Tree Cutting Permit

Richmond Hill works to protect our community's trees which are important for our quality of life today and for the future.

Tree Preservation By-law

We control the removal and injury of trees on private property through our Tree Preservation By-law. This by-law requires that you obtain a permit before removing or injuring any tree with a diameter at breast height of 15 cm or more (see the image below, which shows that a tree's diameter at breast height is measured at 1.4 metres above the ground).

Injure or Injury means to harm, damage, impair or not protect a tree in accordance with proper arboricultural practices and the City of Richmond Hill Standards and Specifications Manual, entirely or in part, and/or any acts which will harm a tree’s health or damage a tree in any manner. Removal of more than 20% of the live tissue of a tree within a twelve (12) month period or any encroachment into the Tree Protection Zone is considered an injury to a tree.

The Tree Protection Zone is measured as a radius from the edge of the tree trunk and is dependent on the tree's trunk size measured as the diameter of the trunk 1.4 metres above the ground.

Apply online

Permit for Injury or Destruction of Trees - Apply and Pay Online

Plan of Subdivision or Site Plan applications provide Tree Inventory and Preservation Plans prepared by an Arborist to remove/replace trees, which are reviewed by the Park and Natural Heritage Planning section as part of the Planning process. Trees on development sites with active Plan of Subdivision or Site Plan applications do not require a separate Tree Permit.

Fees

Your application must include a non-refundable fee of $314 +HST for the first tree. Each additional tree will cost you $109 +HST each, to a maximum of $859 +HST.

Tree Replacement - Notice of Fulfillment

To notify the City when the tree replacement replanting condition associated with your tree permit has been fulfilled, and/or to make a cash-in-lieu payment, please complete the form at the link below. In accordance with the 2026 Tariff of Fees By-law the current cash-in-lieu fee is $945 per tree. The chart below outlines the required number of replacement trees, based on the size of tree proposed for removal. When planting of Replacement Trees is required, a security deposit will be collected for the Replacement Trees in accordance with the Tariff of Fees By-law.

In order to initiate the tree replacement review, the online form must be completed entirely.

Tree Replacement - Apply and Pay Online

Report illegal tree removal

Report suspected illegal tree removal to Richmond Hill's By-law and Licensing Enforcement section at 905-771-0198.

More information

Please see Tree Preservation Information to learn more about:

• Guidelines for construction near trees
• Arborist reports and certificates
• Arborist input during the five stages of the development process