Live Tree Removal Guidelines

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The City of Edmonton owns and cares for over 380,000 boulevard and open space trees, and over 3000 hectares of natural stands. City-owned trees are a highly valued asset and are only removed when all other preservation options are unsuitable.

To request a live tree removal, please contact an Urban Forester by calling 311.

When a Tree Might Be Removed

Live tree removal requests may be considered if:

Urban Forestry determines a tree is infested, diseased or in poor condition.
Tree removal is required as part of City-approved construction (requirements will be outlined in development permits).
A developer replaces existing trees with new trees in improved growing conditions. Developers must have Urban Forestry pre-approval and Sustainable Development-approved landscape drawings indicating tree replacement will utilize enhanced growing conditions (such as soil cell technologies).
A tree presents a safety risk to the public due to its condition or a sightline obstruction it creates.

When a Tree Will Not Be Removed

Trees will not be removed for the following reasons:

Poplar fluff, excess shade in a yard, quantity of seeds or leaves falling onto public or private property
Aesthetic reasons or to improve a view
Honeydew from aphids falling on surfaces, such as sidewalks and vehicles
To facilitate use of a boulevard for a construction lay-down area and non-permanent infrastructure
To improve sign visibility for businesses

Urban Forestry reviews the details of each tree removal request to determine the best course of action: transplantation, preservation or removal.

Alternatives to Tree Removal

Tree Preservation

Urban Forestry may determine the tree(s) can be pruned or otherwise maintained to avoid removal. All maintenance of City trees must be conducted by Urban Forestry staff or City-approved contractors at the expense of the requester.

Tree Transplantation

If the Urban Forester determines that a tree is small enough and healthy enough to be successfully transplanted, an attempt will be made to relocate the tree to a new, suitable location on City property.

The possibility of transplantation depends on access to the site and presence of utilities that could prevent digging and lifting.

Tree Removal Process

If an Urban Forester determines that the tree is too large, not of sufficient health and vigor, or access to a construction site is too difficult to transplant the tree successfully, the tree will be removed.

In this case, the City will collect the value of the tree as defined under Equitable Compensation in the Corporate Tree Management Policy (Policy C456C: see definition 1.06).

Prior to removal, the requester must have neighbourhood support. The scope of required support varies, and will be determined by the Urban Forester. Neighbourhood support may entail:

A letter of support from the community league
Signatures from neighbours indicating support
Neighbourhood mail drops
Signs posted prior to removal
Public consultation or an open house

Who Pays the Cost for Live Tree Removal?

Diseased or Hazardous Tree

The City pays for the cost of removing trees that are diseased or hazardous prior to construction. If construction activities cause the tree to become a hazard, the cost of removal will be the responsibility of the requester.

All Other Tree Removals

For all other tree removals, the requester agrees to a work plan supplied by an Urban Forester and agrees in writing to cover the estimated costs provided in the plan. The requester is responsible for all tree work that results from a project (transplanting, removal, post-construction tree care, coordination time to facilitate the project and any City overheads).

Billing Information

Developers and contractors must fill out a project request form, supplied by the Urban Forester, which will identify:

Billing information
A purchase order or order number before the Urban Forester initiates any work

For other City of Edmonton departments, the Urban Forester must obtain:

The name, phone number and email of the department contact
A network activity number before commencing the work

Contact Us

311 Contact Centre

Online	Contact 311 Online

If you are calling from outside of Edmonton: 780-442-5311

Phone	311
TTY	711