Richmond Hill's current Tree Preservation By-law protects private-property trees based on a 15 cm diameter at breast height threshold, measured at 1.4 metres above ground. That is an important update because older information often refers to By-law 41-07 and a 20 cm threshold. Richmond Hill's newer By-law 19-25 repealed By-law 41-07, so property owners should use the City's current tree permit page before removing or injuring a tree.
This guide explains the current Richmond Hill tree removal permit basics, what changed from the old By-law 41-07 language, what property owners should check before cutting, and how Toronto Tree Services may forward requests to independent arborists or independent tree care professionals where available.
Richmond Hill Tree Permit - Key Facts
Richmond Hill controls the removal and injury of trees on private property through its current Tree Preservation By-law. The City states that a permit is required before removing or injuring any tree with a diameter at breast height of 15 cm or more. DBH is measured at 1.4 metres above the ground.
The by-law is not only about cutting down a tree. Richmond Hill's public guidance says injury includes harming, damaging, impairing, or failing to protect a tree according to proper arboricultural practices and City standards. The City also states that removing more than 20% of a tree's live tissue within a 12-month period, or encroaching into the Tree Protection Zone, is considered an injury to a tree.
That matters for homeowners planning removal, heavy pruning, excavation, driveway work, trenching, grading, pool work, landscaping, retaining walls, decks, additions, or any project near a mature tree. If the tree is at or above the 15 cm threshold, check the permit rules before work starts.
Richmond Hill neighbourhoods such as Bayview Hill, Mill Pond, Oak Ridges, Jefferson, Langstaff, Crosby, North Richvale, Doncrest, Harding, Westbrook, Devonsleigh, Rouge Woods, Elgin Mills, and South Richvale all contain established residential canopy where these rules can come up quickly.
Many older Richmond Hill tree permit articles, contractor pages, and saved homeowner notes still mention By-law 41-07 and a 20 cm DBH threshold. That information is outdated. The current public Richmond Hill page refers to a 15 cm DBH threshold, and By-law 19-25 states that By-law 41-07 was repealed.
For practical purposes, this means a tree that might not have required a permit under older 20 cm language may now fall under the current 15 cm rule. A smaller ornamental tree, young maple, backyard cedar, or front-yard tree that looks minor at first glance may still need review if it meets the current threshold.
The safe approach is simple: measure the tree, check the current Richmond Hill page, and confirm with the City or an independent arborist where available before removal or injury.
Measure the tree diameter at 1.4 metres above ground. If the trunk is 15 cm or more, treat it as potentially regulated under the current Richmond Hill rules. Also confirm whether the tree is private, City-owned, a replacement tree, part of a development site, part of a woodlot, near a natural heritage feature, or affected by York Region rules.
A permit application may require tree details, the purpose of removal or injury, applicable fees, and an arborist report or other documentation depending on the situation. Dead, dying, hazardous, emergency, replacement, construction-related, and development-related trees can have different documentation paths.
Toronto Tree Services does not inspect trees, assess trees, prepare arborist reports, prepare permit applications, submit municipal paperwork, communicate with Richmond Hill, or manage jobs. Where available, Toronto Tree Services may forward your request to an independent arborist or independent tree care professional. Any assessment, report, permit-related document, submission support, pricing, timing, and communication are handled directly between the customer and the independent professional.
Richmond Hill provides an online application process for permits related to the injury or destruction of trees. The applicant should keep copies of the application, payment confirmation, uploaded documents, correspondence, and any permit or reference number.
The City may review the application, request more information, inspect the property, consider the tree's species, condition, location, size, ecological value, erosion or flood-control context, surrounding-property impacts, and cultural heritage value, then approve, refuse, or issue conditions.
If a permit is issued, read the conditions before scheduling work. Conditions may involve replacement planting, cash-in-lieu, restoration, supervision by an arborist, timing restrictions, posting the permit on site, or other requirements. The independent contractor or arborist is responsible for their own work methods, pricing, schedule, cleanup, insurance, WSIB, qualifications, and service-related issues directly with the customer.
Richmond Hill and Toronto both regulate private tree injury and removal, but they do not use the same threshold. Toronto's private-tree threshold is commonly associated with 30 cm DBH. Richmond Hill's current public guidance says private trees with DBH of 15 cm or more require a permit before removal or injury.
This means Richmond Hill captures many more residential trees than Toronto's private-tree by-law threshold. If you own property in Richmond Hill, do not assume Toronto rules apply. Use Richmond Hill's current page and by-law before making a decision.
Also remember that City-owned trees, replacement trees, woodlots, natural heritage areas, development sites, and York Region forest rules may create separate requirements beyond the private-tree threshold.
Toronto Tree Services is a referral and lead generation service. Where available, your Richmond Hill tree permit or tree removal request may be forwarded to an independent arborist or independent tree care professional who can discuss the site and possible next steps directly with you.
The independent arborist or contractor is responsible for assessment, estimates, reports where offered, permit-related documents where offered, scheduling, work performed, cleanup terms, pricing, payment, communication, qualifications, insurance, WSIB, warranties, and service-related issues directly with the customer.
The current Richmond Hill by-law includes specific treatment for trees deemed dead, dying, or hazardous. Older guidance may say dead or hazardous trees are exempt from a regular permit where proper arborist documentation is submitted, while the current By-law 19-25 uses an exemption-permit framework. The key point for property owners is this: do not remove a dead, dying, or hazardous regulated tree without confirming the current process with Richmond Hill first.
An independent arborist may document the visible condition where available. Any certificate, report, photo documentation, emergency-work note, pricing, timing, and communication are handled directly between the customer and the independent arborist or independent professional.
If a tree creates an immediate safety concern, contact Richmond Hill directly and speak with an independent arborist or independent tree care professional where available. Emergency work can have its own documentation requirements, including post-work documentation in some circumstances. Do not assume urgency removes every paperwork responsibility.
Trees near property lines can raise ownership, access, neighbour, root, branch, and consent questions. If a trunk, roots, or canopy crosses a boundary, clarify the issue before removal or injury. An independent arborist may discuss visible tree condition, location, and next steps where available.
If you are planning a renovation, addition, pool, driveway, grading, trenching, retaining wall, or landscaping project near a regulated tree in Richmond Hill, tree requirements should be checked early. The current by-law treats encroachment into the Tree Protection Zone as injury, which means construction activity near trees can trigger concerns even if removal is not planned.
Toronto Tree Services does not prepare tree inventories, tree preservation documents, site plans, building-permit materials, municipal submissions, or construction documents. Any such documents or submission support must be discussed directly with the independent arborist or independent professional where offered.
Richmond Hill's current page lists tree replacement requirements based on DBH and notes that cash-in-lieu may apply in some circumstances. The number of replacement trees can increase as the size of the removed tree increases. The City also notes that security deposits may be collected for replacement trees under the current fee by-law.
Read the permit conditions carefully. Replacement planting, cash-in-lieu, restoration plans, maintenance requirements, deadlines, and inspections are not details to leave until later. Confirm who is responsible for sourcing, planting, watering, maintaining, and documenting any replacement trees.
If you have mature trees on your Richmond Hill property and you are planning removal, pruning, construction, or heavy landscaping, check tree rules before hiring anyone. A short delay at the planning stage is better than discovering after work begins that a permit, arborist report, replacement condition, or City review was required.
Ask these questions before approving work:
The independent arborist or contractor is responsible for their own qualifications, insurance, WSIB status, pricing, payment terms, scheduling, work performed, cleanup terms, warranties, and service-related issues directly with the customer.
Richmond Hill is part of York Region, and regional forest rules may apply in some locations. The current Richmond Hill by-law still needs to be considered for private trees, while York Region's forest conservation framework may be relevant for larger treed areas, forests, woodlots, natural heritage features, or rural-residential properties.
For most developed residential lots in Richmond Hill, the local Tree Preservation By-law will be the first rule to check. If the property is near Oak Ridges Moraine lands, a creek valley, woodland, or natural heritage feature, check York Region and conservation authority context as well.
You can start with Richmond Hill's Trees on Private Property page and York Region's tree cutting permit page.
Do you need a permit to remove a tree in Richmond Hill?
Yes, in many cases. Richmond Hill's current Tree Preservation By-law requires a permit before removing or injuring a private tree with a DBH of 15 cm or more, measured at 1.4 metres above ground. Confirm current requirements before work begins.
Is By-law 41-07 still the current Richmond Hill tree by-law?
No. Richmond Hill's current Tree Preservation By-law is By-law 19-25, which repealed By-law 41-07. Older 20 cm threshold references should be updated to the current 15 cm DBH threshold shown on Richmond Hill's official page.
What counts as injury to a tree in Richmond Hill?
Richmond Hill states that injury includes harming, damaging, impairing, or failing to protect a tree according to proper arboricultural practices and City standards. Removing more than 20% of live tissue within 12 months or encroaching into the Tree Protection Zone is considered injury.
How do I apply for a tree removal permit in Richmond Hill?
Use Richmond Hill's current online permit process. Requirements may include the application, fees, tree details, site information, and an arborist report or other documentation where required. Toronto Tree Services does not submit applications or prepare reports.
Do dead or hazardous trees still need paperwork in Richmond Hill?
Yes, you should confirm the current process before removal. Richmond Hill's current by-law includes a framework for trees deemed dead, dying, or hazardous. An independent arborist may discuss documentation directly with the customer where available.
What happens if a tree is removed without proper permission?
Unauthorized tree injury or removal can lead to enforcement, administrative penalties, fines, replacement requirements, compliance orders, and other consequences. The property owner should confirm permit status before any contractor begins work.
Related Guides and Services
Toronto Tree Services may forward Richmond Hill tree permit, arborist report, tree removal, pruning, stump grinding, and related tree requests to an independent arborist or independent tree care professional where available.
The independent arborist or contractor is responsible for assessment, estimates, reports where offered, permit-related documents where offered, scheduling, work performed, cleanup terms, pricing, payment, communication, qualifications, insurance, WSIB, warranties, and service-related issues directly with the customer.