Inside Ottawa’s urban boundary — Kanata, Stittsville, Barrhaven, Nepean, Orléans, Gloucester, Riverside South, Findlay Creek and the whole inner city — a private tree 30 cm or more in diameter at breast height on a lot of one hectare or less needs a distinctive tree permit under Tree Protection By-law 2020-340 before it comes down. In the rural villages — Manotick, Greely, Osgoode, Metcalfe, Richmond, Carp, North Gower, Navan, Cumberland village, Constance Bay and the rest — the by-law does not regulate trees on private land unless the property is under a Planning Act application, though City-owned trees are protected everywhere. Kemptville, Arnprior and Rockland are outside the City of Ottawa and have their own rules. Since February 1, 2024 the threshold has been the same 30 cm in the suburbs as in the inner city; before that the suburban threshold was 50 cm, and a lot of older web pages still say so.
The one rule, then the map
By-law 2020-340 draws a line called the urban boundary, taken from the City’s Official Plan. On the urban side of that line a private tree that measures 30 cm or more across the trunk at about 1.4 m off the ground (a tape around the trunk reading roughly 95 cm or more) is a distinctive tree, and on any property of one hectare or less it needs a permit before removal. Properties larger than one hectare inside the urban area, and any property with a site plan, subdivision or other Planning Act application on it, are caught at a much lower 10 cm threshold under the tree permit provisions. On the rural side of the line the by-law reaches private trees only when a Planning Act application is involved. Every tree on City land, in every part of the city, needs a municipal tree permit to touch. The general rule is explained in our permit guide; this page is about which side of the line your street is on.
Neighbourhoods inside the urban boundary (30 cm rule applies)
| Area | Includes | Private tree 30 cm+ on a lot of 1 ha or less |
|---|---|---|
| Inner city (inside the Greenbelt) | Centretown, the Glebe, Old Ottawa South, Old Ottawa East, Westboro, Hintonburg, Carlington, Alta Vista, Vanier, Overbrook, Manor Park, Beacon Hill, Hunt Club, Carleton Heights | Permit required |
| Nepean (inside the Greenbelt) | Bells Corners, Craig Henry, Centrepointe, Merivale, City View, Crystal Beach, Qualicum | Permit required |
| Kanata and Stittsville | Beaverbrook, Katimavik, Glen Cairn, Bridlewood, Kanata Lakes, Morgan’s Grant, Stittsville | Permit required (was 50 cm before Feb 2024) |
| Barrhaven and Riverside South | Longfields, Stonebridge, Half Moon Bay, Chapman Mills, Riverside South | Permit required (was 50 cm before Feb 2024) |
| Orléans | Convent Glen, Queenswood Heights, Fallingbrook, Chapel Hill, Avalon, Orléans Village | Permit required (was 50 cm before Feb 2024) |
| South Gloucester | Findlay Creek, Leitrim | Permit required |
Two cautions. Blackburn Hamlet and a few other pockets sit as islands within the Greenbelt, and streets on the edge of Stittsville, Kanata North, south Barrhaven and east Orléans can be on either side of the boundary. The City’s own map is the authority: open geoOttawa, turn on the Forestry layers, and look up the address. Ten minutes on the map is cheaper than the fine.
Rural villages and rural lots (private trees not regulated, City trees are)
| Area | Villages and communities | Private tree, ordinary residential lot |
|---|---|---|
| Rural south | Manotick, Greely, Osgoode, Metcalfe, Vernon, Kars, North Gower, Richmond, Munster | No permit under 2020-340 unless a Planning Act application applies |
| Rural west | Carp, Dunrobin, Constance Bay, Fitzroy Harbour, Kinburn | No permit under 2020-340 unless a Planning Act application applies |
| Rural east | Cumberland village, Navan, Sarsfield, Vars, Carlsbad Springs | No permit under 2020-340 unless a Planning Act application applies |
“Not regulated” is not “anything goes.” Boundary trees shared with a neighbour are jointly owned, the tree between the road and your ditch is very often a City tree, and identified growth or expansion areas shown on the by-law’s schedules can pull a rural-looking lot back under the rules. When in doubt, look the address up.
What is exempt everywhere in Ottawa
The by-law lists exemptions, and the City’s own guidance names three that cover most calls: a tree that is dead; a tree that is an immediate threat to public health and safety; and a private ash tree infested with emerald ash borer. The City asks that photos be taken before an exempt removal, and we would go further: for anything that is “dead” or “hazardous” in your judgment rather than obviously so, get the condition written down by someone qualified to assess trees before the saw starts. A tree with leaves on half its crown is not a dead tree. Normal farm practices, power-line maintenance, licensed surveying and aggregate extraction are also exempt.
Fees, timing and fines
The fee schedule that took effect on February 1, 2024 set a standard distinctive tree permit at $174 per tree, and $870 per tree where the removal is part of infill development; fees are revised, so confirm the current figure on ottawa.ca before you budget. Expect weeks rather than days for a decision, and expect a compensation condition (replanting or a payment) for a healthy distinctive tree removed for reasons other than its condition. Fines run from $500 to $100,000, and working through a stop-work order costs $500 to $10,000 per day with no cap. The property owner, not the contractor, is the one the by-law looks to.
Outside the City of Ottawa: Kemptville, Arnprior, Rockland
By-law 2020-340 stops at the City of Ottawa’s boundary. The three Valley and county towns we serve each work differently.
Kemptville (Municipality of North Grenville). We have found no municipal permit requirement for removing a tree on an ordinary private residential lot in the municipality’s published by-laws. Larger woodlots may fall under county forest conservation rules. Confirm with the Municipality of North Grenville’s by-law office before booking anything on a wooded lot.
Arnprior (Renfrew County). The Town of Arnprior lists no tree or tree-cutting by-law among its published by-laws, and Renfrew County’s forest by-law (79-24, 2024) governs county-owned forests, not private yards. Municipal trees on Town property are still the Town’s. Check with the Town clerk if the tree is near the road allowance.
Rockland (City of Clarence-Rockland). Clarence-Rockland requires a tree cutting permit to remove a tree in the front yard of a property on named streets within its urban and community areas: Laurier Street; Landry Road, Labonté Street and Champlain Road; St-Pascal Road and du Lac Road; Laval Road; Lacroix Road, Gagné Road and Gendron Road; Indian Creek Road, Drouin Road and Russell Road. The application is a short form on the City’s website, and the City’s number for questions is 613-446-6022. Back-yard trees and other streets are not on the list.
How we handle it on every quote
We measure the trunk at chest height at the quote and tell you which side of 30 cm it sits on, we check the address against the boundary if it is anywhere near an edge, and if a permit is needed we say so before the job is booked, even though it means the work waits. Our prices are published, and a permit does not change them; it changes the date.
Ask about your specific tree → | The permit process in detail → | Is my ash tree infested? →
Quick answers
Do I need a tree permit in Kanata, Barrhaven or Orléans?
Yes, for a private tree 30 cm or more in diameter at breast height on a lot of one hectare or less. Since February 1, 2024 the suburban threshold has matched the inner city at 30 cm; before that it was 50 cm, and older pages still quote the old number.
Do I need a permit to cut a tree in Manotick, Greely, Osgoode or Carp?
Not under By-law 2020-340 for a tree on an ordinary private lot, because those villages are in Ottawa’s rural area. City-owned trees, boundary trees and lots under a Planning Act application are different, so check the address on geoOttawa if you are near a road allowance or a growth area.
How do I know if my street is inside the urban boundary?
Open geoOttawa, turn on the Forestry layers and look up the address. Kanata, Stittsville, Barrhaven, Riverside South, Nepean, Orléans, Findlay Creek and the inner city are inside; the villages are outside; edge streets can go either way.
Can I remove an ash tree killed by emerald ash borer without a permit in Ottawa?
The City’s guidance says a private ash tree infested with emerald ash borer can be removed without a permit, as can a dead tree or one that is an immediate hazard. Take photos before the work and, if the tree is only partly dead, have the condition assessed and written down first.
What does an Ottawa tree permit cost in 2026?
The fee schedule that took effect February 1, 2024 set the standard distinctive tree permit at $174 per tree and $870 per tree for infill development removals. Fees are revised, so confirm the current amount on ottawa.ca. Fines for skipping the permit run from $500 to $100,000.
Do Kemptville, Arnprior or Rockland use Ottawa’s tree by-law?
No. By-law 2020-340 ends at the City of Ottawa boundary. Clarence-Rockland requires a permit only for front-yard trees on a short list of named streets in its urban and community areas; Arnprior and North Grenville publish no private-lot tree removal permit, though municipal trees remain the town’s. Confirm with each municipality.
This page summarises municipal by-laws as we understand them on the date above and is not legal advice. Boundaries and fees change. Confirm the current rules with the City of Ottawa, the Municipality of North Grenville, the Town of Arnprior or the City of Clarence-Rockland before relying on anything here.