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Trees are a precious natural resource. They benefit our environment and beautify our homes and properties. We’re committed to protecting and managing this valuable resource so that everyone can enjoy a vibrant community full of trees. This page outlines the bylaws and guidelines that protect trees on both public and private property, along with practical information for residents, developers, and contractors working around them.
On this page:
Kitchener’s urban forest covers about 27% of our land base. This consist of all trees growing on public and private lands, including trees in the downtown, old and new neighbourhoods, commercial and institutional lands, city parks, and natural areas. It is a dominant part of our green infrastructure, providing valuable ecological and hydrological functions and processes to the community.
Our Sustainable Urban Forest Strategy provides a vision, goal and five branches for a sustainable urban forest. It is important to conserve and manage our existing urban forest on public and private lands to achieve our tree canopy target of 30% for each ward by 2050 and 33% city-wide by 2070.
Our approach to tree conservation and management is guided by:
Ownership is determined by the property that the tree is located on, not by who planted the tree. For help identifying ownership, call us at 519-741-2345 or send us an email.
If you or your contractor are planning work on or near a property with trees regulated by either bylaw, it’s essential to comply with the applicable bylaws to avoid unauthorized injury to or removal of a regulated tree. Tree damage can take years to become visible, so meeting these requirements from the start is essential.
Trees located within road right-of-ways, boulevards, and parks are city-owned and, therefore, are public trees. Caring for and removing those trees is our responsibility. Damaging or removing these trees can result in fines or criminal charges, as protected under the public tree bylaw.
In June 2025, the City of Kitchener updated its Public Tree Bylaw to improve protections for trees on public property and support long-term canopy growth. Key enhancements include:
Tree maintenance of city-owned trees is taking place year-round. Visit our tree planting and maintenance page to learn about our service levels for public tree maintenance, stumping, planting and more.
If you have a concern or question about a city tree, please call us at 519-741-2345 or send us an email. We specifically want to know about tree risk issues, including dead or dangerous-looking trees or other safety issues.
Only city-planted trees are allowed on boulevards, and residents must avoid activities that could harm tree roots, trunks, or branches. When landscaping, use small plants and hand tools to dig individual planting holes and keep materials away from trunks.
Learn more about boulevard beautification
To protect trees on City property, any construction work near a City tree, whether by residents, contractors or developers, must follow specific guidelines set out in the Public Tree Bylaw. Damage to tree roots may remain hidden for several years before signs of stress or decline appear in the tree. Ensuring proper protections are in place at the start of the project is essential to protect against irreversible impacts to soil and tree health.
Widening your driveway apron or cutting into the curb outside your property line requires a permit. The City reviews each permit application to ensure the protection and preservation of nearby city trees and plantable spaces.
Visit our driveway widening webpage to learn more.
Understanding tree protection zones
A tree protection zone (TPZ) is the area around the trunk containing roots vital for health and stability. The size of the TPZ is based on the tree’s diameter-at-breast-height (DBH) and measured from the outside edge of the tree trunk extending outwards in all directions.
| Trunk DBH Range |
Street & Right-of-way Trees: Minimum Setback Radius (m) |
Park and Open Area Trees: Minimum Setback Radius (m) |
|
|
|
Whichever of the two is greater: |
|
<20 |
1.8 |
Dripline or 1.8 |
|
20 to 30 |
2.4 |
Dripline or 2.4 |
|
31 to 40 |
3.0 |
Dripline or 3.0 |
|
41 to 50 |
3.6 |
Dripline or 3.6 |
|
51 to 60 |
4.2 |
Dripline or 4.2 |
|
61 to 70 |
4.8 |
Dripline or 4.8 |
|
71 to 80 |
5.4 |
Dripline or 5.4 |
|
81 to 100 |
6.0 |
Dripline or 6.0 |
|
>100 |
6cm of protection for each 1cm of DBH |
Dripline or 6cm of protection for each 1cm of DBH |
Tree preservation and planting standards
These standards outline the practices required to reduce the risk of tree injury during construction and ensure the long-term health of both existing and newly planted trees. They include detailed requirements for fencing, signage, soil preparation, and planting.
Additional information for developers is available in the City’s development manual.
The City generally does not support the removal of public trees. In cases where removal is necessary for development, Forestry staff must review and approve the request. If authorized, the applicant will be required to provide compensation based on the tree’s size. The tree’s overall condition may factor into the compensation value, at the discretion of Forestry staff. All funds collected through this process directly support the City’s tree planting efforts.
For more information, refer to the Public Tree Removal and Compensation Program document below.
Unauthorized damage to or removal of city trees is a violation of the public tree bylaw and may lead to enforcement actions. Penalties can include fines up to $10,000, enforcement notices, and requirements for restoration or compensation. For more information on the fines, refer to the Administrative Penalty Fines document below.
Our private tree bylaw protects trees on private properties from damage, injury or destruction.
You may need a tree conservation permit to remove a tree from a property larger than 0.405 hectares or one acre.
You do not need a permit for:
If you’re not sure if you need a permit, send us an email.
Request a tree conservation permit
Follow these steps to request a tree conservation permit:
Your application must include:
If all the trees you’re removing are dead, dying or hazardous, contact our planning division to ask if you need a permit.
Tree removals on private property during development
When removing trees as part of the development of a piece of land, we will need:
You must include these documents in your development application.
Contact Us
City of Kitchener
200 King Street West,
Kitchener, Ontario
N2G 4G7
Telephone: 519-741-2345
TTY: 1-866-969-9994
Email: info@kitchener.ca
The City of Kitchener is situated on the traditional territory of the Chonnonton, Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee Peoples. We recognize our responsibility to act as stewards for the land and honour the original caretakers who came before us. Our community is enriched by the enduring knowledge and deep-rooted traditions of the diverse First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Peoples who live in Kitchener today.
