Tell us what you think about the City of Cambridge's Private Tree By-law!

The City passed a Private Tree By-law in 2018 that regulates the removal of any tree on private property that has a diameter of at least 20 centimeters.

The main purpose of the by-law is to help sustain our tree canopy by supporting the retention and replacement of trees permitted to be removed on private property. The By-law also helps raise awareness about the benefits and services tree provide, and provides opportunities to discuss tree protection and preservation with residents.

We are planning on reviewing the by-law in 2023 and want to hear from you as a first step.

Over the summer of 2022 we are engaging the community to (a) better understand your experience with the City’s Private Tree By-law and (b) gather ideas about how the by-law, and its processes, could be improved.

Feedback will be gathered through the survey below until August 8, 2022.

Interested in learning more?

  • Watch a pre-recorded presentation about the project and about the by-law. Click for presentation
  • Browse the FAQs on this page.
  • Revisit this page in the fall of 2022 to view a summary of "What We Heard" through the engagement process.
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Private Tree By-law Survey

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Take our survey! 

The City is gathering ideas about:

  1. How well the current Private Tree By-law is understood 
  2. Experiences with the Private Tree By-law permitting process, and
  3. Perspectives on how the Private Tree By-law and / or its processes could be improved.

This survey is the primary tool for gathering feedback from the community. 

Why is the City Engaging the Community on this Topic Now?

The City passed a Private Tree By-law in 2018. It is time for the By-law to be reviewed and updated.

Your ideas about the By-law are important.

Your input will be used to help identify and frame options to be considered as part of the Private Tree By-law review and update to be undertaken in 2023.

The City is gathering ideas between July 11 and August 8, 2022.


Please take 10 minutes to complete the following survey, which includes multiple choice questions as well as opportunities for written comments.

This survey will be live until August 8.

Please tell your friends, colleagues, and anyone else who wants to have their say!

If yes, where did you hear about the By-law? Please select one option.
If yes, do you agree or disagree with the following statement?I understand what the Private Tree By-law regulates and why the city has one.
Prior to this engagement process, did you know that the City had a Private Tree By-law? Required

YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE CITY’S PRIVATE TREE BY-LAW

UNDERSTANDING OF THE CITY'S PRIVATE TREE BY-LAW

The following questions are intended to gauge your level of understanding of different aspects of the current Private Tree By-law. This information will help the City identify where it may need to:
(a) improve communication about the by-law and / or
(b) clarify the by-law itself or the permit application process.

How well do you feel that you understood the Private Tree By-law before participating in this engagement process? For each of the following statements, please select one option.
I understood this
I did not understand this
I am not sure
a. A permit is not required to prune regulated tree(s) on private property (assuming pruning is being done to keep the tree healthy).
a. A permit is not required to prune regulated tree(s) on private property (assuming pruning is being done to keep the tree healthy).
b. The by-law applies to trees on private lands that are at least 20 cm in diameter (as measured at 1.4 m from the ground).
b. The by-law applies to trees on private lands that are at least 20 cm in diameter (as measured at 1.4 m from the ground).
c. The by-law manages, but does not prohibit, the removal of regulated trees.
c. The by-law manages, but does not prohibit, the removal of regulated trees.
d. The by-law allows hazard trees to be removed without a permit, but requires proof be provided to the City that the tree was hazardous.
d. The by-law allows hazard trees to be removed without a permit, but requires proof be provided to the City that the tree was hazardous.
e. The by-law allows dead trees to be removed without a permit, but requires proof be provided to the City that the tree was dead.
e. The by-law allows dead trees to be removed without a permit, but requires proof be provided to the City that the tree was dead.
f. For regulated trees approved for removal, permit holders can plant replacement trees on their property or pay the City a set per tree fee to plant replacement trees on City lands.
f. For regulated trees approved for removal, permit holders can plant replacement trees on their property or pay the City a set per tree fee to plant replacement trees on City lands.

YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH THE CITY’S PRIVATE TREE BY-LAW

Have you ever applied for a permit under the Private Tree By-law? Required
Please rate your overall experience with the Private Tree By-law process.
How easy or difficult was it to apply for a permit under the Private Tree By-law? For each of the following statements, please select one option.
Very easy
Somewhat easy
Neither easy nor difficult
Somewhat difficult
Very difficult
a. Completing the application form online
a. Completing the application form online
b. Knowing when an Arborist report is required.
b. Knowing when an Arborist report is required.
c. Calculating the tree replacement requirements if choosing to plant the required replacement trees on their property.
c. Calculating the tree replacement requirements if choosing to plant the required replacement trees on their property.
d. Calculating the tree replacement fees owed if choosing to pay for replacement trees to be planted somewhere else in the City on public or private lands.
d. Calculating the tree replacement fees owed if choosing to pay for replacement trees to be planted somewhere else in the City on public or private lands.

PERSPECTIVES RELATED TO THE PRIVATE TREE BY-LAW

With respect to the tree compensation approach, which of the following best reflects your preference? Please select one option. Required

TREE COMPENSATION APPROACH

Under the current Private Tree By-law, tree compensation fees are calculated using an approach adapted from an established professional arboricultural guide (i.e., the ISA Guide for Plant Appraisal, 9th edition).

  • The approach calculates the potential value of a mature tree based on its size, condition and other variables including some of the services it provides.
  • The City then applies a deep discount to ensure the actual fee is reasonable for the average property owner in Cambridge.
  • For example, a healthy 50 cm diameter tree appraised at over $15,000 is discounted by 95% resulting in a fee of $750 to compensate for the removal of one healthy 50 cm diameter tree.


This approach is useful for illustrating the actual value of a tree in the City, but the calculations are somewhat complicated and require input from a qualified tree professional.

Assuming you had enough space to accommodate the replacement tree(s), which of the following might encourage you to plant your own tree(s)? You may select more than one option. Required

WHERE COMPENSATION OCCURS

Homeowners who receive a permit to remove a tree can choose to:

(a) replant a tree on their property (generally for under $150 for the property owner to purchase and maintain the tree) or

(b) pay the City a fee (currently $485) to have a tree planted and maintained elsewhere in the City.

Based on the available data, most Private Tree By-law applicants choose to pay the City rather than plant the replacement tree(s) on their property.

GIVING NOTICE

The current Private Tree By-law requires that a hard copy of a permit issued to remove (injure or destroy) one or more tree(s) must be posted in a visible location on that property at least five days prior to the planned removal(s). The intent is to notify neighbours and others who may be passing by that the activity has been approved by the City before it occurs.

Which of the following outreach tools would be most useful to you to learn about the Private Tree By-law and how it works? You may select more than one option. Required

OUTREACH

OTHER COMMENTS

OPTIONAL: DEMOGRAPHIC AND CONTACT INFORMATION

Are you a resident of Cambridge?

Thank-you for your time and your input!