Removing a tree in Vancouver
 

So I'm looking to put a bid on a property in order to build a house but there's a pretty sizeable tree in the back right where the laneway would go. Curious what folks know about the likelihood of the city allowing the tree to be removed or am I going to need to change the location of the laneway (eg. put it on the north side of the lot rather than the south and lose an open parking spot or the shape of the laneway needs to leave room for the tree).

https://i.imgur.com/V3s4j7p.jpg

to help with any in the know... 1st question is - which city, Vancouver?
i'm no arborist well...that's actually my response, i think you need to check with an arborist

someone on here may be in the know, but cov are tree huggers, pun intended, and that looks like an old tree so it may be a problem...i always thought the rule of thumb was remove 1 plant 1, but if it's a tree of value (deemed by city/city arborist)...city can make you do some extraordinary things.

hopefully someone on here with more insight

In for the answer as well since I'm too lazy to properly google / read through the CoV website on the issue.

The million dollar question that I'd ask you is -- if the tree cannot be cut down, is that going to be a deal breaker for you on the house purchase?

That's a HEATHLY looking tree. Big & Tall

if it is City of Vancouver, You can forget about it.
They won't even let us remove a half dying tree during our new built house last year.

Yep, it's Vancouver (East Van) and the city bylaw is pretty vague - in fact, it makes it sound like it's just a case of a permit and a replacement tree being planted but I think we all know that it isn't the case. The bylaw says that if your building plans show that the tree interferes then it can be removed but there's enough stories about these situations that say that is totally not true.

Is it a deal breaker? Maybe, I'll have to see the lot in person this weekend to see how much pain it'd cause for the laneway. I want to build a 1 story laneway with a garage if possible and if we have to build around the tree that's going to cut a lot into the backyard.

I'm checking with one of the builders I'm considering to get their opinion, my agent thinks it's going to be problematic.

For reference: https://vancouver.ca/your-government...ees-bylaw.aspx

Basically everything is a "may" when it comes to what is allowed to come down.

How big is the lot ?
I have a Laneway. 1 Story above + 2 tiny cars garage in the bottom.

that's why i say i think an arborist is needed. they speak the language and the subject matter expert...the city won't listen to a realtor, contractor, anti-masker, RS genius etc...

who knows, maybe they'll say you can remove it but you must transplant it somewhere else :lawl:

i've seen developments affected by roots of a neighbouring tree...serious business...

Just seeing that big pine tree reminds me of my neighbour who built a laneway house underneath a tree like that and their eavestrough has collapsed under the sheer weight of pine needles.

You can see how much garbage it leaves (leafs? heh heh) on the garage roof too. I've read that leaf guard filters aren't effective in protecting against pine needles so you'll need to account for more than usual maintenance to clear the sheer amount of pine needles and pine cones that bomb down if removing/replacing the tree isn't permitted

That lot is a 33x122 (4026sf). Ideally I'd like to build a 1 story so my parents don't have to walk up any stairs when they move in but it may not be practical.

I heard back from one of the builders I'm talking to and he says the tree is gonna have to stay and that we'll need a relaxation from the city to build further into the backyard, likely 5' more. If we have to do that then a 1 story laneway isn't going to work as that'd eat up way too much of the backyard (it'd take an additional 7-8' into the yard).

Looks like it came down in the next windstorm. :pokerface:

Take a look at this Google Street view of a laneway house that was built a number of years ago by laneway builder, Lanefab.

https://goo.gl/maps/ZCHd3NTWmjamuMeKA

I don't recall if the owner of Lanefab lives here or not, or if the owner of the house simply hired them to do the job, but if you take a look at the back of the house, there is a huge massive tree there. The laneway you see literally to the right of the main house sat a huge massive tree, similar to that of OP's example.

The tree had to be cut down in order to accommodate the laneway house. They definitely hired an arborist to do the job, and this was also when laneways were a hot thing to do (he was definitely the first in the neighborhood to do it.) Might be a chicken or the egg situation for OP. Best to consult a builder and/or arborist on this.

i had a tree removed from my commercial property this year, it was in surrey though.
not sure about vancouver, but in surrey its a park board thing not a city thing.
you should take plenty of pictures of the tree, provide aerials if possible or at least from different distances, show the root damage if there is any, etc...

in surrey (and probably also vancouver), root damage is not generally reason enough to have a tree removed. the tree has to be considered either hazardous, as in possibly dying and at risk of falling over, or doing damage to your foundation. just having the tree being a bother to you, or even breaking up your asphalt driveway or snaking around your house perimeter is not a good enough reason to have your tree removed. a tree blocking your view or preventing you from constructing a laneway is almost certainly not a reason that will be considered.

cut one plant one doesn't let you cut down any tree you want, even if the tree is dying, you will have to pay to plant a new tree, and pay the arborist to chop the tree down. ours was an 80' cottonwood and we paid about 3k to cut it down, and we had to pay the city $515 to plant a new tree.

when we submitted the request the city sent an arborist to assess the tree, but if you're not at that stage since you haven't bought the house, then you can just privately hire an arborist to do the assessment. to me that tree looks way too healthy to cut down, but i'm not an expert.

Pay me 250$, il save you involving 7 CoV departements and 6 weeks for a no

What're the consequences of illegally removing the tree? My cousin did that a few years back lol. Axed 2 massive trees over a weekend in the front and back yard.

i think the fine is like up to 10k, but you may also be in trouble with your neighbours as well. you'd probably have debris landing all over the place and everyone would hate you after that, especially if they find out you did it illegally. also the contractors would be blocking the alley for a few hours. also if someone reported you while the job was going on, then the contractors might run off and you'd have a very obviously illegally, half cut down tree in your backyard as your trophy of shame.

https://bc.ctvnews.ca/another-tree-i...rrey-1.4491640

10k fine is probably worth the difference in building the laneway lol

Hire an arborist, they will provide a report on whether the tree should be removed or not. Provide the proposed development site plan so that the Arborist can assess if the tree will be at risk due to the adjacent hardscape or building.

If the arborist deems the tree as healthy and worth saving, and you continue to proceed with the development permit, then most likely the City will set a covenant on title to ensure the tree is maintained.

On the other hand, if the arborist deems the tree should be removed, then the City will mostly require security to ensure trees are replanted (usually 1:2 ratio) or use the money to plant new off-site trees.