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Appealing a tree decision in Canada: what six city bylaws and pages say

Six Canadian cities say who hears an appeal after a refused tree permit or an order, and how long the owner has. The routes run from a staff review in Surrey to a Hearings Officer in London and Markham to City Council in Richmond.

Checked against the sources at the bottom of this page on October 9, 2026. Rules, fees and pay change: the source has the last word.

This page reports what the official source says. It is not legal advice: ask the office named here. It sets side by side what the City of Surrey, the City of Burnaby, the City of Richmond, the City of Markham, the City of London and the City of Saskatoon say about appeals, from their pages and bylaws as read on October 9, 2026. It covers the six cities only. Each city's wider rules are in the guide to tree permits in Canadian cities, and the general picture is in the guide to tree protection laws.

Who hears the appeal

CityWho the source namesTime limit the source gives
SurreyTrees and Landscaping staff, by email, with supporting documents. Staff review it and email a responseThe appeals page gives none
BurnabyThe Director of Planning and Building, or Council directlyThe brochure gives none
RichmondThe Director of Building Approvals reviews a refusal, then City Council reconsiders30 days from the decision being communicated, for the Council step
MarkhamA Hearing Officer, whose decision is final and binding10 days from the Administrator's written decision, with the fee
LondonA Hearings Officer, on a notice delivered to the City Clerk30 days after the written notice of the decision is given, with the fee
SaskatoonThe Saskatoon Appeal BoardSet by The Saskatoon Appeal Board Bylaw, 2024, not in the tree bylaw

What each source adds

Surrey's appeals page lists four kinds of appeal: a tree cutting permit application, replacement tree requirements, improper pruning and tree removal without a permit. The last two use an infraction appeal form. On a refused permit, Surrey's removal page says the owner hires a certified tree risk assessor to produce a Level 3 Advanced Tree Risk Assessment showing the tree meets the removal requirements.

Burnaby's brochure lists three options when the City and the owner disagree about whether a tree is protected or can come out: keep the tree, hire an arborist whose report staff check for consistency with best practices before a permit is issued, or appeal to the Director of Planning and Building or directly to Council.

Richmond's Bulletin TREE-11 says an owner can ask the Director in writing to review a refusal, and that a claim the tree is hazardous needs a Certified Tree Risk Assessment report. If no permit follows, section 6.5 of Bylaw 8057 allows an application to City Council for reconsideration within 30 days. It goes to the City Clerk in writing and sets out why the Director's decision is inappropriate and what Council should substitute. Council may confirm the decision or substitute its own.

Markham's By-law 2023-164 says an appeal does not stay the Administrator's decision and that, with no appeal in time, the decision is final. The onus is on the appellant. The Hearing Officer can modify, rescind or confirm a decision or condition and gives written reasons within 14 days of the hearing.

London's Tree Protection By-law says a written refusal must state that the applicant is entitled to a hearing by the Hearings Officer on delivering a notice of appeal to the City Clerk within 30 days. With no appeal in time the City Engineer's decision is deemed final.

Saskatoon's Bylaw No. 9957 lets an aggrieved party appeal a refused or revoked permit, or terms and conditions imposed on a permit, to the Appeal Board. It gives no right of appeal on the formula the City uses for a tree's appraised value, and it gives the same board an appeal of an order to remedy a contravention.

Sources