Tree & Ravine Protection Permits Toronto

Tree Permits Toronto

Planning on doing construction work around City-owned or private trees? Trees are a valuable asset to our city and a number of regulations and guidelines are in place to protect them.

Learn how to protect and grow our urban forest and apply for permits to perform work involving trees.

When do you need a permit?

Any activity that could result in injury, destruction or removal of a protected tree is prohibited, unless authorized with a permit under the appropriate Tree Protection By-law.

Protected trees are:

You need a permit for any activity that could result in injury, destruction or removal of a protected tree. Such activities include, but are not limited to the following:

  • demolition, construction, replacement or alteration of permanent or temporary buildings or structures, parking pads, driveways, sidewalks, walkways, paths, trails, dog runs, pools, retaining walls, patios, decks, terraces, sheds or raised gardens
  • installation of large stones or boulders
  • altering grade by adding or removing soil or fill, excavating, trenching, topsoil or fill scraping, compacting soil or fill, dumping or disturbance of any kind
  • storage of construction materials, equipment, wood, branches, leaves, soil or fill, construction waste or debris of any sort
  • application, discharge or disposal of any substance or chemical that may adversely affect the health of a tree  e.g. concrete sluice, gas, oil, paint, pool water or backwash water from a swimming pool
  • causing or allowing water or discharge, to flow over slopes or through natural areas
  • access, parking or movement of vehicles, equipment or pedestrians
  • cutting, breaking, tearing, crushing, exposing or stripping tree’s roots, trunk and branches.
  • nailing or stapling into a tree, including attachment of fences, electrical wires or signs
  • stringing of cables or installing lights on trees
  • soil remediation, removal of contaminated fill
  • excavating for directional or micro-tunnelling and boring entering shafts

An injury to a tree occurs if any of the above mentioned activities take place within the root zone of a tree. A permit is required if root injury occurs within the Tree Protection Zone (TPZ) determined by Urban Forestry as per Tree Protection Policy and Specifications for Construction Near Trees PDF.

When do you need a permit?

For more information contact Urban Forestry at 311@toronto.ca

There are different criteria for submitting an Application to Injure a Tree and submitting an Application to Destroy a Tree.

The following items must be submitted to complete your Application to Injure or Destroy Trees.

Application to Destroy (Remove)

  • Application Fee (certified cheque or money order)
  • Arborist Report
  • Landscape/ Replanting Plan
  • Photos
  • Site Plan (if the application is construction-related.)
  • Elevations (if application is construction-related)
  • Site Plan with Ravine Line Delineation (if the property is in a ravine protected area)

Application to Injure

  • Application Fee (certified cheque or money order)
  • Arborist Report
  • Tree Protection Plan
  • Site Plan
  • Elevations
  • First Floor Plan
  • Basement Plan
  • Photos
  • Construction Details (may be required)
  • Site Plan with Ravine Line Delineation (if the property is in a ravine protected area)

Please see Terms and Definitions below for detailed explanations.

Please note that incomplete applications will not be processed. If an application is incomplete, the City will advise in writing which items are necessary to complete the application. Permit applications will expire one year from the date of submission.

Click here to contact us for more information.