Toronto Rental Properties and the Private Tree By-law

In Toronto, you need a City permit before you remove or injure a tree on private property once its trunk measures 30 cm or more in diameter, measured 1.4 m above the ground. Trees in a protected ravine or natural area need a permit at any size, and the tree on the boulevard out front usually belongs to the City, not to you. For a landlord or property manager, that makes the permit check the first step of any tree job, ahead of booking a crew or telling a tenant the tree is coming down.

Below: the rules, the problem trees, the costs and what a quote should say.

Which Toronto rules apply to your tree

Three sets of rules can apply to the same yard.

The Private Tree By-law (Municipal Code Chapter 813, Article III). Any tree on private land with a trunk diameter of 30 cm or more at 1.4 m above grade is protected. To get the diameter, measure the trunk's circumference at that height and divide by 3.14. A trunk with a circumference of about 95 cm is right at the threshold. Trees planted as replacements under an earlier permit are protected whatever their size.

Ravine and natural feature protection (Chapter 658). Large parts of the city, including many lots backing onto the Don, Humber and Highland Creek valleys, fall inside the ravine protection area. There, removing or injuring a tree of any size, and even placing fill or changing grades, needs a permit. The City publishes maps showing which properties are inside the area.

City-owned trees. Trees on the road allowance, which often includes the strip between the sidewalk and your front lawn, belong to the City. Pruning or removing them is Urban Forestry's job. If one is dead or dropping branches on your tenants' cars, you report it to the City through 311 rather than hiring a crew.

A City report in 2026 recommended studying whether the private tree threshold should drop from 30 cm to 20 cm. That change has not been adopted, but it is worth checking the current rule on the City's tree permit pages before you plan a removal.

What the permit process involves

For a healthy tree, the City generally expects a reason: construction, a tree that cannot be kept in a safe condition, or damage it is causing. Applications usually include an arborist report describing the tree's condition, and the City may ask for a tree protection plan if other work is happening nearby. Approval is not guaranteed.

Permits normally come with a replanting condition. You either plant replacement trees on the property or pay cash in lieu so the City can plant elsewhere. On a small rental lot, decide early where a replacement tree would actually fit, away from foundations, the service line and the neighbour's fence.

Dead, dying and hazardous trees are handled differently, but they still go through the City. An arborist's written assessment is the strongest support for the request. If a tree poses an immediate danger after a storm, document it with photos before and after the work.

Fines for removing a protected tree without a permit can be substantial. Ask whoever quotes the job who files the application.

Trees that cause the most trouble on Toronto rentals

Older streets in the Annex, Leslieville, the Junction, East York and Etobicoke have mature trees that predate the current owner. A few species come up again and again.

• Norway maples. Very common on older lots. Dense crowns, shallow roots that lift walkways, and a habit of forming tight V-shaped forks that split under snow or ice.
• Silver maples. Fast growing, large, and prone to dropping limbs. Often planted close to houses decades ago.
• Ash trees. Emerald ash borer killed most untreated ash across the city. Any ash still standing on a rental property should be checked. Dead ash becomes brittle quickly and is more dangerous to climb, which raises removal costs the longer it waits.
• Manitoba maples. Self-seeded along fences and laneways, weak wooded, and frequently leaning over garages.
• Black walnuts. Valued trees, but the nuts and leaf litter generate complaints and the roots affect gardens.

Before calling a tree a removal, ask whether pruning could solve the problem. Clearance pruning off the roof, removing dead wood and reducing weight on a heavy limb often costs less, keeps the shade, and avoids the permit and replanting requirements.

What drives the cost

The ranges below are typical figures for the Toronto area, in Canadian dollars, for planning only. A written quote after someone sees the tree is the number to rely on.

• Small tree in an open yard (under about 9 m): typically $400 to $1,200.
• Medium tree with some obstacles: typically $1,000 to $2,500.
• Large tree over a house, garage or wires, taken down in sections: typically $2,500 to $6,000, sometimes more when a crane is needed.
• Stump grinding: typically $150 to $500 per stump, depending on diameter and access.

What pushes a job toward the top of its range:

• Access. Many Toronto rentals are semi-detached or row houses with no side yard. If equipment cannot reach the backyard, wood has to be carried out by hand or through a laneway, which takes longer.
• What is underneath. Roofs, garages, fences, the hydro service line and a neighbour's property all mean sectioning and rigging instead of felling.
• Tree condition. Dead or decayed trees cannot always be climbed safely, which may call for a bucket truck or crane.
• Permit work. Arborist reports and applications add cost and time.
• Cleanup. Hauling all wood and debris, grinding the stump, and replacing chips with topsoil are often separate line items.

Tenants, utilities and neighbours

Tenants. In Ontario, the Residential Tenancies Act generally requires 24 hours' written notice before entering a rental unit, and a yard rented with a house or unit is usually treated as part of it. Give notice of the work date, which areas will be off limits, and whether cars need to move from the driveway or lane.

Hydro lines. Lines on the street poles are Toronto Hydro's responsibility, and only qualified line-clearance crews work near them. If branches touch the service line running to the house, the utility may need to disconnect or cover it before work starts. The quote should say who arranges that.

Neighbours. If the tree sits on or near the property line, the neighbour may share ownership, and a boundary tree generally cannot be removed without their agreement. Sort this out in writing before a permit application, since the City may ask about ownership.

Why late fall and winter work well

Late October through March is a practical window. Most deciduous trees are dormant, so the structure is easy to see and cuts close well in spring. Frozen ground also protects lawns from equipment ruts.

Before snow arrives, deal with dead limbs over driveways, walkways and parking pads. Ice storms are when weak forks and dead wood fail.

Frequently asked questions

Is a permit needed to remove a dead tree in Toronto?

The tree still goes through the City even if it is dead. The City generally wants documentation, typically an arborist's assessment, confirming the tree is dead or hazardous. Check the City's tree permit pages for the current process before work begins.

How can a landlord tell if a property is in Toronto's ravine protection area?

The City publishes ravine and natural feature protection maps that show which properties fall inside the regulated area. Many lots backing onto valleys and creeks are included even if no ravine is visible from the house. Inside that area, trees of any size are protected.

Who removes the tree between the sidewalk and the street?

That tree is usually on the City's road allowance, which makes it City property. Report problems through 311 and Urban Forestry will inspect it. Hiring a private crew to prune or remove a City tree is not allowed.

Is stump grinding included in a tree removal quote?

Not always. Many quotes list it as a separate line. Ask how deep the stump will be ground and whether the chips are left in the hole or hauled away and replaced with topsoil.

Get a quote for a Toronto rental

If you own or manage rentals in Toronto and have a tree that needs removal, pruning or a stump ground out, see our Toronto service page or send the details through the quote form. Properties in North York and Etobicoke are covered too. Include the address, the type of tree if you know it, roughly how tall it is and what is near it. A specialist who works in Toronto looks at the job and puts the method, the cleanup and the permit needs in a written quote.