Review and Comment on Draft Tree Bylaw

The District of Central Saanich is updating its Tree Protection Bylaw and residents are invited to review the draft bylaw and provide comments.

“Trees are vital to climate resilience in our region,” said Central Saanich Mayor Ryan Windsor. “Trees are key to carbon sequestration, improve our local air quality, cool our community during summer, provide habitat for wildlife, and reduce localized flooding—not to mention they add beauty to our neighbourhoods."

Central Saanich Council identified a Tree Protection bylaw review when developing the District’s 2019 Strategic Plan. The newly drafted Tree Management Bylaw is now posted online while staff collect feedback from the community. Following consultation, staff will return to Council with a summary of the feedback and any suggested changes.

Highlights of the new bylaw include introducing a tree density target of 50 trees per hectare; trees 20 cm or more in diameter would now be protected and their removals must be replaced; new application fees to recover District costs; no cost to remove hazardous trees; cash in lieu option for when trees cannot be planted on the same property to fund planting on municipal property; incentives for retention of trees. Tree removal on lands within the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) remains exempt from the requirement for a permit, however, a written statement from the owner declaring the trees are to be removed for an agricultural use is required. 

Learn more about the draft tree bylaw and ask questions of staff, as well as provide feedback, at a virtual open house:

Residents are invited to review the complete draft bylaw and email comments to staff through the project’s website LetsTalkCentralSaanich.ca/TreeBylaw. 

Please contact Ivo van der Kamp at 236-638-3520 with any questions.