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Tree rules in Calgary: permits, protected trees and fees

What the City of Calgary pages say about the Tree Protection Bylaw 23M2002 for City trees only, the Tree Protection Plan within 6 metres of a public tree, the 4 metre protection zone, removal applications and the fines up to CA$10,000.

Checked against the sources at the bottom of this page on October 8, 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 restates the City of Calgary pages on tree protection bylaws and on protecting trees during construction, the Tree Protection Plan guide, and the public tree and stump removal application form, as read on October 8, 2026. The wider list of cities is on the guide to tree permits in the largest Canadian cities.

What the bylaw covers

The bylaws page says the Tree Protection Bylaw was created to protect public trees, meaning trees on land owned or controlled by the City, and does not apply to trees on private property. The guide names the bylaw as 23M2002, used together with the Streets Bylaw 20M88. The page lists what the bylaw prohibits: cutting, removing, moving or pruning City trees; penetrating the bark or attaching any object or sign to trees on City land; planting trees or shrubs on City land; spraying trees with anything except water; attaching electrical cords or other objects to trees; and unauthorized entry or interference with a tree protection zone. Pruning and removal of a public tree needs written authorization from Parks and Open Spaces Urban Forestry.

Fines and compensation

ItemAmount as the City words it
Fine range on the bylaws pageCA$100 for attaching an object to a tree, up to CA$1,000 for failure to comply with an enforcement order
Higher finesThe page says the provincial Municipal Government Act allows the City to seek fines as high as CA$10,000 for serious infractions. The guide says damaging a public tree carries a maximum fine of CA$10,000 per offence
Removed or severely damaged without authorizationIn addition to the fine, the full appraised value of the tree must be paid. The guide says public trees regularly hold valuations between CA$1,000 and CA$50,000 or higher
Not following the approved planThe guide's agreement form says a CA$500 fine
ReplacementThe page gives a tree installation cost of CA$565, with a replacement tree of 60 to 85 mm

The guide says appraised values follow the Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers guide for plant appraisal, and the removal form names its 9th edition.

Building near a public tree

A Tree Protection Plan is required when construction involves excavation, storage of materials or access routes for people and equipment within 6 metres of a public tree. The guide describes the plan as an agreement between the property owner or agent and the City, under which the owner is liable for any damage to public trees during development, including damage by contractors. Its steps are a Public Tree Disclosure Statement, a pre-construction meeting with an Urban Forestry Technician, preparing the plan from a checklist, and submitting it with a signed agreement. The protection zone extends at least 4 metres from the trunk, with protective fencing at least 1.2 metres tall; at minimum it is limited to City property, and the City recommends extending it to the drip line. The development page lists the plan contents: an inventory of City trees and shrubs within 6 metres of the site, with species, diameter measured at 1.4 metres, height and canopy width; the zone; storage areas; limits of excavation and grade changes; construction methods; pre- and post-construction care; and a named contact. It says trees injured during construction may decline as late as 10 years after the damage.

Removal on development sites

The bylaws page calls tree and stump removal a last resort on development sites. The removal application asks for the permit number, the species and quantity of trees, the appraised dollar value, the reasons and the alternatives considered. It says authorization is not given until the development permit or building permit has been approved, and that removal must be done by contractors who meet the City's minimum standards. The page lists those standards as an ISA Certified Arborist designation, CA$5,000,000 in auto insurance and CA$5,000,000 in general liability insurance, a workers' compensation clearance letter and a Certificate of Recognition from Alberta Occupational Health and Safety.

Sources