Tree rules in Vaughan: permits, protected trees and fees

This page reports what the official source says. It is not legal advice: ask the office named here. It restates the City of Vaughan Tree By-law page and the tree removal permits page, and By-law 177-2025, the Tree Protection By-law, all read on October 10, 2026, together with section 135 of Ontario's Municipal Act, 2001, also read on October 10, 2026. The wider list of cities is on the guide to tree permits in the largest Canadian cities.

Where the power comes from and what the by-law covers

Section 135 of the Municipal Act, 2001 lets a local municipality prohibit or regulate the destruction or injuring of trees. Subsection 135(7) lets a by-law require a permit and attach conditions to it, including the manner of the work and the qualifications of the people doing it.

By-law 177-2025 was enacted on June 24, 2025 and repeals six earlier by-laws, among them 052-2018 and 229-2005. The City page calls it the consolidated by-law regulating trees on private and public property. Section 2.0 applies it to all properties and public lands in the city. It does not apply to trees regulated by York Region's Forest Conservation By-law, except woodlots, and it does not apply to work by the City, York Region or the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. It lists the exemptions in section 135(12) of the Municipal Act, including work by electricity transmitters and distributors on their own systems and licensed pits and quarries.

What needs a permit

The by-law counts a tree as a woody plant that reaches or is likely to reach at least 4.5 m at maturity. Diameter is measured 1.37 m above grade, outside the bark, and a cut tree is measured at the base. Section 4.0 bars anyone from injuring or destroying a private tree of 20 cm or more in diameter without a Tree Removal Permit or a Tree Protection Agreement. On public lands it bars cutting, pruning, topping, removing or damaging any tree, attaching objects to one, or pouring harmful substances within the drip line. If a tree is injured or destroyed, the owner is presumed to have allowed it unless shown otherwise.

No permit is needed for emergency work, pruning, removal of dead branches, rooftop gardens, interior courtyards, nursery stock grown for sale, and certain golf course work. The by-law defines pruning as taking off live branches by good practice, not more than 25 percent of them. A Significant Tree is 80 cm or more in diameter, and a Heritage Tree is one designated under the Ontario Heritage Act or recognized by Forests Ontario.

Permit steps and the arborist report

The permits page lists four permit types: dead, hazardous or emerald ash borer; construction (infill); residential removal; and tree preservation. It gives an initial response time of 30 business days and says a granted permit must be posted on the lot where it can be seen. The by-law adds that a permit is valid for 6 months, and that an application goes to the Director of Forestry with a form, a lot plan, the fee, any arborist report or Tree Management Plan, and written consent from the neighbouring owner for a boundary tree.

The page says that where a trunk straddles a property line all owners must agree. An arborist report is required except for dead, hazardous or emerald ash borer permits. It must show the share of the property canopy to be removed, species, at least 2 photos per tree, diameters at the base and at breast height, health, the reason for removal, the replacement plan and the arborist's certification number. For the report, the page accepts a diploma or degree in arboriculture, a Registered Professional Forester or an ISA Certified Arborist. The permits page puts fees in Schedule J of the Fees and Charges By-law. The By-law and Compliance office takes calls on (905) 832-2281.

Protection zones and replacement

Section 4.0 sets a Tree Protection Zone around public and private trees, where no materials, vehicles or equipment may be placed.

Tree diameter	Tree Protection Zone (section 4.0)
Under 10 cm	1.2 m
10 to 29 cm	1.8 m
30 to 40 cm	2.4 m
41 to 50 cm	3.0 m
51 to 60 cm	3.6 m

The by-law table continues, with zones up to 6.0 m at 91 to 100 cm, and 6 m plus 6 cm for each extra centimetre above 100 cm. Schedule 2 sets replacement ratios for 5 cm caliper trees, by the diameter of the tree removed.

Diameter removed	Replacement ratio
20 to 30 cm	1 to 1
31 to 40 cm	2 to 1
41 to 50 cm	3 to 1
51 cm or more	4 to 1

Permit conditions can include a security deposit, replanting, or a fee in place of planting where it is not possible.

Fines and administrative penalties

Section 11.0 sets a fine on conviction of up to CA$100,000. For a continuing offence the by-law sets a daily fine with a minimum not over CA$500 and a maximum of CA$10,000, and the daily total is not capped by the CA$100,000 figure. A special fine above CA$100,000 is possible where there was economic gain. The City's web page prints fine figures that differ from section 11.0, so this page uses the by-law's numbers.

Schedule 1 lists administrative penalties used in place of a charge.

Item	Penalty
Injure a public tree	CA$900
Injure a private tree without a permit	CA$750
Destroy a public or private tree, 20 to 30 cm	CA$900
Destroy a tree, 31 to 40 cm	CA$1,500
Destroy a tree, 41 to 50 cm	CA$2,100
Destroy a tree over 50 cm	CA$2,700
Attach an object to a public tree	CA$500
Work inside a Tree Protection Zone, breach a permit condition, ignore an order or obstruct an officer	CA$1,000 each

Under sections 9.0 and 10.0 officers may enter land to inspect and issue orders. If an owner ignores an order, the City can do the work and add the cost to the tax roll.