Municipal Tree Protection

MUNICIPAL TREE PROTECTION

In accordance with by-law 31-2025 all provisions of this section will apply to all trees located on municipal property, including parks, public lands, road allowances, and highway corridors within the jurisdiction of the Town of Deep River.

PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES
No person shall, without a Tree Permit issued by the Town, injure or destroy any tree on municipal property, including road allowances.

No person shall, without a Tree Permit issued by the Town, cause or bring about the injury or destruction of any tree on municipal property by any third party, including, but not limited to, tree maintenance service providers, garden and landscaping contractors, or any other person acting on behalf of the person.

No person shall, without a Tree Permit issued by the Town, carry out any work within the critical root zone of a municipal tree that may result in injury or destruction to a municipal tree, including, but not limited to, grade changes and soil compaction. injure or destroy any tree on municipal property, including road allowances.

Tree maintenance conducted in a manner that does not result in the destruction or long-term injury of the tree, including, but not limited to, watering and light pruning of branches, does not require a permit.

PERMIT PROCESS

A person wishing to remove or injure a tree on municipal property must apply for a Tree Permit using the Town of Deep River Tree Permit Application Form.

Applications must include:
a) The reason for tree removal or injury,
b) The proposed method of carrying out the work,
c) The number of trees affected,
d) The location of tree(s), and
e) Any application fee required as described in the Schedule of Fees and Charges By-law, as amended from time to time.

The Tree Permit Application Form shall be submitted to the Director for review. Upon receipt of the application, the Director will evaluate the request, taking into account:
a) The health and condition of the tree(s),
b) The impact of the proposed action on the municipal tree canopy and surrounding areas,
c) Any planned replanting or remediation efforts, and
d) Any other considerations deemed appropriate by the Director to protect the municipal tree.

The Director may issue a Tree Permit for approved applications, specifying any conditions of approval. In cases where the permit is denied, the applicant will receive an explanation.

The Director may approve the removal of a municipal tree from a highway where the municipal tree by its very existence denies an owner of a property abutting the highway access to such owner’s property provided that the owner of the property abutting the highway has requested the removal of the municipal tree and has provided evidence to the Director that no practical or economical option for access is possible, and has agreed to pay the Town the cash value of a replacement tree.

IDENTIFYING MUNICIPAL LANDS AND ROAD ALLOWANCES

Property owners or occupiers are wholly responsible for determining whether a tree is on municipal property before any work that may injure or destroy a tree is conducted. Owner/occupiers may submit a request to the Town for written confirmation of whether a tree is located on municipal land or a road allowance.

EXEMPTIONS
This By -Law does not apply to:
a) Trees deemed by the Town to be dead, diseased, hazardous, or must be removed by the Town during an emergency for public safety.
b) Regular maintenance conducted by the Town or its agents.
c) Trees removed as part of an infrastructure project or roadwork approved by the Town.
d) Trees removed in accordance with the Town’s Forest Management Plan.

Full By-law can be veiwed using the following link: 31-2025 Tree Protection