West Vancouver regulates tree cutting on private property under Tree Bylaw No. 4892, 2016, the interim tree bylaw adopted by Council in April 2016 and amended repeatedly since. If you are cutting a protected tree in the District of West Vancouver, section 6.1 of that bylaw means you need a tree cutting permit, and section 8.2 means the application has to be accompanied by a report from a certified arborist or tree risk assessor with twelve specific pieces of information in it. Sylva Environmental works out of 1132 15th St W Unit#10 in North Vancouver, minutes from the West Vancouver line, and our ISA Certified Arborists and TRAQ holders prepare reports to exactly that specification.
What Is a Protected Tree in West Vancouver?
Tree Bylaw No. 4892, 2016 defines a protected tree broadly, and size is only one of the triggers. As amended by Bylaw No. 5133, 2022, a protected tree is any of the following:
- Any tree greater than 75 cm DBH, or a multi-stem tree with a combined stem DBH of 75 cm or more. DBH in West Vancouver is measured 1.4 metres above the ground.
- Any replacement tree, retained tree or heritage tree.
- Any tree within a Watercourse Protection Area or Foreshore Protection Area.
- Six species at more than 20 cm DBH: Arbutus, Garry Oak, Pacific yew, Pacific dogwood, Yellow cedar, and Shore pine within the protected shoreline area as defined by provincial ecosystem zone mapping.
- Any tree containing an active bird nest, or the nest, active or not, of an eagle, peregrine falcon, gyrfalcon, heron, osprey or burrowing owl.
- Any tree that constitutes habitat for a protected wildlife species under the provincial Wildlife Act or the federal Migratory Birds Convention Act.
The 2025 amendment: 20 cm on properties being developed
Amendment Tree Bylaw No. 5373, 2025, effective 15 December 2025, lowered the protected tree threshold from 75 cm to 20 cm DBH on parcels being developed. The lower threshold applies to a parcel being developed with at least one new residential or commercial building, or a parcel being subdivided to create at least one additional parcel for a new residential building. For the purpose of applying the 20 cm threshold, a parcel counts as being developed from the date a building permit, demolition permit or development permit is applied for. The same amendment package updated the rationale for when a removal permit can be issued, the arborist report requirements for a permit application, and tree replacement requirements during construction.
The practical effect is significant. A lot that carried a handful of regulated trees under the old 75 cm rule can carry a full inventory of regulated trees the moment a demolition permit is filed. If you are planning a rebuild in West Vancouver, the tree inventory belongs at the front of the schedule, not after design is locked.
When a West Vancouver Tree Cutting Permit Needs an Arborist Report
Section 6.1 of Tree Bylaw No. 4892 prohibits cutting any protected tree without a tree cutting permit, and the bylaw defines cutting broadly enough to include removal by any means, topping and re-topping, and removing any limb that requires ascending the tree. Section 8.2 then requires that any permit application, other than one made under section 6.5 for trees inside a permitted building envelope or a driveway or parking accessory area indicated in a building permit, be accompanied by a report from a certified arborist or tree risk assessor.
What that report must contain
Section 8.2 lists the contents. A compliant West Vancouver arborist report includes:
- The civic address, the date of the site visit, and the date the report was submitted.
- The name of the certified arborist or tree risk assessor, with company address, phone number and email.
- The arborist's ISA certification number, and the tree risk assessor number where a hazardous tree evaluation is involved.
- The business licence number.
- The property owner's name, phone number and email.
- A description of the proposed work and the site conditions, with photographs.
- A site plan derived from a survey drawing showing the trees to be cut or removed and the on-site and off-site trees proposed for retention, with scientific and common species names, tag numbers listed in numerical order, DBH to the nearest 1 cm, live crown ratio, height, and critical root zone.
- A risk rating, or the rationale if a rating is not included.
- A description of the cutting or removal methods to be used.
- A description of the tree protection measures for any retained trees.
- Identification and discussion of probable tree impacts.
- Replanting specifications, where required.
Where a tree is certified as dead by an arborist, the bylaw allows a reduced report covering the identifying details, the site plan items through DBH, and the risk rating or rationale.
The grounds on which the Director may issue a permit
Section 6.3 sets out when the Director may authorise cutting: pruning limited to acceptable practices including crown cleaning, crown thinning, crown reduction, restoration pruning, vista pruning, pollarding and structural pruning; a tree an arborist has certified to be hazardous; a tree an arborist has certified is causing damage to property such as roofs, retaining walls or paved areas that cannot be addressed by pruning, noting that accumulated leaves or needles do not count as damage; a tree an arborist has certified is interfering with utility wires or infrastructure in a way pruning cannot fix; a tree a qualified professional has certified as a wildfire hazard risk; a tree on difficult terrain where removal will not destabilise a natural slope in the written opinion of a qualified professional; and trees containing protected nests where the applicable federal and provincial permits have been obtained first.
Section 6.4 adds a filter that catches many applications. If acceptable pruning rather than removal can address the risk from a tree, as certified by an arborist, the Director may issue a permit for pruning only. A report that considers and documents retention options is therefore more useful than one that goes straight to a removal recommendation.
Trees presenting an imminent danger
Section 6.2 carves out a tree that presents an imminent danger to persons or property, as certified by an arborist. A tree can be cut in that situation without a permit, but the person who cuts it must report the cutting to the Director within one business day and must not remove the tree from where it was cut until the Director authorises removal. If you are dealing with a failure or an imminent hazard, call us and we will document the tree properly before anything is moved.
Replacement Trees and Security in West Vancouver
Under section 7.1, the Director will require a permit holder to plant a replacement tree with a minimum caliper of 5 cm for a deciduous tree, or a minimum height of 3 metres for a coniferous tree, for the removal of any protected tree, with exceptions for permits issued for pruning, for hazardous trees, and for trees causing property damage. A permit for removal of one of the listed protected species requires a replacement from Schedule B of the bylaw or a species approved by the Director. The permit holder must maintain the replacement so it survives transplantation, and replace it if it does not. Section 7.1.3 requires a security of $1,000 per replacement tree to a maximum of $10,000, forfeited if the replacement is not planted or fails to survive, and otherwise returned no later than one year after planting.
A tree cutting permit expires if the tree has not been cut within one year of issuance, and a new application and fee are needed after that. The permit must also be posted on the lot, visible from the abutting street, until the authorised cutting is complete.
What Our West Vancouver Reports Include
Because section 8.2 lists its requirements item by item, a West Vancouver report is a completeness exercise as much as a technical one. Ours are built directly against that list and include:
- Full identifying block. Civic address, site visit and submission dates, arborist name and company details, ISA certification number, tree risk assessor number where relevant, business licence number and owner contact information.
- Survey-based site plan. Trees to be cut and trees proposed for retention, on site and off site, tagged in numerical order.
- Per-tree data. Scientific and common names, DBH to the nearest centimetre, live crown ratio, height and critical root zone.
- Condition and risk. A risk rating where a tree is proposed as hazardous, or the rationale where no rating applies, supported by photographs of the site and each tree.
- Methods and protection. The cutting or removal method proposed, and the tree protection measures for every retained tree.
- Impacts and replanting. Identification and discussion of probable impacts, plus replanting specifications that meet the section 7.1 caliper and height minimums.
Our Process and Turnaround
We begin with the property, the trees, and what you are applying for. We attend the site, tag and measure each tree, record live crown ratio, height and critical root zone, photograph the site and every tree, then write the report against the section 8.2 checklist so nothing is missing on submission. Reports are typically delivered within five to ten business days of the site visit, with rush turnaround available when a demolition or building permit timeline is driving the schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in West Vancouver?
If the tree is a protected tree under Tree Bylaw No. 4892, 2016, yes. Section 6.1 prohibits cutting any protected tree without a tree cutting permit. Protected includes any tree over 75 cm DBH, replacement, retained and heritage trees, trees in a Watercourse Protection Area or Foreshore Protection Area, six listed species over 20 cm DBH, and trees containing protected nests or habitat. On a parcel being developed, Amendment Tree Bylaw No. 5373, 2025 lowers that threshold to 20 cm DBH.
What changed in the West Vancouver tree bylaw in 2025?
Amendment Tree Bylaw No. 5373, 2025, effective 15 December 2025, lowered the protected tree size to 20 cm DBH on parcels being developed with at least one new residential or commercial building, or subdivided to create at least one additional parcel for a new residential building. A parcel counts as being developed from the date a building, demolition or development permit is applied for. The amendments also clarified the rationale for issuing removal permits, updated the arborist report requirements, and revised tree replacement requirements during construction.
What has to be in a West Vancouver arborist report?
Section 8.2 of Tree Bylaw No. 4892 requires the civic address and dates, the arborist's name and contact details, ISA certification number and tree risk assessor number, business licence number, owner contact details, a description of the proposed work and site conditions with photographs, a survey-derived site plan showing trees to be cut and retained with species, tag numbers, DBH to the nearest 1 cm, live crown ratio, height and critical root zone, a risk rating or rationale, the cutting and removal methods, the tree protection measures for retained trees, identification of probable impacts, and replanting specifications where required.
What replacement trees does West Vancouver require?
Section 7.1 requires a replacement tree with a minimum caliper of 5 cm for a deciduous tree or a minimum height of 3 metres for a coniferous tree for the removal of any protected tree, other than removals permitted for pruning, hazardous trees or trees causing property damage. Removal of one of the listed protected species requires a replacement from Schedule B or a species approved by the Director. A security of $1,000 per replacement tree applies, to a maximum of $10,000.
What if a tree is an imminent danger?
Section 6.2 allows a tree that presents an imminent danger to persons or property, as certified by an arborist, to be cut without a permit. The cutting must be reported to the Director within one business day, and the tree must not be removed from where it was cut until the Director authorises removal. Call us first so the tree and the hazard are documented properly.
Service Areas
We prepare arborist reports throughout the District of West Vancouver, including Ambleside, Dundarave, Caulfeild, Cypress Park, Horseshoe Bay, Eagle Harbour and the British Properties, as well as both North Vancouver municipalities. Our office is at 1132 15th St W Unit#10, North Vancouver, BC V7M 2J5, and you can reach us at (778) 583-8986.