Trees and Forestry
Trees on City property
Preserving trees is an important part the environmental health of our City. The recently updated City Tree Protection By-law (94-2024) sets standards to help ensure that City trees can grow and thrive. This by-law mandates that City trees on public property that are otherwise considered to be healthy and are removed, be replaced with a great number of trees based on the size of the tree removed. From this, City staff are responsible for administering the removal of City trees in such instances and the planting of replacement trees. Please refer to 'Schedule A and B' in the City Tree Protection By-law (94-2024) for further information on tree species exempt from replacement, as well as the tree replacement compensation values.
These changes also support the goals and objects of the City of Brantford's Climate Action Plan to enhance the City's urban canopy and mitigate impacts of climate change.
- Did You Know? Older, larger trees sequester more carbon than smaller, younger trees.
- Did You Know? Boulevard trees are planted and maintained by the City.
City-owned trees - prohibited activities
There are several activities which can harm the health of a tree, as well as affect its ability to grow properly. Under the City Tree Protection By-law (94-2024), the following actions are prohibited:
- Attaching any object, structure, or animal to a tree on City property (such as signs/posters, hammocks, pet leashes, swings, etc.)
- Disposing of or storing any construction debris around the trunk of a tree on City property
- Applying any fertilizer, pest control, or any substance other than water to a tree on City property
- Injuring, removing, disturbing, damaging, destroying, cutting above or below ground, pruning, treating, or altering in any way a City-owned tree without proper approval
- Removing any City tree or woody debris that has fallen or has been cut down by the City in a natural area
Tree Inventory Project
An inventory of trees on City property will be taking place from fall 2023, and is expected to be completed by the end of 2024. The purpose of this inventory is to create a digital record of all City-owned trees. This will help the City in future planning to continue to maintain the beneficial urban forest canopy across Brantford. Contracted, certified arborists will be measuring and assessing the health of our trees.Planting trees
Forestry Services plant approximately 500 trees per year along streets and in parks. A wide variety of tree species and sizes are chosen to suit each location - depending on soil type, sun/shade, wind, drought, salt tolerance, overhead and underground utilities and and space available (narrow traffic median vs. expansive turf areas in parks). It's our goal that every home in Brantford has at least one municipal tree to increase the City’s tree canopy coverage.
In support of the City of Brantford's Community Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP), an annual residential Free Tree Giveaway Program celebrates Earth Day by giving away free trees to residents of Brantford.
Tree maintenance
Forestry Services are responsible for all trees on City property and tree maintenance work is organized and undertaken in priority order, with the goal of maintaining safe conditions for residents. Trees along the roadway and in proximity to hydro lines require more oversight than trees in parks and woodlands. Forestry staff includes Forestry Technicians who inspect trees and create work orders for both City arborists/crews as well as contracted forestry crews.
Area street tree maintenance program
The Area Street Tree Maintenance Program will begin in spring 2025. This program was developed to be a proactive approach of establishing an annual, multi-year cycle of street tree maintenance. The program goal is to improve the overall urban forest condition in the City of Brantford.
The Area Street Tree Maintenance Program will:
- enable earlier detection of pest and plant health issues
- reduce the risk of tree failure or limb loss during heavy weather or wind events
- help to maintain sight lines and improve traffic visibility
- maintain standard clearances from City infrastructure
- promote good tree health
City-trees in each area are inspected by certified arborists to identify any pruning requirements and work orders are generated for each individual tree prior to the contractor starting the work. Private trees will only be pruned away from City infrastructure.
Pruning Requirements and Delays
There are several reasons why street trees may not be pruned, or why there could be a delay in tree pruning. The following factors may affect schedules:
- Potential issue(s) have arisen that requires a tree to be re-visited, such as parking issues, inclement weather, etc.
- Standard clearances are met, and no general maintenance is needed. No work is required.
Residents will receive a door-tag in the mail if the city-owned street tree located at their property requires pruning. Please remove any attachments from City trees so that contractors may access and prune tree(s) as necessary.
Tree safety services
| Emerald Ash Borer removal |
| We remove all ash trees from City streets and parks because of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). An EAB is an invasive beetle that feeds on and destroys ash trees. We've removed almost all ash trees and will continue replanting and stumping over the next few years. We will also be looking at ash tree removals in woodlots and natural areas where they may pose a risk to trails, private property and/or buildings. Trees needing removal are marked with orange paint. Learn more about the Emerald Ash Borer. |
| Work orders |
Work orders respond to needs from residents concerning trees. Call us or email us if you have any of the following concerns regarding trees:
If we can't solve your problem over the phone or by email, we will make a work order so a certified arborist can inspect the situation. We inspect work orders in priority sequence. |
| Hydro maintenance |
| Through the Electrical Safety Authority of Ontario and the Ontario Electricity Act, all trees in proximity to hydro lines are regularly pruned for required clearances. Different power lines (high voltage primary lines vs. low voltage secondary service lines) have different clearance requirements. It can take a few years to cycle through the city and prune every tree for hydro clearances. This is an integral component of providing Brantford with a reliable supply of the electricity we all depend on. If you have any issues with trees in proximity to hydro lines, please contact Grandbridge Energy. |
| Construction around City trees |
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If construction is happening around a tree on City property, please contact the City for how staff can work with you to ensure the tree is protected from possible construction-related damage. |
Tree By-laws
The City has the following tree bylaws:
- City Tree Protection By-law (94-2024)
- Parks By-law (Chapter 420)
- Private tree by-law (95-2024)
- Property Standards by-law (Chapter 465)
Trees replacement compensation values on private property
We encourage you to plant trees on your property too!
The recently updated Private Tree By-law (95-2024), replaces Private Tree By-law (119-2017) from 2017 and enhances the protection of private trees in designated woodlots and other protected areas as defined in the City’s Official Plan. The new regulations came into effect on July 1, 2024, and will better protect environmentally sensitive areas while balancing the interests of property owners.
The Private Tree By-law (95-2024) features updated language and tools for investigations and enforcement, along with revised woodlot mapping and a list of protected species. There are new requirements for the replacement of private trees based on the diameter of the tree to be removed or injured under a Tree Permit. This value in diameters shall correspond to the number of replacement trees. Similar to the City Tree Protection By-law (94-2024), please see the below chart for further details.
| DBC (cm) of tree approved for removal | Required tree replacement ratio |
|---|---|
| 0 to 30 | 3:1 |
| 31 to 40 | 4:1 |
| 41 to 50 | 5:1 |
| 51 to 60 | 6:1 |
| 61 to 70 | 7:1 |
| 71 to 80 | 8:1 |
| 81 to 90 | 9:1 |
| 91 or more | 10:1 |
The updated by-law does not affect the average homeowner, but rather provides greater protection for trees in environmentally sensitive areas and woodlots above one acre, areas which have the greatest impact on the City’s urban tree canopy.
Tree protection by-laws on private property
Under the Private Tree By-law (95-2024), the following actions are prohibited:
- Except under the authority of a permit, no person shall injure or destroy a tree of any size or cause or permit the injury or destruction of a tree of any size within a one acre or greater woodlot;
- Destroy a tree of any size or cause or permit the injury or destruction of a tree of any size in a core natural area;
- No permit holder or person acting under authority of a permit shall fail to protect a tree in accordance with all conditions of a permit;
- No person who has been issued a 'Stop Work Order' or a 'Work Order' shall fail to comply with the order.
Apply to remove a tree on private property
The City's protects certain rare species and a few woodlots on private property. Brantford has 11 rare species and 32 protected woodlots.
An Application to Remove Trees on Private Property is required if you wish to complete tree work that could result in injury or removal under the following conditions.
- Trees of any size within a one acre or greater woodlot, as depicted in the map attached as 'Schedule A' to this by-law;
- Trees of any size on lands depicted within 'Core Natural Areas' as shown in 'Schedule 6' of the City of Brantford Official Plan;
- Trees of the species set forth in 'Schedule C' of this By-law at any location within the City; and
- Lands upon which there is an application pending for any of the following development approvals: (1) A plan of subdivision; or (2) a description under the Condominium Act.
- The property contains rare or protected species
For questions or to submit your completed application, please email forestry@brantford.ca or give us a call at 519-759-4150.
When to hire an arborist
When branches reach too high overhead and are difficult to trim it may be time to seek professional help. There are several guides we suggest in helping find an arborist:
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Check for an Arborist Certification |
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The International Society of Arboriculture runs tests to skilled experts covering all aspects of tree care. Visit the International Society of Arboriculture website for info on why hiring a certified Arborist is important. |
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Ask for proof of insurance |
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You can phone an insurance company listed on the document to confirm the accuracy of the insurance policy. |
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References |
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Ask for local references doing similar work to what you are looking to do. Also ask if they are members in a professional organization. |
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Estimates |
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We suggest a minimum of three estimates to make sure you're getting the right price. When choosing an arborist, weigh the credentials, references, and quality of workmanship you can expect from each estimate. |
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Be careful of door-to-door sales for tree pruning or removal |
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Most decent tree service companies are too busy to ask work this way. Wrong or poor quality tree work can take years to correct itself, if at all. |
Tree stumps and pegs
| Pegs |
| Pegs are standing trunks of a large tree that we've partially removed. The trunks are stable and left at a height below the lowest set of power lines because they do not pose a risk. We remove pegs based on the date of the tree removal, oldest to newest. |
| Stumps |
| Stumps are removed between the spring and fall seasons, when sod is available. If you have sprouts growing on the stump, please feel free to trim them off with hand pruners or loppers. We do not allow the use of power tools on City property. Due to the Emerald Ash Borer and high volume of ash tree removals, we currently have a higher volume of stumps. |
Free mulch
The City offers free mulch from their tree and stump removals between April and November. Availability is on a first-come-first-served basis and may not always be available. Mulch is not placed behind any gates. Pick-up locations include:
- Cockshutt Park (35 Sherwood Drive), located behind Arnold Anderson Stadium along the parking lot
- Public Works (10 Earl Avenue), located to the left prior to the parking lot
Mulching is one of the most beneficial practices for the health of a tree. Unlike trees growing in a natural forest environment, urban trees are typically growing in harsher environments with infertile soils, lower organic matter, and large fluctuations in soil temperature. Many benefits of mulching include:
- Improve soil fertility by providing nutrients to trees
- Suppress weed germination and growth
- Retain soil moisture and regulate soil temperature (insulation effect)
- Improve soil structure, aeration, and drainage over time
- Reduce soil compaction and prevent soil erosion
- Reduce the likelihood of tree damage from lawn mower
Improper mulching, such as over-mulching or volcano mulching, can kill trees. Hazards of incorrect mulching include:
- Bark decay/rot due to excessive moisture
- Poor root development (girdling)
- Insect or disease issues
- Reduced penetration of water and air
| Proper mulching |
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| Improper mulching |
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| How to properly mulch a tree |
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