The Town of Comox has adopted a new bylaw aimed at preserving and enhancing the community’s urban forest and setting clearer rules for tree removal, replacement and protection.
The town’s tree protection bylaw establishes a framework to regulate damage to, cutting and removal of certain trees across the community.
Mayor Nicole Minions said the urban forest is one of Comox’s most valuable community assets.
“This bylaw helps protect mature trees, preserve important native species and maintain the environmental, social and economic benefits that trees provide for current and future generations.”
The bylaw identifies when a tree permit is required, defines protected trees and outlines requirements for replacement planting when tree removal is approved.
It also supports the town’s urban forest management strategy by helping protect the existing tree canopy and offset approved removals through replacement planting.
The strategy sets a target of increasing Comox’s urban canopy from approximately 25 per cent today to 26 per cent by 2055, with a long-term goal of 30 per cent by 2085.
Property owners must now obtain a tree permit before damaging, cutting or removing a regulated tree unless an exemption applies under the bylaw.
Regulated trees include priority native species measuring 20 centimetres or more in diameter at breast height and other species measuring 30 centimetres or more in diameter at breast height, as well as protected trees.
Protected trees include large trees measuring 50 centimetres or more in diameter at breast height, trees on town-owned land, replacement trees, covenant trees and trees retained through development approvals.
Protected trees may only be removed in limited circumstances, such as when they are dead, hazardous, pose a wildfire risk, conflict with development or are causing unavoidable damage.
The bylaw also requires replacement planting when regulated trees are removed to help maintain and grow Comox’s urban canopy.
Permits are not required for routine pruning, smaller non-regulated trees, or other exempt activities.
