Submission checklists › Urban Forestry

Private 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.

Property ownership table (refer to template in Attachment 1)

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

Application form

8Completed and signed Application to Injure or Remove Trees form

Administrative documentation

9Confirmation 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.
10Completed City of Toronto Private Tree Permit Application

Technical / supporting information

11Site 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
12Landscaping and/or Replanting Plan and/or Cash in Lieu
  • Compensation as per the City's Tree By-law 813
  • Plans to be in conformance with the City's guidelines/standards. Consult Urban Forestry to confirm requirements are met.
13Arborist 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
  • 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

14Photos of installed tree hoarding (identify tree ID # in photos)

Notes

15Private tree permits 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.
16Private trees with a diameter of 30 cm or more DBH are protected by the Private Tree Protection By-law (Article III, Chapter 813) and therefore require a permit.
17For further guidance, refer to the Guidelines for Completion of an Arborist Report
18Further guidance: Tree Protection Policy and Specification for Construction Near Trees
19Fees: application fee as per the application form; increases annually (calculated based on the application form instructions).
20Compensation
  • 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.

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