Cutting tree permit. City of Drummondville

Trees offer a multitude of benefits: they produce the oxygen we breathe, they purify water, they prevent soil erosion, they help regulate temperature, they protect us from strong winds, they reduce noise pollution and they beautify our living environment. For this reason, the City of Drummondville has established regulations that govern the planting, protection and cutting down of trees. 

Certificate of authorization

Owners of private land who are required to cut down a tree must first obtain a Certificate of Approval from the City (Section 22 of the Permits and Certificates By-law No. 4303). This document is valid for 3 months (Section 50 of the same by-law). Felling without a Certificate of Approval is subject to a fine. Due to Emerald Ash Borer, there is no fee for the EAB certificate for this species of tree. ​

Tree replacement

Each private property must have a minimum number of trees, not including cedars (thuya occidentalis). Owners must therefore plant a new tree each time they cut down one. At the time of planting, the tree must have a minimum height of 2.5 metres. In the case of a deciduous tree, its minimum diameter must also be 0.05 metres in diameter (measured at 0.15 metres above average ground level). The tree must be planted on the property within 12 months of the issuance of the Felling Authorization Certificate. It is the responsibility of the owner to inquire about and comply with the applicable requirements with respect to the location of the trees. For example, if the cut tree is located in the riparian zone, the new tree must also be planted in this zone.  
 
In some circumstances, the planting of another tree is not required. These include removal of a hedge, construction or expansion of a building, construction of a parking or loading/unloading area, installation of a swimming pool or other accessory construction, creation of a street, creation of a drainage ditch, construction of public infrastructure, and construction of a recreational pathway. Also, the replacement of a tree is not necessary when a specialist in the field determines that certain trees in a wooded block must be felled to promote the proper development of the other trees in that block. Lands located in predominantly agricultural or rural areas are also considered exceptions.  ​

Ash wood​

Emerald ash bored is an insect that originated in Asia and has no natural predators in North America. When it infests an ash tree, it can kill it within a few years if the first signs of its presence are not detected early enough. In order to curb the spread of this insect pest, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency regulates the transportation of ash wood in all forms, including logs, branches, chips and firewood. Any ash product must not be moved from one regulated area to another. Also, it is recommended that ash wood not be transported, and it is prohibited to cut down a brake between mid-April and mid-October, when the EAB is active. 

For more information​

For more information or to obtain a certificate of authorization, contact the Public Works Department of the City of Drummondville, by phone at 819-478-6572 or by e-mail at travauxpublics@drummondville.ca.

​The information on this page was last updated on November 18, 2020.
When to cut down a tree

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