If you remove a regulated tree in Toronto without a permit, the City can fine you up to $100,000 per tree, order you to plant replacement trees at your own expense, and place a record of the violation tied to your property. That's what Chapter 813 of the Toronto Municipal Code authorizes, and the City enforces it. Here's exactly what happens, how the City finds out, and what to do if you're already in this situation.
Chapter 813 Violation: What the City Can Do
Not every tree in Toronto is protected. Chapter 813 applies to trees on private property with a trunk diameter of 30cm or more measured at 1.4m above the ground. That measurement is called DBH, diameter at breast height. If your tree's trunk is smaller than that at that point, it is not a regulated tree and you don't need a permit to remove it on private property.
Most mature trees in established Toronto neighbourhoods like Riverdale, Bloor West Village, Lawrence Park, Willowdale and the Beach will be over that threshold. A trunk you can't wrap both hands around and touch your fingers is likely in the 25 to 35cm range. When in doubt, have an ISA certified arborist measure it before you schedule any work.
It's worth noting that trees on City property are not yours to touch at all regardless of their size. That includes boulevard trees, trees in laneways and trees in parks. Chapter 813 covers private trees. City trees are a separate matter entirely and removing one without authorization carries its own consequences.
The maximum fine under Chapter 813 is $100,000 per tree. Each tree removed without a valid permit is a separate offence. If two regulated trees come down without permits, that's exposure to up to $200,000 in fines.
The actual fine issued will depend on the specific circumstances: the size and species of the tree, whether the removal appeared intentional, whether there was any documentation suggesting a permit was being sought, and the property owner's cooperation with the City after the fact. But the $100,000 ceiling is real and the City has issued fines well into the tens of thousands of dollars in documented cases.
This is not the kind of risk you want to take to save the time and cost of a proper permit application. A permit for a single tree typically costs a few hundred dollars in City fees and a few hundred dollars for the arborist's report. The math on skipping it doesn't work in your favour.
The most common trigger is a neighbour complaint. Trees on residential lots are visible from adjacent properties and from the street. A fresh stump, a pile of wood chips and a suddenly open sight line are hard to miss. Neighbours who notice a large tree disappear overnight can and do call 311 to report it.
Toronto Urban Forestry also conducts inspections and can identify removals through aerial imagery. Officers responding to other bylaw matters on a street sometimes note tree removals as part of their general observations. If the violation is reported within a reasonable timeframe, there will typically be enough physical evidence remaining, fresh cut surface on the stump, visible root disturbance and wood debris, to support an investigation.
The idea that a quiet weekend removal will go unnoticed is a gamble that homeowners lose regularly. Toronto's tree canopy is tracked, neighbours pay attention, and Urban Forestry takes complaints seriously.
When Toronto Urban Forestry receives a complaint about a potentially unpermitted tree removal, an officer investigates. They'll attend the property to document the stump, record measurements and assess the species. If the evidence supports a Chapter 813 violation, a notice is issued to the property owner.
That notice will typically include a formal order requiring replacement planting and may be accompanied by or followed by a fine notice. The replacement requirement is not optional. The City specifies the number, size and species of replacement trees required and sets a deadline for compliance.
If the property owner does not comply with the replacement order, the City has authority to have the work done and charge the cost back to the owner, plus additional fines for non-compliance. The enforcement process can escalate from an initial notice to legal proceedings if orders are ignored.
If a regulated tree has been removed from your property without a permit, the best thing you can do is act quickly. Our ISA certified arborist can document the situation, advise on your best path forward with Toronto Urban Forestry, and help you prepare a proper response. We serve all Toronto neighbourhoods.
This is the part that catches a lot of homeowners off guard. Under Chapter 813, the property owner is responsible for what happens to regulated trees on their property. If you hired a contractor who removed a regulated tree without obtaining the required permit, the City can issue the order and fine to you.
The contractor may also face separate consequences, but that doesn't reduce your exposure as the owner. Any contractor who suggests skipping the permit process, tells you permits aren't required, or offers to "take care of it" without involving an arborist is putting you at serious personal financial risk. That risk doesn't transfer to them when the fine arrives.
Before hiring any tree service for removal work on a tree that could be 30cm or more in diameter, confirm in writing that they will obtain or help you obtain the required permit before any work begins. An ISA certified arborist or a reputable tree service will never suggest otherwise.
Ask directly: does this tree need a permit under Chapter 813? If the contractor says no without measuring the tree or checking the bylaw, that's a red flag. Ask whether they're ISA certified or work with an ISA certified arborist for permit applications. Ask to see their liability insurance certificate before work begins. Any reputable company will have no problem answering all three questions clearly.
If a regulated tree has already come down without a permit, whether through your own decision, a contractor's error, or a misunderstanding about what needed a permit, here's what to do.
Don't try to hide it. Grinding the stump immediately or quickly landscaping over the area may look like an attempt to conceal the violation, which tends to make the City's response more severe rather than less. Contact Toronto Urban Forestry proactively through 311 or through the Urban Forestry office directly. Explain what happened. Cooperation is noted in how these cases are handled.
Get an ISA certified arborist to document the situation and prepare a professional report on the tree that was removed. That documentation won't erase the violation but it helps establish a good-faith record and provides the City with the information they need to make decisions about replacement requirements.
Be prepared to comply with replacement orders promptly. Dragging out compliance escalates the matter. Agreeing to replacement planting and completing it in good faith is the most effective way to resolve a Chapter 813 violation without the situation worsening.
No retroactive permit exists: There is no process in Toronto to apply for a permit after the tree has already been removed. The permit is required before removal, full stop. If the tree is gone, the violation has occurred and the City's response is an order and a fine, not an after-the-fact approval.
Chapter 813 does not exempt dead or dying trees. If the dead tree's trunk measured 30cm DBH or more, removing it without a permit is a violation. A lot of homeowners assume a dead tree doesn't need a permit because "it's already gone anyway." It doesn't work that way. The permit requirement doesn't disappear because the tree's health did.
Root damage, lifted driveways and foundation interference are all recognized reasons for a removal permit application. The City does approve these. But the approval needs to come before the chainsaw goes in, not after. The fact that the tree was genuinely causing damage is a mitigating factor in how the violation is handled, but it doesn't eliminate the violation.
This is one of the most common scenarios. A renovation contractor starts work and a tree is in the way, or roots are interfering with excavation, and the tree comes down as part of the construction activity without anyone stopping to check the bylaw. The homeowner often didn't know it was happening until it was done. The liability still lands on the property owner.
If you're planning any construction, addition or landscaping project that involves trees near the work zone, get an arborist involved before the project begins. A Tree Preservation Plan addresses exactly this scenario and is a requirement for many building permits in Toronto anyway. The pre-construction stage is the right time to deal with trees, not mid-project.
Related Guides and Services
There's a proper process and it isn't complicated. You hire an ISA certified arborist to assess the tree and prepare a letter or report. You submit a complete permit application to Toronto through toronto.ca with that report and a site sketch. You wait for the City's decision, which takes up to 30 business days from a complete application. If approved, you schedule the removal and comply with any replacement planting conditions. That's it.
The full process usually takes two to three months from first arborist contact to removal day. It costs a few hundred dollars in arborist fees and City permit fees. Compared to a $100,000 fine, compulsory replacement planting, and a bylaw record on your property, those are very reasonable numbers.
For everything you need to know about the step-by-step permit application process, see our full guide: How to Get a Tree Removal Permit in Toronto. For information on what the permit process looks like in other GTA municipalities, the permit guides for Richmond Hill and Markham cover their respective bylaws in detail.
What is the fine for removing a tree without a permit in Toronto?
The maximum fine under Chapter 813 of the Toronto Municipal Code is $100,000 per tree. That figure applies to each individual tree removed without a permit. Removing two trees without permits means exposure to up to $200,000 in fines. The actual fine issued depends on the circumstances, but the City has issued substantial fines in real cases.
Can Toronto fine me for a tree my contractor removed?
Yes. As the property owner, you are responsible for what happens on your property under Chapter 813. If a contractor removes a regulated tree without a permit, the City can issue an order and fine to you as the owner, in addition to any action taken against the contractor. Hiring a contractor who suggests skipping the permit puts you personally at financial and legal risk.
How does Toronto find out about unpermitted tree removals?
The most common trigger is a complaint from a neighbour. Toronto Urban Forestry also conducts proactive inspections in some cases and can identify removals through aerial imagery comparisons. Officers responding to other bylaw calls sometimes note tree removals in the same visit. The fresh stump, wood chip debris and changed sight lines are often visible from the street or an adjacent property.
What if I didn't know my tree needed a permit?
Lack of knowledge of the bylaw is not a defence under Chapter 813. The City can still issue a fine and a replacement order regardless of your awareness of the rules. If you are in this situation, contact Toronto Urban Forestry proactively and get an arborist involved immediately to help manage the process and minimize your exposure.
Can I apply for a retroactive permit after a tree has already been removed?
There is no retroactive permit process in Toronto. Once a regulated tree has been removed without a permit, the violation has occurred. The City's response at that point is typically an order to plant replacement trees and a fine. Getting an arborist and potentially a legal advisor involved quickly is the best way to manage the outcome.
Our ISA certified arborist handles the full permit process from site assessment and report preparation through to application submission. We serve all Toronto neighbourhoods including North York, Etobicoke, Scarborough, East York, the Annex, Forest Hill, Rosedale, Leaside, the Beaches and everywhere in between.