Toronto is implementing new measures to enhance protection for its largest trees and increase oversight to prevent unauthorized removals. Updates to the city’s tree bylaws will come into effect on September 1, primarily impacting property owners seeking to remove or construct near trees.
Kim Statham, Toronto’s director of urban forestry, emphasized the crucial role of the bylaws in achieving the city’s goal of expanding its tree canopy to 40% by 2050. Currently, a permit is necessary to cut down or build near a private tree with a diameter of 30 centimetres or more.
A significant update includes the introduction of a “distinctive tree” category for trees measuring 61 centimetres in diameter and above. Statham highlighted that these larger trees will receive heightened consideration, granting city staff greater authority to reject removal requests.
Janet McKay, executive director of the Toronto forest protection group, LEAF, praised the increased protection for larger trees, noting the communal benefits they provide, such as shade, improved air quality, stormwater management, and wildlife habitats.
Under the revised bylaw, penalties for cutting down a protected tree without a permit range from $500 to $100,000, with offenders required to cover the cost of replanting multiple trees. The number of replacement trees will now be determined by the size of the removed tree.
Moreover, city staff will be empowered to utilize stump measurements as evidence of unauthorized tree removals. Additionally, permit fees will be introduced for households in Toronto’s ravine-protected areas, with costs varying based on the application.
In a bid to promote tree care, a new pilot program is in the works to assist property owners in maintaining very large trees, including those falling under the “distinctive tree” category.
Looking ahead, the current changes represent just the initial phase of a broader bylaw revamp. Future considerations include permit enhancements and the integration of Indigenous knowledge by 2027. Discussions are ongoing about lowering the protected-tree threshold to 20 centimetres, a move aimed at safeguarding younger trees for the future.
While there is support for stronger tree protections, concerns have been raised about the city’s capacity to effectively manage the increased workload. Urban planner Blair Scorgie emphasized the need for a streamlined permitting system to minimize delays and uncertainties for builders.
Statham affirmed the city’s commitment to balancing tree conservation with development interests, with plans to explore greater flexibility for builders in upcoming revisions to the tree bylaws.