or more | With a development application: trunk diameter of 20.3 cm (8 in.) or more |
| Measured at | 1.4 m above the ground | 1.3 m above the ground (multi-stem trees: the three largest stems added together) |
| Without development | Same 20 cm rule applies | Higher thresholds: conifers 30.5 cm and up, broadleaf trees 45.7 cm and up |
| Bylaw | Protection of Trees By-law No. 9958 | Burnaby Tree Bylaw (No. 10482) |
Quick check: a trunk 20 cm across has a circumference of about 64 cm (roughly 25 inches). If a tape measure wrapped around the trunk at chest height reads more than that, assume the tree is protected until an arborist confirms otherwise.
Hedges, shrubs and smaller trees generally aren’t covered, unless they were planted as required replacement trees or are part of an approved landscape plan.
How trees are handled when you build
On a new home, you don’t usually apply for a tree permit on its own. The tree review happens as part of your demolition and building permit applications.In Vancouver
- Retention is the starting point. The City says property development requires you to retain existing trees on your lot, and protect trees on neighbouring lots and boulevard trees during construction.
- An arborist report is mandatory for a development site with trees 20 cm or larger. It must come from an ISA-certified arborist.
- Removal is tied to the building envelope. A protected tree can be approved for removal if it sits inside the building envelope of the permitted home and the design can’t reasonably be adjusted to keep it. Trees outside that area generally have to stay.
- Protection barriers at least 1.2 m high must be installed around retained trees. The required distance grows with the trunk size, for example 1.2 m from a 20 cm tree and 6.0 m from a 100 cm tree.
In Burnaby
- No separate tree application is needed. Trees are reviewed automatically with demolition, building, rezoning, subdivision or development applications.
- Arborist report and tree management plan: required for rezoning, subdivision and development approval projects. The plan shows which protected trees are kept or removed, where replacement trees go, and where protection fencing is installed.
- Protection fencing: for smaller-scale residential projects, a 4 ft wood-framed fence covered with plastic snow-fence material; larger developments need 6 ft chain-link or metal panel fencing.
- It affects your permit date: Burnaby won’t issue the demolition or building permit until the tree permit is approved, fees are paid and any required fencing is installed and inspected.
What an arborist report covers
An arborist report is a professional assessment of the trees on and near your site. It typically includes:- An inventory of trees on your lot, plus neighbouring and city trees close to the work
- Species, trunk diameter, health and condition of each tree
- Root protection zones and how far construction must stay away
- Which trees are proposed for removal and why, and which will be kept
- Protection measures during construction, such as fencing, hand-digging near roots or arborist supervision
Replacement trees and securities
When a protected tree is removed, both cities require replacement planting.- Vancouver: one replacement tree from the City’s approved list (or two from a secondary list) for each protected tree removed, planted before occupancy or within six months of the permit.
- Burnaby: the number depends on the size of the removed tree. One replacement for a tree 8 to 12 inches across, two for 12 to 24 inches, and three for 24 inches or more. Replacements must be planted within one year of the tree permit.
Budget tip: include the arborist report, protection fencing, replacement trees and any securities in your pre-construction budget. They’re modest compared with the build, but they’re often forgotten. In Vancouver, a standalone tree removal permit currently costs $113 for the first tree and $324 for each additional tree in a 12-month period (approximate; fees change annually).
Timing: bird nesting season
Tree removal also has to respect nesting birds. Burnaby reminds owners that from March 15 to August 15 you must confirm there are no active nests before pruning or removing a tree, and wait until birds have left if there are. Plan tree work for the fall or winter where you can, so a nest doesn’t hold up the start of construction.What happens if the rules are broken
Cutting or damaging a protected tree without approval is expensive:- Vancouver: fines from $500 to $10,000 per offence, and up to $10,000 per day for continuing offences.
- Burnaby: fines from $2,000 to $10,000 for each violation.
A simple tree checklist before you build
- Walk the lot and note every tree that might be 20 cm across or larger, including trees on neighbouring lots and the boulevard near your property line.
- Hire an ISA-certified arborist early, before design starts.
- Give the arborist report to your designer so the house is laid out around the trees that must stay.
- Budget for replacement trees, fencing, securities and any arborist supervision.
- Schedule tree removal outside nesting season where possible.
- Keep protection fencing in place and inspected until construction is complete.
Related reading
- Building permits & approvals support
- How long it takes to build a custom home in Vancouver or Burnaby
- How many homes can I build on my Burnaby lot? (2026 guide)
Please note: This page is general information, not legal, financial or professional advice. The facts, figures, bylaws, fees and code requirements described here were accurate to the best of our knowledge when it was published or last updated. These rules change often and differ from city to city, so some details may have changed since. Before you make decisions, please confirm the current requirements with your city’s planning and building department and with qualified professionals. We’re always happy to help you check what applies to your property.
Have mature trees on your lot and wondering how they affect what you can build?
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Sources
- City of Vancouver: Protection of Trees By-law 9958
- City of Vancouver: get a tree removal permit
- City of Vancouver: Protection of Trees By-law No. 9958, consolidated (PDF)
- City of Burnaby: tree removal and replacement
- City of Burnaby: tree cutting permits with development (PDF)
- City of Burnaby: Burnaby Tree Bylaw, consolidated (PDF)
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