Tree Limbing/Cutting Policy

To provide direction to District staff when dealing with requests to limb or remove trees from District owned and managed property for view or safety reasons.

Policy/Procedure

1) The District of Sechelt endeavours to promote protection of trees within its boundaries, realizing the value and beauty that an abundance of trees provides any community. However, because of Sechelt being a seaside community, views are also an important element to the quality of life for many residents. Other issues that arise with respect to trees include safety concerns (dead or diseased trees), fire prevention and suppression requirements.

2) Property owners adjacent to District owned/managed property may request in writing that a tree or trees be limbed or removed due to:

i) safety concerns
ii) view purposes

3) Requests will be forwarded to the District Engineering and Public Works Department. The Parks Foreman (Arborist) will review the requests and give recommendations to the Superintendent of Public Works for approval.

4) The Parks Foreman may consult with other members of staff, and will have the discretion to negotiate with property owners and make recommendations regarding tree requests.

Criteria for Approving Removal

1. Safety Reasons:

1. Tree or trees are dead or dying, severely damaged, unstable or leaning and in danger of falling
2. Tree is interfering with or will interfere with utility wires such that limbing will not solve the safety issue

2. Damage to Infrastructure/Development Requirements:

1. Roots of the tree are interfering with or damaging storm drainage or sewer system components or other improvements, and no other measure to prevent the damage is available
2. Removal of tree is required for construction of a driveway or other infrastructure during development

3. View Purposes:

1. The tree is considered a species of lesser value (such as an Alder) and by its removal will not negatively affect other nearby species of trees, slope/bank stability, the overall local environment, the aesthetics of the area or adjacent property owners; and
2. The adjacent property owner requesting removal will replace the removed tree with a young, slower growing species

Removal for view purposes based on the criteria, will be paid for by the adjacent property owner, and will be performed by a professional tree company that is approved by the District of Sechelt under the direction of District staff.

Criteria for Approving Limbing

An adjacent property owner may wish a tree or trees be limbed to enhance their view, or regain a view lost by the growth of trees on adjacent District owned/managed land.

The District’s Parks Foreman will work with the adjacent property owner, to provide options other than tree removal, to enhance views where the trees are not Alders or other fast growing species considered to be of lesser value. Limbing to enhance view will be permitted in the following cases:

• For trees that provide habitat for wildlife
• For aesthetically significant trees (such as rare species in good health)
• For larger species such as Fir, Arbutus, Spruce, and Cedar
• In geographically significant areas where the trees are necessary for continued stabilization of the surrounding land

As is noted in the section pertaining to removal, limbing will be strongly encouraged in other circumstances where the Parks Foreman considers removal of a tree to be detrimental to the adjacent trees, the aesthetics or environmental health of the area, the adjacent property owners or under other professional considerations

Limbing will be performed by a company approved by the District of Sechelt and costs will be paid by the property owner requesting the work be performed.

Safety - Limbing or Removing

In cases where a safety condition exists with respect to a tree or tree(s) on District owned/managed property, the tree or tree(s) will be removed or limbed as appropriate by the District.