The municipality does not currently regulate or restrict the destruction of trees on privately-owned property.

What changes are being proposed?

As a result of receiving public feedback on the draft by-law (introduced to the public and Council in 2023), which indicated that the public was not in support of a tree by-law that regulated tree removal on private property, except in the context of development, Council on September 24, 2024 directed staff to narrow the scope of the tree by-law impacting private lands to apply only to development applications pursuant to the Planning Act, and to present a revised by-law to Council by the end of the year.

Why is this change being proposed?

This By-law change aligns with the municipality's strategic priority of a Healthy Environment and is in support of the Council-adopted Healthy Environment Plan 2019 and Lake Management Plans.

Terms Defined

Mature Trees: 5 inches (12cm) in diameter. You can determine the diameter of a tree by measuring the circumference at 4.5 feet (1.37 meters) from the ground and dividing that number by 3.14.

Unhealthy tree: determined by a professional to be damaged, infected by something contagious to other trees, and/or will die.

Hazardous Tree: damaged or destroyed trees that should be removed in the interests of public safety, health and general welfare following any man-made or natural disasters, storms, high winds, floods, fires, snowfall, freezes or as a result of insects, disease or wildlife

Environmental protection areas: zoning area designated in the municipality's official plan. Find out your property's zoning by visiting our Property and Planning map.

Update: Impact of the Tariffs on the Tree Preservation in the Context of Development By-law

As a result of the uncertainty faced by developers in the face of tariffs imposed on Canadian construction goods by the United States, and the retaliatory tariffs imposed on similar goods by the Canadian government, City Staff have decided to pause the draft by-law at this time. Once certainty has been re-established in the construction industry, Staff will return the matter to Council for its consideration.

1. Feedback on the proposed By-law can be submitted to treebylaw@kawarthalakes.ca.

2. Follow this project to receive updates as it moves forward.