Forestry Permits

Haldimand County is located within the unique Carolinian Life Zone, which has some of the highest ecological diversity of animals, plants and natural habitats in Canada. The Forest Conservation By-law and County Tree By-law regulate the cutting of trees in Haldimand and promote the sustainable use of forest resources. Trimming or removing trees often requires a permit.

Trees and forest by-laws

Trees are important green infrastructure assets that provide many economic, environmental and social benefits for our community such as absorbing carbon, reducing run-off, preventing soil erosion, providing shade, purifying the air, providing wildlife habitat, increasing property values, beautifying our communities and improving our well-being.

Forest conservation by-laws have been in effect in Haldimand County since 1947 to help preserve and improve our woodlands.

The removal of trees is regulated by the Forest Conservation By-Law and County Tree By-Law, along with their respective permits.

If you wish to remove trees within woodlands or on County property, you must apply for a permit.

County Tree By-Law and permit

The County Tree By-Law regulates the planting, destruction, pruning (trimming), removal or injuring of trees located on County-owned property including cemeteries, facilities, parks, along roads and trails.

If you need to work within the drip line (under the canopy) of a County-owned tree, you must have a County Tree Permit. A County Tree Permit may be required to obtain approval for building permits or planning applications. Contact our forestry staff for help determining if a tree is located on your property or County property and to apply for a permit.

Your application must include payment of the County Tree application fee and a report prepared by a certified Arborist. The report must include:

Site description with map, highlighting individual trees to be removed or maintained
Analysis of tree inventory
Description of work or maintenance to be completed along with timing
Anticipated construction or grading impacts
Explanation for which trees must be protected, maintained or removed
Description of mitigation options and protective measures
Photo documentation of trees to be removed or maintained

Apply for a County Tree Permit

Forest Conservation By-Law and permits

The County Forest Conservation By-Law regulates the cutting and removal of trees in woodlands on both County and private property. You must have an approved Minor Exception or Good Forestry Practice permit before you can cut, injure, harvest, burn or destroy any trees within a woodland.

Certain tree cuttings, such as work performed under Normal Farm Practices, may be permitted as exemptions under the by-law. Consult the by-law or contact our forestry staff to confirm if your planned cutting qualifies for an exemption before applying for any permits.

We have created quick reference guidelines to help better understand the requirements for tree or forestry permits. These guidelines do not constitute an official part of the by-law. They have been developed to complement definitions or expand on exemptions referenced in the by-law, and may be updated to reflect current practices.

Good Forestry Practices permit

This permit is used when a landowner wants to sustainably harvest select trees within a woodland and can be approved by staff. Review our Guidelines for Good Forestry Practices (PDF) to learn more about this permit.

Your application must include:

A Silvicultural Prescription prepared by a Qualified Ontario Professional Forestry Association (OPFA) member
Confirmation that trees identified for cutting have been marked by a Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry Certified Tree Marker
Payment of the Good Forestry Practices application fee

Apply for a Good Forestry Practices permit

Minor Exemption permit

A Minor Exemption permit is used in unique circumstances where the clear-cutting of small areas of woodlands may be required. Review our Minor Exemption Permit Guidelines (PDF) to learn more about this permit.

Your application must include:

Minor Exemption Justification Report
An Environmental Impact Study (EIS) if you're applying to clear-cut woodland areas greater than 1 hectare in size. The Study must be prepared by a qualified professional such as a biologist.
Payment of the Minor Exemption Permit application fee

Apply for a Minor Exemption permit

Normal Farm Practices

We believe that Agricultural Operations, Woodland protection and Good Forestry Practices can co-exist. While landowners are obliged to ensure that all activities resulting in tree injury or destruction are done in accordance with the by-law, the County’s role is to assist landowners and consistently enforce the by-law.

Definitions

The Forest Conservation By-law defines Normal Farm Practice and Agricultural Operations as follows:

“Normal Farm Practice” means a practice that is recognized by the Normal Farm Practices Board which is conducted in a matter consistent with proper and acceptable customs and standards, as established and followed by similar Agricultural Operations under similar circumstances, or makes use of innovative technology in a manner consistent with proper advanced farm management practices.
“Agricultural Operation” means the commercial production of crops or raising of livestock including ploughing, seeding and harvesting as part of a conventional rotational cycle.

Normal Farm Practice exemptions

On the basis of the above definitions the following activities which may involve the injury or destruction of tree shall be considered as Normal Farm Practices when conducted as part of an Agricultural Operation.

Cultivation and Maintenance of Established Farm Fields

The removal of seedlings which have established themselves on the edge of existing agricultural fields may be removed for the cultivation of agricultural crops including activities such as plowing, tilling, seeding, harvesting and the maintenance of fields. This includes seedlings and young trees that fall under the drip line of trees along the Woodland edge.

Maintaining Pasture Lands

The removal of individual trees or small groups of trees that do not constitute a Woodlands can be removed to maintain pasture lands.

Livestock Grazing in Woodlands.

The injury or destruction of trees by farm animals grazing in Woodlands or along the edges of Woodlands can be considered a Normal Farm Practice provide that reasonable steps are taken to prevent over-grazing that would reduce the number of trees below what is necessary to constitute a Woodlands.

Fence Maintenance

The injuring or destruction of trees by the landowner along a property boundary to a maximum width of 2.5 meters for the purpose of installing or maintaining a property boundary fence.

Practices not eligible for exemption

The following are some common practices that result in the injury, destruction and clear cutting of the trees and are not considered Normal Farm Practices.

Construction of Farm Buildings

The construction of farm buildings requires a building permits under the Building Code Act and possibly approval under the Planning Act. The Forest Conservation By-law does not circumvent the planning process and provides exemptions for tree removal with an approved building permit.

Expansion of Existing Agricultural Fields

The injury, destruction or clear cutting of trees in Woodlands for the purpose of creating new agricultural fields, including pastures, or for expanding existing agricultural fields into Woodlands is not considered a Normal Farm Practice and is not exempt from the provisions of the Forest Conservation By-law.

Cultivation of Fallow Fields

In situations where a fallow field has been colonized by pioneer, early successional tree species such that the area colonized and number of trees is regulated pursuant to the Forest Conservation By-law, a Minor Exception Application may be considered to clear cut the trees for Agricultural Operations.

Removal of Hedgerows

Rows of trees that are attached to Woodlands or isolated rows of trees that meet the size and tree stocking requirements in the definition of a Woodlands are regulated pursuant to the Forest Conservation By-law. Minor Exception Applications may be considered for the clear cutting and removal of these hedgerows for the improvement of Agricultural Operations.

Private Drains

Work undertaken by Haldimand County’s Drainage Department for the installation and maintenance of municipal drains is permitted pursuant to the Forest Conservation By-law. In situations where drainage of private lands cannot be accommodated through the municipal drainage program, a Minor Exception Application may be considered for the clear cutting of trees to provide for the installation or improvement of a private drain.

Access to Agricultural Fields and Operation of Farm Machinery

Minor Exception Applications may be considered for the injury or destruction of trees to provide farm machinery access to existing agricultural fields surrounded by Woodlands or where no other reasonable access route exists.

Clarification on Normal Farm Practices

In situations where there is a dispute in the interpretation of a Normal Farm Practice between a landowner and a Municipal Enforcement Officer, the landowner may choose to submit either a Good Forestry Practices Application or a Minor Exception Application.

In exceptional circumstances the landowner or the County may also initiate a review by the Normal Farm Practices Protection Board for mediation of the matter. The decision of the Normal Farm Practices Protection Board is final and binding.

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