Originally Posted by
MarkB
Don't get me started. In Oakville you need a permit to remove ANY tree over 15 cm in trunk diameter, irrespective of your property size.
I had one removed that was very close to my house (touching my roof). It cost me $600 for the permit, and they forced me to plant 2 more specified species of trees in my backyard (cost $320 for the pair), and it took 2 weeks to get the permit, after the town's arborist came to my site to review the "project" which I had to do during the weekday and missed 1 hour of work for. So, the permit costs were basically $920 and took 2 weeks. It took the tree removal company 2 hours to take down the tree, and charged me $400. Think about that ... sound fair, paying $920 in permit costs for a $400 tree removal, and it delayed a 2h job by 2 weeks?? ... and this was my tree, on my property.
But I was like ... okay, land conservation ... trees, nature, alright let's calm down ... that was until I found out that any major development is exempt from this by-law.
So, the reality is that the big developers can go cutting down 100's of trees, but the little guy that wants to remove a tree for good reasons is nailed. And get this, I asked the tree removal company what % of trees get removed by the little guy ... he says only 2%, the other 98% are from developments which are exempted ... total joke.
It's all about money, there's ZERO principle in any of this.