City approves updates to the Private Tree By-law

BRANTFORD, ON – At their meeting held June 25, 2024, Brantford City Council approved updates to the Private Tree By-law, repealing and replacing the existing Private Tree By-law from 2017. This update is aimed at enhancing the protection of private trees on designated woodlots and other protected areas as defined in the City’s Official Plan. The new regulations come into effect on July 1, 2024, and will better protect environmentally sensitive areas while balancing the interests of property owners.

Currently, the City’s tree canopy coverage is approximately 21.5% and of this canopy, 74% is located on private parcels of land. The City is taking steps to protect the existing canopy and the newly approved Private Tree By-law introduces updates designed to safeguard Brantford’s natural infrastructure. The by-law now features updated language and tools for investigations and enforcement, along with revised woodlot mapping and a list of protected species. 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 that have the greatest impact on the City’s urban tree canopy.

These revisions address gaps in the previous by-law, particularly the need for more effective enforcement mechanisms to prevent the premature removal of trees before development applications. Similar challenges in other growing municipalities have also prompted updates to their tree protection regulations. For more information on the updated by-law, please visit Brantford.ca/TreesAndForestry.

Alongside these regulatory changes, the City will continue to promote education and incentives for residents to plant and maintain trees on private property.

This change aligns with the City's Public Tree By-law, which mandates that City trees on public property be replaced with a greater number of trees based on their size. These changes also support the goals and objectives of the City's Climate Action Plan, to enhance Brantford’s urban canopy and mitigate impacts of climate change.

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