Updated September 2026
Do You Need a Permit to Remove a Tree in Nanaimo?
Nanaimo Tree Removal checks the permit position on every job in the City of Nanaimo, where you may remove up to four non-significant trees per calendar year without a permit under Management and Protection of Trees Bylaw No. 7126. Go past four in a calendar year and you need a City tree removal permit. The bylaw counts any woody plant with a stem diameter of 6 cm or greater as a tree. You also need a permit for significant or heritage trees and for any tree in a riparian area or Development Permit Area, whatever your four-tree allowance. On rural property in the Regional District of Nanaimo, Development Permit Areas in Bylaw No. 500 cover steep slopes and watercourses instead. Hazard trees and routine pruning work differently, and we set that out below.
Updated September 2026
We check the permit position as part of quoting tree removal.
| Situation | Permit needed? |
|---|---|
| Removing 4 or fewer non-significant trees in a calendar year | No |
| Removing more than 4 trees in a calendar year | Yes |
| Significant or heritage tree (by species & size) | Yes |
| Any tree in a riparian area (near a watercourse) | Yes |
| Any tree in a Development Permit Area | Yes |
| Trees on an active development / building site | Yes (tree management plan) |
| Routine pruning within reason | No |
| Where the property is | Authority / rule |
|---|---|
| City of Nanaimo | Bylaw No. 7126 (Management & Protection of Trees) |
| Rural / electoral areas | Regional District of Nanaimo — Development Permit Areas, Bylaw No. 500 |
| Trees on or near power lines | BC Hydro (utility vegetation) |
| Trees with nesting birds | Federal Migratory Birds Convention Act (timing restrictions) |
How the four-tree allowance works
Within the City of Nanaimo you can remove up to four non-significant trees per calendar year without a permit. The allowance does not cover significant trees, or any tree in a riparian area, a Development Permit Area, or on an active development site — those need City approval first. A permitted removal may carry replacement-tree or fee-in-lieu conditions, and the City confirms the current amounts when you apply.
Significant, heritage, and riparian trees
The City defines significant trees by species and size for their habitat, landmark, or heritage value, and riparian setbacks protect trees near watercourses. Garry oak, arbutus, Pacific dogwood, and western yew are named in the bylaw, so if you have one, expect City review before it comes down — the same goes for riparian trees, even when your four-tree allowance would otherwise cover it. We flag this when we quote and take care of the submission with you. Trees on City land — the boulevard strip in front of your house included — need the City's consent before anyone cuts, prunes or removes them, and we check that for you.
Rural and acreage properties
Outside city limits, Development Permit Areas in Regional District of Nanaimo Bylaw No. 500 regulate tree clearing on steep slopes and near watercourses, and a Development Permit may be required before removal. We check with the RDN for you before any rural clearing goes ahead.
Hazard trees and emergencies
We handle a genuinely hazardous or storm-failed tree differently from a planned removal. Photograph the hazard, get an arborist report where you can, and check with the City first. A tree contacting a power line is an emergency: stay back 10 metres, call 911, and report the line to BC Hydro.
How to apply
The City of Nanaimo's Urban Forestry group handles tree removal permits and, on development sites, tree management plans. The ISA-certified arborist assessment that comes with your free quote confirms whether you need a permit before any work begins.
For pricing, see the tree removal cost guide. Explore the full service area.
Not sure if your tree needs a permit? Get a free assessment and quote.