If your tree is 30 cm or wider at chest height, you need a City of Toronto permit before it comes down — and skipping that step can cost you anywhere from $500 to $100,000 in fines under Municipal Code Chapter 813. Permit fees run $50–$150, a standard removal runs $800–$3,500, and the full process takes 5–10 business days in most cases. This guide translates Chapter 813 from legalese into a plain-language roadmap, covering every fee, fine, timeline, and exemption a Toronto homeowner needs to know.
Unsure whether your tree is regulated? Call us for a free on-site assessment: 647-558-1366.
What Is Chapter 813? Why Toronto Protects Trees & Who Enforces It
Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 813 is the City’s Private Tree By-law. Toronto City Council adopted the current framework with significant updates ratified in 2024 and further refined in 2026 — including a new Distinctive Tree category for trees exceeding 61 cm DBH. The law applies to privately owned trees on residential, commercial, and institutional properties across all former municipalities now amalgamated into the City of Toronto.
The “why” is straightforward: Toronto’s urban canopy delivers an estimated $80 million per year in benefits — stormwater interception, heat island reduction, air quality improvement, and property value uplift. The City has a formal target of 40% canopy cover by 2050 (currently near 28%). Chapter 813 is the enforcement mechanism that prevents private landowners from eroding that canopy without accountability.
Who enforces it? Toronto Urban Forestry, operating under the Environment & Climate Director, responds to complaints, investigates unpermitted removals, and issues fines. You can report a concern or file an application through Toronto 311 (call 311, or visit toronto.ca/311). Urban Forestry officers can issue stop-work orders on the spot and refer repeat or high-severity violations to the City Prosecutor’s office.
Do You Need a Permit? Decision Guide (Tree Size, Location, Protected Status)
Most Toronto homeowners start here: does my specific tree actually need a permit? The short answer: measure the trunk. If it clears 30 cm DBH, you need a permit. If it doesn’t, you’re free to remove without filing — though you should still book an arborist consultation to confirm the measurement and document the condition before any work begins.
| Scenario | Permit Required? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tree <30 cm DBH, healthy | No | Free to remove; good practice to document anyway |
| Tree ≥30 cm DBH, any species | Yes | Standard Chapter 813 permit required |
| Tree ≥30 cm DBH, protected species (oak, hickory, elm, ash, willow) | Yes — higher scrutiny | Additional justification; fines up to $100,000 |
| Tree >61 cm DBH — Distinctive Tree (2026 category) | Yes — strictest review | Urban Forestry may require arborist report + site visit |
| Tree on ravine or floodplain property | Yes + TRCA approval | Chapter 307 + TRCA two-step process (see below) |
| Tree fell or is an immediate hazard (emergency) | Retroactive permit within 10 days | Document hazard before and during work |
| City boulevard tree (between sidewalk and road) | City’s responsibility — do not touch | Call 311; City removes at no cost to you |
The 30 cm DBH Threshold: How to Measure & Why It Matters
DBH stands for Diameter at Breast Height. The City defines “breast height” as 1.4 metres above ground level on the uphill side of the trunk if the tree is on a slope. This is roughly at an adult’s mid-chest. Here’s how to measure it accurately:
- Wrap a soft measuring tape around the trunk at 1.4 m above ground.
- Read the circumference in centimetres.
- Divide by π (3.14159) to get the diameter. Example: a circumference of 95 cm ÷ 3.14 = 30.2 cm DBH — that tree requires a permit.
- A quick mental check: if the trunk is roughly the diameter of a large dinner plate (about 30 cm), you’re at the threshold.
Multi-stem trees: If the tree splits into multiple trunks below 1.4 m, Chapter 813 specifies measuring each stem individually at 1.4 m. If any single stem reaches 30 cm, the entire tree falls under permit requirements. If all stems are below 30 cm, you may still need a permit if their combined cross-section meets an equivalent threshold — consult an ISA Certified arborist for multi-stem situations before any work begins.
Why does 30 cm matter? A tree at that diameter is typically 30–50 years old — established enough to provide meaningful canopy, root-zone stabilisation, and ecosystem services. Below that threshold, the City accepts some natural attrition and homeowner management without oversight.
Protected Species & Higher Fines (Oak, Hickory, Elm, Ash, Willow)
Chapter 813 identifies several species as protected trees, subject to stricter review and significantly higher penalties for unpermitted removal. The key protected species in Toronto are:
- Oak (all Quercus spp.) — extremely common in older Toronto neighbourhoods
- Hickory (Carya spp.) — less common but heavily protected
- Elm (Ulmus spp.) — historic significance, Dutch elm disease has reduced numbers
- Ash (Fraxinus spp.) — under additional pressure from Emerald Ash Borer; dead ash still protected
- Willow (Salix spp.) — common in ravine-adjacent and low-lying areas
As of the 2026 updates, trees exceeding 61 cm DBH of any species qualify as Distinctive Trees — a new category that triggers the highest level of scrutiny. Removing a Distinctive Tree typically requires a detailed arborist’s report, an Urban Forestry site visit, and a stronger case for removal than standard applications.
Fine exposure by species: A non-protected tree removed without a permit carries fines of $500–$2,000. Remove a 40 cm oak without a permit and you face up to $100,000. In 2025, Toronto Urban Forestry issued a $75,000 fine to a developer who removed a protected oak without filing — enforcement is real and active.
Permit Application Process: Step-by-Step (With Timeline)
Filing a Chapter 813 permit isn’t complicated, but the steps must be followed in order. Here’s what to expect from assessment to approval:
- Step 1 — Arborist Assessment ($0–$250): Confirm the tree’s DBH, species, condition, and permit requirement. Our ISA Certified arborists provide this as part of a free removal quote for standard cases. For protected species or Distinctive Trees, a written arborist report may be required ($150–$250).
- Step 2 — Application Submission: File through toronto.ca/311 online portal or in person at City Hall, Civic Centres. Required documents: property address, tree location on lot, species, DBH, reason for removal (dead, hazardous, construction), and arborist report if required. Permit fee: $50–$150.
- Step 3 — Completeness Review (3–5 business days): Urban Forestry checks that the application is complete. Incomplete submissions are returned for correction — the clock resets.
- Step 4 — Urban Forestry Review (up to 30 business days by law): An officer reviews the application; may conduct a site visit. In practice, most standard applications receive a decision in 5–10 business days if the file is complete.
- Step 5 — Decision: Permit approved (with or without conditions such as replacement planting), permit denied, or request for additional information. If denied, you may appeal to the Toronto Local Appeal Body.
- Step 6 — Removal & Compliance: Work must be completed within the permit’s specified timeframe (typically 60 days). Post-removal, Urban Forestry may verify replacement planting compliance.
Total project timeline: From initial arborist assessment to removal day, budget 4–8 weeks for a standard application. Protected species or Distinctive Tree applications can run 8–12 weeks. Ravine-adjacent properties requiring TRCA approval add another 3–6 weeks on top.
TTR can handle the entire permit-filing process on your behalf — from the initial measurement and report to submission and follow-up. Our optional permit-filing service is included in our removal quote. Call 647-558-1366 to start.
Costs & Fees: Permit Application, TTR Services, Removal, Replacement
Here’s the full breakdown of what a permitted tree removal actually costs in Toronto, covering every line item:
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Fines & Penalties: What Unpermitted Removal Actually Costs
Don’t risk a $100,000 violation. We handle the entire Chapter 813 process — from permit filing to removal to replacement planting compliance. Call 647-558-1366.
| Violation Type | Tree Type | Fine Range (CAD) | Example Scenario |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unpermitted removal | Non-protected (<50 cm) | $500–$2,000 | 25 cm maple removed without permit; City often settles near $800 |
| Unpermitted removal | Protected species (oak, ash, elm, willow, hickory) | $10,000–$100,000 | 40 cm oak removed without permit; Toronto issued $75,000 to developer in 2025 |
| Distinctive Tree removal | Any species >61 cm DBH | Up to $100,000 | Heritage oak >100 years removed for new construction; highest-tier enforcement |
| False statement on application | Any | Criminal liability | Arborist falsified hazard report; rare but prosecuted |
| Non-compliance with replacement order | Any | $500 initial + City execution cost | Ignored order to plant 2 trees; City planted + charged owner ($500 fine + $2,400 tree cost) |
| Damage to protected tree (without removal) | Protected species | $5,000–$50,000 | Contractor cuts roots during construction, kills a 45 cm oak |
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We serve all of Toronto, Scarborough, North York, Etobicoke, Vaughan, Mississauga, Markham, and Brampton. ISA Certified · TCIA Member · $5M Liability · WSIB · 15+ Years GTA · 2-Hour Emergency Response. Questions about Chapter 813? Contact us or request a free consultation — we handle the permit, the removal, and the replacement planting from start to finish.