A Toronto tree removal permit takes up to 30 business days to process once the City has a complete application. That is roughly six to seven calendar weeks from the day your paperwork is accepted. The timeline only starts when your application is complete, and an incomplete submission means the clock never starts. Here is exactly what affects how long your permit takes and how to move through the process as quickly as possible.
Toronto Tree Permit Timeline at a Glance
Chapter 813 of the Toronto Municipal Code gives Urban Forestry up to 30 business days to process a complete application. Business days exclude weekends and statutory holidays. In practice, 30 business days works out to about six calendar weeks if there are no holidays in between, and closer to seven or eight weeks if the period spans a long weekend or statutory holiday cluster like the spring May 24 weekend.
The most important thing to understand is when the clock starts. It does not start when you submit your application. It starts when Toronto Urban Forestry reviews your submission and determines it is complete. If anything is missing, the City will notify you, and the 30-day review period does not begin until the missing items are received and accepted.
This distinction catches a lot of people. You can submit an application in late February thinking you have six weeks until a decision, only to receive a notice two weeks later saying your arborist report was missing a required element. At that point you are back to day one of the review period, and your actual total wait time has stretched to nine or ten weeks.
Toronto Urban Forestry will not start the clock until your application includes all of the following. Getting this right the first time is the single most effective way to protect your timeline.
You need a completed application form submitted through the City's online portal at toronto.ca. You need a letter or report from an ISA certified arborist explaining why removal is justified and what condition the tree is in. You need an accurate site plan or sketch showing the tree's location relative to the property lines and structures on the lot. For trees near a property boundary, a signed consent form from adjoining property owners may be required if roots extend across the line. If the removal is connected to a construction or renovation project, the City may also require additional documentation tying the application to the project scope.
The arborist report is where most applications fall short. It needs to meet the City's specific standards under Chapter 813. A letter that simply says "the tree should come down" will not pass. The report must include the species, the DBH measurement, a condition assessment using a recognized methodology, and a clear rationale for removal that aligns with the criteria the City uses to evaluate applications.
Before you submit anything, you need an ISA certified arborist to assess the tree and prepare a report that meets Chapter 813 standards. Booking an arborist, attending the site visit, and receiving the completed report typically takes one to two weeks depending on the arborist's schedule. During busy seasons, spring especially, this can stretch to three weeks if you're working with a busy firm.
Once your arborist report is ready, you submit the full application package through the City's online portal. This can be done the same day you receive the report.
Urban Forestry reviews your submission for completeness. This typically takes five to ten business days. If the application is complete, the formal 30-day review period begins. If something is missing, you'll receive a notice explaining what's needed and the clock does not start.
An Urban Forestry officer will inspect the tree. This happens within the 30-day review window, not in addition to it. The officer assesses the tree on-site and evaluates whether the removal justification holds up against what they observe.
The City issues an approval, an approval with conditions, or a denial. Approvals typically include conditions such as replacement planting requirements. If approved, you can schedule the removal. If denied, you have the right to appeal through the relevant municipal process.
Understanding the most common reasons applications slow down helps you avoid them. These are the situations that consistently add weeks to the process.
This is the number one cause of delay. If the arborist report does not meet Chapter 813 standards, the City will ask for revisions or a supplementary letter. That adds one to three weeks while the arborist addresses the City's concerns and resubmits.
Urban Forestry needs to be able to identify the exact tree from your submission. If your site plan is vague, incorrectly scaled, or missing key measurements, the application comes back incomplete.
Urban Forestry receives the highest application volumes in spring (March through May) and fall (September through October). Applications submitted during these peak periods tend to take longer simply because the City is processing more of them simultaneously. If your project timeline has any flexibility, submitting in January, February, July or August tends to result in faster turnaround.
The 30-day window is business days. An application submitted just before a cluster of statutory holidays, such as Easter weekend followed by Victoria Day, will naturally take longer in calendar terms even though the business day count stays the same.
If the City requests additional information and you take two weeks to respond, those two weeks are lost from your project timeline. Treating any City request as urgent and responding within 24 to 48 hours keeps the process moving.
Our ISA certified arborist prepares Chapter 813-compliant reports that clear the City's completeness review on the first pass. We handle the full application process so you're not losing weeks to back-and-forth with Urban Forestry.
There is no expedited or fast-track process for private tree removal permits under Chapter 813. The City does not offer priority processing for an additional fee. The only effective way to move faster is to submit a flawless application from the start.
Hiring an ISA certified arborist who has prepared Chapter 813 applications before is the most valuable thing you can do. An experienced arborist knows exactly what Urban Forestry's reviewers are looking for, which means the report hits the mark on the first review and the completeness check clears quickly.
Beyond that, being responsive throughout the process matters. Check the email address associated with your application regularly. If the City sends a request for information, respond the same day. Every day of delay on your end is a day added to the calendar.
Do not touch the tree while your application is under review. Chapter 813 requires that a regulated tree remain in place until a permit is issued. Removing the tree during the review period is a violation regardless of whether the permit would have been approved. The fine is the same as removing without having applied at all: up to $100,000 per tree.
Use the waiting period productively. Get contractor quotes now so you can book the removal quickly once the permit arrives. Discuss the permit conditions with your arborist, particularly around replacement planting, so you know what will be required and can plan accordingly. If a contractor is involved in a renovation project tied to the removal, make sure they understand that no work affecting the tree can begin until the permit is in hand.
Important: If the permit comes with replacement planting conditions, those conditions typically have a planting deadline tied to the season following removal. Don't leave the replacement planting to the last minute. Discuss the requirements with your arborist before the removal date.
Toronto's 30-business-day maximum is on the longer end for the GTA. Several neighbouring municipalities have shorter statutory review windows, though processing times in practice vary considerably based on application volume and complexity.
Mississauga, Vaughan, Markham, Brampton and Richmond Hill all have their own private tree bylaws with their own review timelines. If your property is near a city boundary or you're planning work across multiple properties in different jurisdictions, understanding which bylaw applies and what timeline to expect is essential before you set a project schedule. See our individual guides for Mississauga, Markham, and Richmond Hill for their specific timelines.
The practical takeaway for most Toronto homeowners is this: if you want a tree removed, plan on three to four months from your first conversation with an arborist to the day the tree comes down. That accounts for booking the arborist, preparing the report, submitting the application, City review, permit issuance, and then scheduling the removal itself with a busy tree service company during peak season.
If you need the tree down by a specific date, count backward. If you need it removed before a renovation starts in June, you should be calling an arborist by February. If you want it gone before the fall, engage the arborist in May or June. Starting the process early is the only reliable way to control your timeline.
Related Guides and Services
How long does a tree removal permit take in Toronto?
Toronto's Urban Forestry division has up to 30 business days to process a complete tree removal permit application under Chapter 813. That works out to roughly six to seven calendar weeks. The clock starts only when the City considers your application complete.
What slows down a tree permit application in Toronto?
The most common causes of delay are submitting an incomplete application, a missing or insufficient arborist report, high application volumes in spring and fall, and slow responses to City information requests. Working with an ISA certified arborist who knows Chapter 813 requirements is the most effective way to avoid these delays.
Can you speed up a tree permit in Toronto?
Toronto does not offer an expedited permit process for private tree removals. The only way to move faster is to submit a complete, well-prepared application from the start and respond immediately to any City requests for additional information.
When does the 30 business day clock start for a Toronto tree permit?
The 30 business day review period begins when Toronto Urban Forestry determines your application is complete, not when you first submit it. If anything is missing, the clock does not start until those items are received and accepted.
What happens if Toronto doesn't respond within 30 business days?
Under Chapter 813, if the City does not issue a decision within 30 business days of receiving a complete application, the permit is deemed approved. If you are approaching day 30 without a response, contact Toronto Urban Forestry directly to follow up.
We handle the full process: arborist assessment, Chapter 813-compliant report, and application submission. Serving all Toronto neighbourhoods including North York, Etobicoke, Scarborough, East York, Forest Hill, Rosedale, the Annex, Leaside, the Beaches and everywhere in between.