Tree Protection

The City of Pickering (the City) is updating its Tree Protection By-law to provide greater protection to more trees in the community.

The Importance of Trees

The City's tree canopy and urban forest play an important role in adapting to climate change. The City of Pickering’s trees provide shade and cool the community, reduce urban heat island effect, decrease the volume of storm water run-off, improve air quality, sequester carbon, and contribute to a visually pleasing place to live, work, play, and learn. A vigorous tree canopy was also identified as a defining element of neighbourhood character through the Infill Study.

How are trees in the City of Pickering currently protected?

Trees are currently protected by:

• the Region of Durham Woodland By-law 30-2020, and
• the City’s Tree Protection By-law 6108/03, as amended

More information regarding policies, studies, guidelines and initiatives in relation to the City’s Tree Canopy is available in Appendix l of Report PLN 23-22.

Existing Tree Protection By-law (By-law 6108/03)

The City’s Tree Protection By-law 6108/03, as amended, was passed by Council on March 17, 2003, for the purpose of prohibiting and regulating the injuring, destruction or removal of trees in defined screening areas within the City. It also establishes a tree removal permit fee, and fines for violation of the by-law. The limited circumstances and areas where the felling of healthy trees would be permitted are also detailed within the Tree Protection by-law.

What trees are not protected by the City’s Tree Protection By-law?

Trees that are outside of the defined Tree Protection Area, identified in Schedule A of By-law 6108/03, as amended, are currently not protected.

Trees that are dead, dangerous, diseased, severely injured, or stumps are exempt from the City’s Tree Protection By-law. Other exemptions from the City's Tree Protection By-law include:

• activities carried out by the City, the Regional Municipality of Durham, or other local boards such as, the Conservation Authorities, or activities carried out under the Crown Forest Sustainability Act, 1994, Surveyors Act, Electricity Act, 1998, and Aggregate Resources Act,
• authorizations for tree removal granted through the development application approval process (i.e. rezonings, site plans, plans of subdivisions, and consents).

What will the new Tree Protection By-law cover?

At this time, the Tree Protection By-law only covers trees within, “Environmentally Sensitive Areas,” identified as the Tree Protection Area in Schedule A of By-law 6108/03, as amended. The focus of the new Tree Protection By-law will be to protect the tree canopy and the urban forest, including trees on private properties, by expanding the scope of the tree protection areas under the new by-law.

The new tree protection area is proposed to consist of “Tree Protection Area A,” associated with "Environmentally Sensitive Areas" such as significant woodlands, shorelines, significant valley lands and stream corridors, and wetlands. Conversely, “Tree Protection Area B,” would be associated with all lands outside of Tree Protection Area A.

Proposed Tree Protection Project Timeline

* Arborists, Landscape Specialists or other Tree-related Business, Organization or Professional.

Next steps and how you can participate:

Having had a soft launch in Spring of 2023, which included an Open House and an online survey, the City looked for feedback on the content of the proposed new Tree Protection By-law.

The City hosted a second Open House and a second survey in Summer of 2023, to provide another opportunity for feedback from the community.

A recommendation report regarding the proposed new draft Tree Protection By-law will be considered by the Executive Committee of Council in Fall 2023.

Residents can attend the meeting in person in Council Chambers at City Hall, or view the meeting livestream via the City of Pickering’s YouTube channel.

Should you wish to address the Executive Committee in-person regarding the recommendation report PLN 37-23 during the meeting, please visit www.pickering.ca/delegation and complete the online delegation request form or email clerks@pickering.ca.

Please stay tuned for upcoming engagement opportunities.