As I’ve been posting about, a new tree protection bylaw has been working its way through the approval process over the last month or so. Yesterday afternoon, Council adopted a new Tree Protection and Management Bylaw.
In the City, you now must have a permit to remove a tree that:
- Is City-owned
- Is in an Environmentally Sensitive Area
- Has a diameter at breast height (DBH) of 20 centimetres or more on a lot subject to a development application
- Has a DBH of 75 centimetres or more on any lot
- Is planted to replace an existing tree under the Tree Protection and Management Bylaw
- Is protected by a restrictive covenant in favour of the City
As I posted last week, there is zero cost for homeowners for a permit, but there is for redevelopment applicants.
A removal permit would only be issued for trees that are:
- Dead, or more than 50% of the crown is dead
- Causing damage to a building or other damage that can only be mitigated by removal
- Noted by an arborist that a tree is at high or extreme risk of failure
- Required to be removed to comply with another City bylaw
Fines start at $3,000 per tree removed without a permit that is subject to this bylaw. Fines can be higher.
This post doesn’t cover all the scenarios in which you do or do not need a permit to remove a tree. Your best bet is to contact City Hall if you are planning to remove a tree.
Langley City Council has committees, such as the Environmental Sustainability Committee and the Crime Prevention Committee, that provide advice to Council. Members of Council are appointed to these committees, as well as to several external committees and workgroups. These appointments occur annually. Council approved its 2026 appointment yesterday. You can read more about these appointments on the City’s website.
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