Do You Need a Permit to Cut a Tree in Parksville?

City of Parksville

The City of Parksville requires a Tree Cutting Permit under its Tree Management Bylaw (No. 1484) to remove a protected tree — one over 50 cm in diameter. Poplar and alder are exempt at any size, and so is pruning that removes branches under 10 cm in diameter. Any tree removed under a permit must be replaced within six months. If your property sits inside a Development Permit Area, you face a further layer of review on top of your permit, not instead of it. We confirm what your address needs at the free on-site assessment, before anyone cuts.

Qualicum Beach

Qualicum Beach has a town-wide Tree Protection Bylaw (No. 725, 2023). You generally need a permit to take down a protected tree 30 cm in diameter or larger. The Town also protects nine special species, including arbutus and Garry oak, at much smaller sizes. As of 2026 the process carries a $100 application fee, a refundable $700 security deposit per replacement tree, and two replacement trees for each tree removed — or $2,000 total ($1,000 per replacement tree) if paid in lieu. The Town waives the application fee for hazard trees confirmed by a qualified assessor.

Regional District of Nanaimo (Errington, Coombs, rural Oceanside)

On unincorporated RDN lots, tree cutting is regulated through Environmental and other Development Permit Areas set out in the Official Community Plan. If your lot touches a stream, steep slope, or coastal shoreline, the Regional District may require a Development Permit before we clear any brush or trees. We check with RDN Planning to confirm whether your parcel is affected.

Protected trees, hazards, and utilities

In the Regional District of Nanaimo, a dead or hazardous tree confirmed by a qualified Tree Risk Assessor is generally exempt from the permit. Even when the Town waives the fee for a confirmed hazard tree, you must still hold a valid permit before we cut it down. Trees near BC Hydro lines involve the power company rather than local government. We leave work near BC Hydro lines to utility-qualified crews and coordinate directly with BC Hydro.

How permits fit into the job

1. 1

   Confirm the rules for the address — Before we cut anything, we check whether your property sits in Qualicum Beach, the City of Parksville, or an RDN development permit area, and what that means for your tree.

2. 2

   Apply where needed — Where a permit or Development Permit applies, we prepare the application, the arborist report, and any replacement-planting condition for the authority.

3. 3

   Cut once approved — We remove the tree once approval comes through, or right away where it's exempt as a confirmed hazard.