Submission checklists › Urban Forestry

Boundary Tree Permit

City of Toronto: Parks, Forestry & Recreation (Urban Forestry) · version October 29, 2021, Rev. 2.0 (first issued June 25, 2021)

Cover letter including

1	Brief description of the project including: Scope of work Closest municipal address(es) Reason trees are being impacted (i.e. road widening, station construction, laydown, etc.) Reference to payment Explain the nature of the boundary trees (e.g. City/applicant boundary; applicant/private tree, applicant/park tree, etc.)
2	Reference to a figure of the study area
3	Identify tree removal start date, total number of removals and injuries, approximate time for work to be completed (estimate), and reference the Tree Summary Table (see below).
4	List of drawings and technical/supporting documentation

Tree Summary Table (refer to template in Attachment 1). Note: the table will be used as an attachment to the final issued permit

Extract information from the Tree Inventory Table in the Arborist Report to create a summary table of the following: tree identification number, diameter at breast height (DBH), species, reason for removal/injury, address, removal/injury, compensation ratio, tree category, identify if heritage or memorial tree, and identify the nature of boundary trees (e.g. City/applicant boundary; applicant/private tree, applicant/park tree, etc.)

Sort table by type (removal vs. injury). Do not include dead trees, but provide a separate list of dead trees.

Property ownership table (refer to template in Attachment 1)

7	Tree identification number, physical addresses, property owner name, phone number, email

Application forms

8	Completed and signed Application to Injure or Remove Trees form

Administrative documentation

9	Confirmation of property ownership, if a change of ownership is anticipated (e.g. transfer of easement, licence agreement, etc.). A copy of the relevant ownership documents and property sketches can be provided.
10	Completed City of Toronto Boundary Tree Permit Application

Technical / supporting information

11	Site Plan or Vegetation Removals Plan (if construction-related) Include TRCA & RNFP limit if applicable, engineer stamped and sealed, construction work area delineated, etc. Show addresses, property boundary lines, show boundary of grading work (if applicable), and existing landmarks Show tree protection (LDH, HDH), tree protection zone (TPZ) (Tree Protection Plan) Tree removals, injuries or preservations, tree number
12	Landscaping and/or Replanting Plan and/or Cash in Lieu Compensation as per the City's applicable Tree By-law 813, 658 or 608 Plans to be in conformance with the City's guidelines/standards. Consult Urban Forestry to confirm requirements are met. Cash in lieu is calculated based on the number of trees removed that are not included on the landscape/replanting plan at the time of application submittal.
13	Arborist Report, prepared by a qualified arborist or forester Details and conditions of existing trees: list containing tree number, species, size DBH (cm), condition, tree category, and to remove/injure/protect in accordance with a Tree Preservation Plan, showing appropriate Tree Protection Zones Summary table including: total count by tree category; injury/removal; compensation for each tree category and total compensation Photos: trees to be removed/injured clearly identified; dead trees Boundary trees shared between the applicant and another property owner(s), whether private or City-owned lands, are still subject to the City's applicable by-law, including permitting requirements and compensation

Prior to removal/injury, the following must be provided to Urban Forestry

14	Photos of installed tree hoarding (identify tree ID # in photos)
15	Completed Owner's Authorization (if the applicant is not the owner)
16	Completed Certificate of Insurance
17	Agreement for Arborists to Perform Arboricultural Services on City Owned Street Trees

Notes

18	Depending on the type of trees, refer to the following by-laws: Street trees of any size are protected by the City Street Tree By-law (Article II, Chapter 813) Private trees with a diameter of 30 cm or more DBH are protected under the Private Tree Protection By-law (Article III, Chapter 813) City parkland trees of any size are protected under the Parks By-law (Chapter 608), which prohibits and regulates certain activities on or adjacent to City parkland which may impact existing trees RNFP trees are protected under the Ravine and Natural Feature Protection By-law (Chapter 658) Boundary tree: a tree situated such that any part of its trunk is growing across one or more property lines
19	For further guidance, refer to the Guidelines for Completion of an Arborist Report
20	Further guidance: Tree Protection Policy and Specification for Construction Near Trees
21	Permission from the City is required prior to accessing a City-owned or operated property, including parkland
22	Boundary trees on private lands have a mandatory notification protocol that the City must follow (15-day period) First notification sent to the property owner to notify the application has been received by the City: 5 business day waiting period Second notification sent to the property owner indicating that the permit will be issued: 10 business day waiting period The 15-day period is conditional on the City being able to email the private property owner. When Urban Forestry must send the letters by mail, additional days are required for the City's mailroom and Canada Post. The 5 and 10 business day periods mean the owner has had 5 and 10 business days respectively to review the information sent.
23	Fees: application fee as per the application form; increases annually (calculated based on the application form instructions).
24	Compensation For City street trees, park trees, private property trees and RNFP trees, the replacement ratio is 3:1. For removed trees that cannot be replaced through the Landscape/Planting Plan, cash in lieu is to be paid ($583/tree at time of application submittal). If Landscape/Planting Plans are updated after permits are issued and cash in lieu has been paid, refunds are provided by the City after review and approval of the plans.

Permits this checklist is for

Permit to Injure or Remove Trees: Boundary Trees

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