Trees and Urban Forestry

As Edmontonians, we value and understand the importance of the city’s urban forest. The City understands the importance of these assets and works to maintain and grow the urban forest. With careful stewardship, these benefits can continue for generations, appreciating over time. Proper management is crucial for continuous growth and improvement of the urban forest.

Edmonton’s trees provide many environmental, ecological, economic, and social benefits. These include sequestering greenhouse gases, reducing damage from stormwater, providing wildlife habitat, reducing costs for winter heating and summer cooling, and promoting a sense of well-being and positive mental health!

Are you planning any construction or demolition work? Does this work require laydown sites or site access within 5 meters of any City-owned trees or 10 metres within a natural area? If you are coordinating any activities on or off City property that may have an impact on City trees, visit Public Tree Permit to take the steps required to preserve and protect City trees.

Plan, Policy and Procedure

The City is committed to growing, sustaining, maintaining, preserving, and protecting our urban forest. To ensure these goals are met, the City has developed guiding policies and procedures:

The Urban Forest Management Plan outlines key principles, objectives, and strategies.

The Corporate Tree Management Policy and Procedure outline roles and responsibilities in managing the City of Edmonton Urban Forest and outline mechanisms to ensure preservation and protection. The Policy will be applied using the Guidelines for Evaluation of Trees and the Natural Stand Valuation Guidelines.

The Tree Preservation Guidelines provide information on how to preserve and protect trees before, during, and post construction or demolition to prevent or minimize the likelihood of tree loss or damage.

Trees and Construction

Are you planning any construction or demolition work? Does this work require laydown sites or site access within 5 meters of any City-owned trees or 10 metres within a natural area?

If you are coordinating any activities on or off City property that may have an impact on City trees, visit Public Tree Permit to take the steps required to preserve and protect City trees.

Public Tree Bylaw

A new permit process for tree protection and preservation came into effect on June 15, 2022. The Public Tree Bylaw requires a permit and tree protection or preservation plan for any work done within five metres of a boulevard and open space tree or within 10 metres of a natural stand. Information about the permit process will be available in the coming months. The bylaw passed on August 30, 2021 and applies to City-owned trees only.