Guides
Tree permits, and where they actually apply
Ladysmith Tree Removal checks four authorities before we quote, because no two answer the same way. The Town of Ladysmith's Bylaw No. 695 applies to public land only, and North Cowichan states in its own wording that no tree protection bylaw exists. CVRD Bylaw No. 2500 blocks tree removal inside a Stream Protection Development Permit Area, while Regional District of Nanaimo Bylaw No. 500 requires a permit across six areas unless a certified arborist finds the tree hazardous — so we check which one covers your address.
Updated September 2026
Four authorities cover this area, and which one applies to you depends on which side of a boundary your property sits on.
A Development Permit Area is a designated zone where local governments restrict land clearing and tree removal, even where no general tree bylaw exists.
We file a permit application only on request as part of a danger tree assessment, and an additional fee may apply.
| Where the property is | What applies |
|---|---|
| Ladysmith (Town of Ladysmith) | Tree Cutting Regulation Bylaw, 1979, No. 695 — parks, greenbelts and public areas only. DPA 8 requires a tree preservation plan. |
| Chemainus (North Cowichan) | Development Permit Areas govern cutting. DPA-3 and DPA-4 carry restrictions. |
| Saltair (CVRD Electoral Area G) | OCP Bylaw No. 2500 — no altering land, including removing trees, inside the Stream Protection Development Permit Area without a permit. |
| Cedar and Yellow Point (Regional District of Nanaimo) | Bylaw No. 500 — a development permit to remove vegetation across six areas. Hazardous trees exempt on a certified arborist's determination. |
Ladysmith: where the bylaw applies, and what applies instead
On private property in Ladysmith, a Development Permit Area governs tree cutting, and DPA 8 requires a tree preservation plan. The Town's Tree Cutting Regulation Bylaw, 1979, No. 695 covers land set aside as a park, greenbelt or public area — cutting there needs a permit naming the trees, the species and whether they are to be felled or topped, with the Works Foreman flagging what comes down.
Chemainus: two permit areas to check
Chemainus falls under the Municipality of North Cowichan, where tree cutting on private property is governed by Development Permit Areas rather than a tree protection bylaw. DPA-3 and DPA-4 restrict tree cutting, so we check with the North Cowichan planning department before scheduling work. North Cowichan also flags the BC Wildlife Act and the Migratory Bird Convention Act, and names late March to mid-August as the nesting window that needs care. We check that window before we book a date.
Where an arborist's report is the exemption
In Cedar and Yellow Point, Regional District of Nanaimo Bylaw No. 500 makes the removal, alteration or destruction of vegetation, trees included, a development permit matter across six areas. It then exempts trees deemed hazardous by a certified arborist or Registered Professional Forester that pose an imminent threat to buildings or life safety. That determination is the exemption — there is no other route around the permit.
Saltair works differently again. The Electoral Area G Official Community Plan, Bylaw No. 2500, states that no person shall alter land, including the removal of trees, inside the Stream Protection Development Permit Area before the owner receives a development permit. A hazard finding does not substitute for that permit.
For detailed methods, see danger tree assessment and tree removal, or compare typical prices in the cost guide.
If the permit position is doubtful, a written arborist opinion settles it. Request a free assessment and we confirm your jurisdiction before any application goes in.