Do You Need a Permit to Remove a Tree in Chilliwack?
Usually, no. If the tree is on your own private property, the City of Chilliwack does not require a permit to trim or remove it — the City does not regulate tree work on private lots. Three exceptions are worth knowing about, and they are covered below.
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The Short Answer
No permit is needed to remove a tree on your own private property in Chilliwack. In the City's own words, it "does not otherwise regulate the trimming of trees on private property." If the tree is yours and it stands on your lot, you can have it trimmed or removed without asking the City first.
Two responsibilities still come with owning the tree:
- Keep it clear of roadways and sidewalks — your trees must not encroach on the street or the sidewalk.
- Neighbour issues are between neighbours — disputes over a privately owned tree are a civil matter; the City will not step in.
Source: City of Chilliwack, Property Maintenance.
The Three Exceptions
1. City-owned street and boulevard trees
The tree on the boulevard or street in front of your house may belong to the City, not to you. Residents may not prune or cut city-owned street trees themselves, and may not hire a crew to do it either. If a city tree looks dead, damaged, or dangerous, the concern goes to the City's arborists. Source: City of Chilliwack, Urban Forests.
2. Development, subdivision, and building projects
Chilliwack's Tree Management (Land Development) Bylaw 2008, No. 3585 applies at development time — subdivision, rezoning, and building-permit projects — not to a homeowner removing a single tree. It requires new developments to reach a tree density of at least 50 trees per hectare, counting retained and newly planted trees. Land in the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) is outside this bylaw.
3. Trees encroaching on roadways and sidewalks
Even though removal itself is unregulated, you are responsible for keeping your trees from growing into the roadway or over the sidewalk. If your tree is encroaching, trimming it back is your job — again, no permit required for the work itself.
Chilliwack Is Not Vancouver
A lot of the confusion comes from next door: the City of Vancouver's Protection of Trees By-law does require a permit to remove many trees on private property, and people who search across the Lower Mainland often assume Chilliwack works the same way. It does not. Different city, different rules — in Chilliwack, a tree on your own lot is yours to remove.
Wondering what the job will cost once you know no permit is standing in the way? See our tree removal cost guide, or call 778-924-8749 for a free on-site estimate.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to remove a tree on my own property in Chilliwack?
No. The City of Chilliwack does not regulate the trimming or removal of trees on private property, so no permit is required for a tree on your own lot. You only need to keep your trees from encroaching on roadways and sidewalks.
Can I prune or remove the tree on the boulevard in front of my house?
No. Street and boulevard trees are City-owned. Residents may not prune or remove them, or hire a crew to do it. If a city tree is dead, damaged, or a concern, contact the City of Chilliwack's arborists.
What if I am building, subdividing, or developing the lot?
Then the City's Tree Management (Land Development) Bylaw 2008, No. 3585 can apply: new developments must reach a tree density of at least 50 trees per hectare through retained and newly planted trees. The bylaw does not apply to Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) land.
My neighbour's tree hangs over my yard. Who deals with that?
That is a civil matter between neighbours. Because the City does not regulate trees on private property, it will not intervene in a neighbour tree dispute.
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