When Does Vancouver Require an Arborist Report?

If you’re planning to remove a tree, renovate, or build near one in Vancouver, there’s a good chance the City will ask for an arborist report. This guide explains exactly when, what the report is used for, and the situations where you won’t need one. If you’re outside the city, our guide to tree permits in North Vancouver covers the rules there.

What Is an Arborist Report?

An arborist report is a written assessment of one or more trees, prepared by an ISA certified arborist. It records each tree’s species, size and condition, explains why work is or isn’t needed, and makes recommendations. The City uses it to decide whether a removal meets the bylaw, and its inspectors check that conditions on site match what the report says.

Removing a Tree on Private Property

Vancouver’s Protection of Trees By-law requires a permit to remove a tree on private property if:

• The trunk is 20 cm or more in diameter, measured 1.4 metres above the ground (about 64 cm around)
• The tree or hedge has more than one stem at that height, and the largest two or three stems add up to 20 cm or more
• The tree is smaller, but was a condition of approving an earlier plan or permit, such as a replacement tree

For any removal that isn’t part of a development project, the City’s application asks for an arborist report from an ISA certified arborist, along with a site plan showing existing buildings, trees being kept, trees proposed for removal and where any replacement trees will go.

The bylaw only allows removal in specific cases, and some of them need a professional to certify the problem:

• Dead, dying or hazardous: an arborist must certify it
• Interfering with utility wires, and can’t be pruned while keeping a reasonable appearance and health: an arborist must certify it
• Roots blocking sewer or drainage: an accredited plumber must certify it
• Inside the building envelope of an issued development or building permit

The City also lists serious damage to your property as a reason to apply.

As of October 2026, the permit costs $113 for the first tree in a 12 month period and $324 for each additional tree in the same period. Once a permit is issued, you have six months to remove the tree, the permit must be posted where it’s visible from the street or lane, and a replacement tree is required for any removed tree larger than 20 cm.

For the practical side of taking a tree down, see our tree removal service, or our complete guide to tree removal in Vancouver.

Building or Renovating Near a Tree

This is where many homeowners are caught off guard. Under the bylaw, any renovation or new building must keep the existing trees on the property unless one of the removal conditions above applies.

If there are trees 20 cm or more in diameter on the site, the City requires an arborist report to apply for a development permit. The report covers how those trees will be protected during construction, following the requirements in Section 7.2 of the bylaw.

Protection doesn’t stop at your property line. Trees on neighbouring properties and City boulevard trees that could be damaged by the work must be protected too. If your project is near a neighbour’s tree, the report needs to account for it.

Which Trees Are Protected?

In practice, “protected” in Vancouver means any private tree that meets the permit trigger: 20 cm or more in diameter, the multi stem rule, or a tree required as a condition of an earlier permit. Trees smaller than that can usually be removed without a permit, and so without a report.

Trees on City boulevards are a separate matter. They’re City property, covered by the Street Tree By-law rather than the private tree rules.

Neighbour Disputes and Shared Trees

Trees near a property line are a common source of friction, and the City’s rules give each owner a say:

• Shared trees: if a tree straddles the property line, the application needs a written letter of consent from the other owner
• Strata trees: the application needs written consent from the strata council president or vice president, not the management company
• Applying for someone else: if you’re applying on behalf of an owner, you need an original signed letter of authorization from them
• Construction next door: if a neighbour is building, trees on your property that could be damaged must be protected under their permit

An arborist report gives both sides an independent, written record of a tree’s size, condition and risk. That is often what moves a disagreement forward. If you think a tree has been removed without a permit, you can report it to the City through Van311.

How We Can Help

We prepare the arborist report the City asks for, whether you’re applying to remove a tree, planning a renovation, or working through a shared tree with a neighbour. If you’re not sure you need a report at all, an arborist consultation will answer that first.

Here are both FAQ sections as plain text. Once the client approves, I can convert them back to the accordion HTML for the site.

Frequently Asked Questions About Arborist Reports in Vancouver

Do I always need an arborist report to remove a tree in Vancouver?
You need one for any tree that requires a removal permit, which means trees 20 cm or more in diameter, multi stem trees that meet the same size, and replacement trees. Trees smaller than that usually don’t need a permit, so they don’t need a report either.

Who can write an arborist report for the City of Vancouver?
The City asks for a report prepared by an ISA certified arborist, meaning an arborist certified by the International Society of Arboriculture.

How much does a tree removal permit cost in Vancouver?
As of October 2026, the permit is $113 for the first tree in a 12 month period and $324 for each additional tree in the same period. The cost of the arborist report is separate.

Do I need an arborist report if I’m renovating?
If there are trees 20 cm or more in diameter on your property, yes. The City requires one to apply for a development permit, and the work must also protect neighbouring and boulevard trees that could be damaged.

What if the tree is on the property line?
If the tree straddles the line, the City needs a written letter of consent from the other owner with your application. For a tree on strata property, consent must come from the strata council president or vice president.

What if tree roots are blocking my sewer?
For that reason, the bylaw relies on certification from an accredited plumber that the roots are interfering with the sewer or drainage. The City’s application for a non development removal still lists an arborist report among the required documents.