What can't I do to a City-owned tree?
Under the Public Tree By-law 15-125, no one may injure or destroy a public tree. That includes pruning or altering it, doing work or altering soil levels within its drip line, laying a driveway or walkway there, fastening any object to it or its stakes, climbing it, or letting a toxic substance reach it. No one may plant a tree on public property, or remove any part of a fallen public tree.
Owners of private trees must keep them from obstructing a road or endangering public property or people using it.
Source: City of Hamilton, By-law No. 15-125, To Regulate Trees on or Affecting Public Property
Do I need a permit to work near a City tree?
Yes. Any work that may affect a tree on City property needs a public tree permit, including digging, storing equipment or materials, or changing the ground level near or within the tree's drip line, and pruning. Start a request with the City's online intake form on the Doing Work Near a Tree page.
A permit from another City group, such as a driveway permit, does not give you permission to remove or damage a public tree. If a City tree is removed, even with a permit, the City appraises it for compensation; one tree can be worth over $10,000.
Source: City of Hamilton, Doing Work Near a Tree
What are the fines for damaging a City tree?
On a first conviction, a person faces a fine of not more than $10,000 or $1,000 per tree, whichever is greater, and on a later conviction not more than $25,000 or $2,500 per tree. Corporations face up to $50,000 or $5,000 per tree, then $100,000 or $10,000 per tree. An officer can also order the work fixed, including paying for a replacement tree.
Source: City of Hamilton, By-law No. 15-125, To Regulate Trees on or Affecting Public Property
Will the City prune or remove the tree in front of my house?
City trees in the urban area are pruned on a 7-year cycle; in the rural area, pruning is done on request at 905-546-2489. The City removes its trees only if they are dead, diseased or dangerous by industry standard, then grinds the stump and, where appropriate, schedules a replacement. Report a damaged, fallen, dead or diseased City tree, or one damaging property, at 905-546-2489.
Messy fruit or seeds, leaves clogging eavestroughs or not wanting to rake are not valid reasons for removal. The City does not prune trees back from utility lines; contact the utility.
Source: City of Hamilton, Tree Ownership & Responsibilities
Can I ask for a free street tree?
Yes. The City plants street trees on the road allowance in front of homes: one tree a year on a standard lot, up to three a year on a corner lot. Request one online or at 905-546-2489, and a Forestry Investigator will choose a species and schedule planting. Trees are planted from May to June and September to November, and the City waters them every two weeks for two years.
Trees are not planted in a boulevard where the grass strip is narrower than 1.75 metres, and they go at least 6 to 10 metres from existing trees. After two years, watering is the owner's job; the City still does all trimming.
Source: City of Hamilton, Street Tree Planting Program