Main bylaws of the City of Beloeil regarding trees

Tree Removal Maintenance Planting

Tree Removal

It is prohibited to cut down one or more trees measuring 2 meters or more in height located on the grounds of a private property without a tree cutting permit issued by the City of Beloeil. Tree cutting is authorized if the tree meets one of the following conditions:

• Is dead or affected by an incurable disease;
• Is an ash tree (Fraxinus);
• Is dangerous to the safety of people;
• Hinders the growth of neighboring trees;
• Causes damage to public or private property;
• Prevents the execution of public works or the completion of a construction project authorized by the municipality;
• Has a trunk located less than 1.5 meters from the main building, with 25% of its canopy touching the main building, and cutting is the only possible intervention.

Any tree that is cut down must be replaced within 12 months following the issuance of the authorization certificate (tree cutting permit).

Falling leaves, flowers, needles, fruits, the presence of roots emerging from the ground, insects or animals, unpleasant odors, as well as shade are not considered valid reasons, as these elements do not constitute a nuisance and/or damage to property, and therefore a cutting permit cannot be issued.

Cutting or Pruning an Ash Tree

It is prohibited to cut or prune an ash tree (species of the genus Fraxinus) between March 15 and October 1 of the same year, except in the following cases:

• The ash tree poses a threat to the health or safety of people;
• The ash tree may cause serious damage to property;
• The ash tree makes it impossible or prevents the execution of a construction project authorized by the city.

The owner of a dead ash tree or one with 30% dead branches must have it cut down and must plant a new tree (native species) on the same property where the tree was removed.

Cutting an ash tree cannot be done without first obtaining a tree cutting permit from the City of Beloeil.

Disposal of ash residues:

Anyone who cuts or prunes an ash tree must dispose of the ash tree residues as follows:

• Branches or trunk pieces with a diameter not exceeding 20 cm must be immediately shredded on site into chips no larger than 2.5 cm on at least two sides;
• Between October 1 and March 15: Branches or trunk pieces with a diameter exceeding 20 cm must be transported to the ecocenter at 986 Dupré Street in Beloeil before March 15;
  OR
  
• Between October 1 and March 15: Branches or pieces of wood must be transported to a wood‑processing company or kept on site to be processed using a compliant method before March 15;
• Between March 15 and October 1: Branches or pieces of wood must be processed on site using a compliant method or stored until October 1 to then be transported to an authorized processing location.

Storing ash tree residues that have not been processed using a compliant method is prohibited between March 15 and October 1.

Transporting ash tree residues that have not been processed using a compliant method is prohibited between March 15 and October 1.

Anyone who violates the regulation is subject to a fine between $500 and $1,000.

Authorization Certificate (Tree Cutting Permit) for Tree Removal

The fee for obtaining a tree cutting permit is $55. The permit is free when it concerns an ash tree. The processing time for the permit is approximately 30 business days.

To request a tree cutting permit, the following information is required:

• Illustrate the location of the tree(s) to be cut on a plan or provide the certificate of location;
• Diameter of the tree and its species;
• Images justifying the reasons for cutting;
• Full contact information of the applicant and the owner;
• Full contact information of the contractor;
• Cost of the work;
• Start and end dates of the work.

Several methods are available to obtain your permit:

• Submit an online permit request;
• Send all documents by email to urbanisme@beloeil.ca;
• Bring all required documents in person to obtain an authorization certificate at 996 Dupré Street, Beloeil.

An inspector will analyze the documents received to determine whether the tree must be cut or not. If necessary, they may visit the site to inspect the tree in person.

Anyone who commits an offense by illegally cutting (without a permit) a tree is subject to a fine.

If you would like more information regarding zoning regulations or have any questions about the municipal regulations of the City of Beloeil, we suggest contacting the Urban Planning Department at 450‑467‑2835, extension 2894, or by email at urbanisme@beloeil.ca.

Maintenance

It is prohibited in the City of Beloeil to perform pruning that could harm the tree. The following work is therefore prohibited:

• Topping (or heading)
• Use of climbing spikes
• Girdling
• Altering the natural shape of the tree
• Removing more than 25% of the tree’s canopy in a single operation or within the same year
• Raising the crown of the tree by more than the lower third of the total height of the tree
• Attaching or leaning any object on the trunk or branches
• Modifying the soil level of a property
• Cutting anchoring roots

Any practice listed above that leads to the irreversible decline of a tree will be treated as illegal tree cutting and will result in penalties.

Planting

Any tree whose planting is required is subject to the following minimum dimensions according to municipal regulations:

• Minimum height at planting for a conifer or deciduous tree is 2 meters and must consist of a single trunk;
• The tree must reach at least 6 meters at maturity.

The minimum required number is one (1) medium, large, or very large canopy tree (according to city specifications) for every 100 square meters of land not occupied by a building or parking area. Additionally, the minimum number of trees cannot be fewer than two (2). The front yard must have at least one (1) tree, unless the front yard depth is less than 3 meters. If the front yard has an area of less than 75 square meters (excluding the parking area), the tree planted in the front yard may be a small‑canopy species.

At least 50% of the trees required under this section must belong to the order of deciduous trees. The genus of the trees must also be distributed as follows:

• If 2 to 9 trees are required by the city: one genus may represent a maximum of 50% of the trees planted;
• If 10 or more trees are required: one genus may represent a maximum of 25% of the trees planted.

Any variety of cedar (Thuja occidentalis), whether wild or cultivated, cannot be counted in the calculation of required trees.

All trees must be located at a minimum distance of 1.5 meters from the limit of the main building’s footprint or a fire hydrant.

Trees must not be planted within the street right‑of‑way or within the visibility triangle on corner lots.

The following tree species cannot be planted within 10 meters of the street right‑of‑way, any (public or private) water or sewer line, or any main building:

The planting of the following tree varieties is prohibited throughout the territory:

Subsidy Granted by the City for Tree Planting on Their Territory

The rebate amount corresponds to 50% of the cost of the tree and the planting cost. Taxes are included in this amount. The maximum subsidy granted for planting a tree is $75.

This subsidy is granted to property owners only.

The chosen tree species must be among those authorized by the city’s regulations.

For more information and to obtain the form required to apply for the subsidy, please consult the following website: subsidy for planting a new tree.

For any questions regarding subsidies, you may contact 450-467-2835, extension 2850, or email environnement@beloeil.ca.

Work Near Hydro‑Québec Power Lines

We can undertake tree cutting and pruning work only near telecommunication wires or low‑voltage wires. Please note that we are not authorized by Hydro‑Québec to perform work near medium‑voltage electrical wires or electricity distribution networks. For more information on this subject, we suggest consulting our Aerial network section on our website. You will also find the procedure to help you locate a company authorized by Hydro‑Québec for this type of service.

City of Beloeil

996, rue Dupré
Beloeil, Québec
J3G 4A8
450 467-2835 poste 2894
urbanisme@beloeil.ca
beloeil.ca

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Please note that the information provided on this page is for informational purposes only and has no force of law or legal value. For further information or to verify current regulations, please contact the municipality.