Submission checklists › Urban Forestry

Park 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

1Brief 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
2Reference to a figure of the study area
3Identify 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).
4List 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

5Extract 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
6Sort table by type (removal vs. injury). Do not include dead trees, but provide a separate list of dead trees.

Application form

7Completed and signed Application to Injure or Remove Trees form. Use the City (Street Trees) application and add a note to the application form to indicate park trees.

Administrative documentation

8Confirmation 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.
9Completed City of Toronto Park Tree Permit Application

Technical / supporting information

10Site 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 existing and proposed easements (if available)
  • Show tree protection (LDH, HDH), tree protection zone (TPZ) (Tree Protection Plan)
  • Tree removals, injuries or preservations, tree number
  • A sketch/markup of the Site Plan is to be provided separately that includes access points/routes and staging/laydown areas
11Landscaping and/or Replanting Plan and/or Cash in Lieu
  • Compensation as per the City's Parks By-law 608
  • Plans to be in conformance with the City's guidelines/standards. Consult Urban Forestry to confirm requirements are met.
12Arborist 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
  • Compensation: confirm total trees vs. cash in lieu with the application; if there are changes due to construction, this can be discussed with Urban Forestry
  • Identify any trees on lands that are exempt from the City by-law (e.g. provincial or federal lands) and include a statement that those trees are not subject to this permit application. Include a separate list of those tree removals within the inventory table.

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

13Photos of installed tree hoarding (identify tree ID # in photos)
14Completed Certificate of Insurance
15Agreement for Arborists to Perform Arboricultural Services on City Owned Street Trees

Notes

16City parkland trees of any size are protected under the Parks By-law (Chapter 608). This by-law prohibits and regulates certain activities occurring either on or adjacent to City parkland which may impact existing trees.
17For further guidance, refer to the Guidelines for Completion of an Arborist Report
18Further guidance: Tree Protection Policy and Specification for Construction Near Trees
19Permission from the City is required prior to accessing a City-owned or operated property, including parkland, where such permission has not otherwise been granted (e.g. through a land access agreement).
20Fees: no permit fees for Park tree applications
21Compensation
  • 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

Official pages

Track this submission free.
Deadlines in business days, email alerts before decisions are due, and your whole team in one place.
Track this permit free