Tree Maintenance

The City of Vernon is working to promote a healthy, enjoyable and safe community by providing the following programs to enhance our urban environment.

Vernon’s Tree Protection Bylaw #4152 restricts damage to trees (including pruning or removal of certain limbs), destruction of trees, and removal of trees. This applies to all trees within the City of Vernon that have a diameter greater than 8cm at 1m above the ground at the base of the tree, except the following:

• Trees on privately-owned land that are contained on any lot zoned R1, R2, R3 and R3 that is less than 1,114 m2 (11,991.14 ft2); or
• Trees that are part of a commercial fruit orchard; or
• Trees that are Hazardous Trees and the damage is done by a utility company.

Tree cutting / removal permits can be sought where a property owner has reason to require damage, destruction or removal of trees in Vernon. In general, each tree removed will need to be replaced by a new tree.

Please refer to the Tree Protection Bylaw for:

• Tree replacement criteria.
• Details about emergency tree removal.
• Specific regulations that apply to logging.

Is your tree within 30m of a lake or creek? If so, only hazard trees should be removed, unless tree removal is proposed as part of a development. Please review the Ministry of Environment’s Best Management Practices for Tree Topping, Limbing and Removal in Riparian Areas.

The Tree Protection Bylaw protects trees on private property that are 8 cm (3.15 inches) or more in diameter at 1.0 m (2.28 feet) above ground level. To quickly estimate a tree’s diameter, use a meter stick or tape measure to measure 1.0 m above ground level. At this height, hold a ruler up to the tree so that it is perpendicular to the ground and measure 8cm. If the tree is much bigger or much smaller than 8cm across, this method will be sufficient to determine whether or not the tree is protected by the Tree Protection Bylaw.