Tree rules in Surrey: permits, protected trees and fees

This page reports what the official source says. It is not legal advice: ask the office named here. It describes five City of Surrey pages as read on October 9, 2026: removing trees, fallen trees after severe weather, removing trees for agriculture, pruning trees and trees and landscape appeals. The rule behind them is Tree Protection Bylaw No. 16100. The wider list of cities is on the guide to tree permits in Canadian cities.

Which trees are protected

The removal page says a Tree Cutting Permit is needed to remove or re-top three kinds of tree. The first is any tree at least 30 centimetres in diameter at breast height. The second is a tree planted as a required replacement or as a condition of development, and the page gives trees planted by a developer in a strata complex as an example. The third is a list of species at any size: Arbutus, Garry Oak, Coast Redwood, Dawn Redwood, Giant Redwood and Maidenhair Tree (Ginkgo). The page says a fine of up to CA$20,000 can follow damage to a tree or removal without a permit. Trees on City land such as parks, boulevards and greenbelts are reported to the City on 604-501-5050 instead of going through a permit.

Grounds the page lists

The page says a permit can be applied for when	The page says a permit cannot be applied for when
The tree is dead or in decline beyond expectation of recovery	It drops debris in gutters, leaves or fruit
It has a structural defect that makes it hazardous	It gives too much shade or causes moss on a roof
It interferes with servicing and there is no alternative	It has damaged a driveway or sidewalk, lifted a fence or interfered with a lawn
It is within 2 metres of the home's foundation	The owner wants a better view or wants a neighbour's tree removed
Construction on private property needs the space	Not applicable

The application, fees and deposit

The registered owner signs the application form. A tree on a shared boundary needs both owners' signatures, and a strata can attach a letter from its management company naming who may apply. The page asks for at least three colour photos, a printout of the tree's location on the City's COSMOS map or a sketch, and any other documents such as contractor invoices. An arborist report is needed for five or more trees or when the Trees and Landscape Section asks for one, and it must come from an ISA Certified Arborist or qualified tree risk assessor following the City's terms of reference. Applications go by email as attachments or to the secure drop box at Surrey City Hall, 13450 104 Avenue.

The page says applications are reviewed in order of receipt, that trees posing a safety hazard take priority, and that an application is valid for one year after approval. It gives the permit fee as CA$108 plus CA$42 per tree removed, so CA$150 for one tree and CA$192 for two. A replacement tree deposit of CA$550 per tree is collected on top. The page says 50 per cent is released after a first inspection accepts the replacement tree and the other 50 per cent after a second inspection one year later. An owner who does not want to plant can give the City a signed letter, and the deposit then goes to the Green City Fund. The permit is valid for one year, and the page says it must be displayed so it is visible from the street.

Fallen trees

For a tree that fell in severe weather or from natural causes, the City's fallen-tree page sets out two routes. In the first, a tree care professional assesses the tree, the owner emails the permit application, photos and assessment, and the work is done while City staff review it. In the second, the owner photographs the tree, emails the address and details of the removal, and leaves the tree for the City Arborist to inspect before it is taken off the property.

Farm land

The agriculture page says a permit is needed to remove trees on agricultural property, and that agricultural use means growing crops or raising livestock, which Zoning Bylaw 12000 must allow on the property. It asks for an arborist report on the type of forest, the number of protected trees in the cleared area and the effect on adjacent land, plus a sworn affidavit from the owner. Inside the Agricultural Land Reserve the owner declares there will be no subdivision, rezoning or development application for five years. Outside the Reserve the owner enters a restrictive covenant on title with the same promise for 10 years. The fee table gives CA$560 per acre for A-1, A-2 and A-3 zones, inside the Reserve or not.

Pruning limits and appeals

The pruning page says a permit is needed to prune a Significant Tree, one placed on Schedule B of the bylaw, or a Heritage Tree, one nominated by the Heritage Advisory Committee and approved by Council. Pruning of those trees without a permit can bring a fine of up to CA$20,000. For protected trees the page lists three things that are not permitted: removing branches in the upper 50 per cent of the total height, removing more than 25 per cent of the total branches or limbs, and topping other than under a permit. The City lists a charge of CA$250 for chipping and pickup of a pile 1.5 metres by 1.5 metres by 1.5 metres, branches under 20 centimetres across, no stumps.

The appeals page names four kinds of appeal, each made by email with supporting documents: a refused 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, the 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.