Fee to Cut Down a Tree Back Under Consideration

Josh Pringle with Stephanie Kinsella
Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Ottawa residents could have to pay $50 to cut down a large tree on their own property.

The Planning and Environment Committee's 2010 draft budget lists the fee as an option to help cover costs.

The City of Ottawa's Urban Tree Bylaw requires residents to obtain a permit to cut down a tree 50 cm in diameter or larger.

Councillor Peter Hume says the new bylaw is creating additional budget pressures, and those should be offset by the $50 fee.

Council decided not to impose the fee when the tree bylaw was approved earlier this year.