Main bylaws of the City of Brossard regarding trees

Tree Removal Maintenance Planting

Tree Removal

It is prohibited to cut down any tree with a trunk diameter of 10 cm or more, measured at 1.3 m from the ground, located on a private residential property without first obtaining a tree cutting permit from the City of Brossard.

Situations where cutting is permitted:

• The tree is dead;
• The tree is affected by an incurable disease (provide a professional expert report to this effect);
• The tree is affected by harmful insects;
• In the case of a conifer, the tree is located less than 3 m from a building or a pool;
• In the case of a deciduous tree, the tree is located less than 1.5 m from a building or a pool;
• The tree to be cut hinders the growth and compromises the survival of an adjacent tree;
• The tree is dangerous and cutting is the only possible corrective measure;
• The tree causes damage to public or private property and cutting is the only possible corrective measure;
• The tree makes it impossible to carry out construction, a use, landscaping, or work authorized by the City of Brossard;
• The tree is part of the list (below) of species with restricted planting.

Falling leaves/fruits/flowers, the presence of insects or animals, lack of light, obstructed view, sap/exudate/honeydew dripping are all normal inconveniences related to the presence of a tree and are not considered sufficient reasons to justify cutting.

Cutting a tree from the cedar family (Thuya spp.) is permitted without an authorization certificate when the tree is part of a hedge.

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 or property;
• The ash tree represents a nuisance or may cause damage to public or private property;
• The ash tree makes it impossible to carry out construction, a use, landscaping, or work authorized by the City.

Disposal of ash tree residues:

Anyone who cuts or prunes an ash tree must dispose of the ash tree residues using a compliant process or transport them to a site approved by the city. It is prohibited to dispose of ash tree residues during regular waste collection, except during a specific branch collection. This collection must take place between October 2 of one year and March 14 of the following year.

Transport of ash tree residues:

Between March 15 and October 1 of the same year, it is prohibited to transport ash tree residues outside the boundaries of the property where the tree targeted by the cutting or pruning work is located. During this period, ash tree residues must be treated on site using a process compliant with the regulation.

Compliant process for transforming ash tree residues:

A compliant process includes all techniques for transforming ash tree residues that completely destroy the emerald ash borer or wood pieces that may harbor it, including shredding into chips no larger than 2.5 cm on at least two sides.

Treating an Ash Tree

Any property owner with an ash tree is required to have it cut down or treated under the following conditions:

• Only TreeAzin treatment is authorized;
• The contractor offering the treatment service must be certified and recognized by the city;
• Treatment must be done between June 15 and August 31 of the same year;
• Treatment must be done at least every two years.

Authorization Certificate (Tree Cutting Permit) for Tree Removal

The authorization certificate (tree cutting permit) is free, and the processing time for obtaining the tree cutting permit is approximately 60 business days. This time is required for an inspector to analyze the cutting file, provided all requested documents are complete. The inspector may need to visit the site to confirm the tree cutting. The permit is valid for 3 months from the date of issuance.

The following documents must be provided when applying for a permit:

• Expert report from a professional if the tree to be cut is sick or dangerous;
• The location, size, and species of the tree to be replanted when required;
• Photo of the tree to be cut;
• Planting plan for replacement trees. Two methods are available to obtain your permit:
• You can submit an online certificate request by accessing this link: online request
• You may also go in person to the Urban Planning counter at 2001 Rome Boulevard in Brossard with all required documents.

Attention! Minimum penalties of $600 are provided for illegal tree cutting in Brossard.

If you have questions about the tree cutting permit, you may contact the Urban Planning Department at 450‑923‑6311 or by email at services@brossard.ca.

Maintenance

All work or interventions that may cause irreversible damage to trees are prohibited, such as:

• Topping;
• Over‑pruning: if more than 20% of the foliage mass is removed during pruning;
• Filling around part or all of a tree trunk;
• Placing objects or materials on the ground that may obstruct water, air, or nutrient supply to a tree’s root system;
• Damaging or removing tree bark;
• Attaching an object or structure to a tree;
• Modifying soil drainage slope.

No building may be attached to a tree.

Planting

Every residential lot in the City of Brossard must have at least one tree, based on the lot area. Depending on the lot size, a minimum number of trees is required, according to the following table:

Any tree cut down must be replaced within 12 months following the issuance of the tree cutting permit if, after cutting, the minimum required number of trees on the lot is not met.

Trees from the Thuya (cedar) family and small‑canopy trees are not counted in the calculation of the minimum number of required trees.

When a tree must be planted or replaced, it must meet the following minimum characteristics at planting:

• A trunk at least 5 cm in diameter, measured 30 cm above ground level, for a deciduous tree;
• A height of at least 1.5 m above ground level for a conifer;
• The planted tree must reach at least 7 meters at maturity. Plant diversity is mandatory for required trees on a lot. Plantings must meet the following criteria:
• When the number of required trees ranges from 3 to 15, no species may constitute more than 67% of the total to be planted.
• When 16 trees or more are required, each variety may represent no more than 25% of the total number of trees.

It is prohibited to plant a tree less than 1.5 m from a fire hydrant, a lamppost located in a street right‑of‑way, or above‑ground equipment of an underground public utility network.

It is prohibited to plant a tree from the list (below) of species with restricted planting less than 15 m from a main building, a public street right‑of‑way, a sanitary or storm sewer line, or a public water supply line:

It is prohibited to plant or allow the growth of the following plant species on a lot occupied by a main building:

Planting ash trees (species of the genus Fraxinus) is prohibited.

Subsidy for Planting a First Front‑Yard Tree

To encourage the increase of urban tree cover, the City of Brossard offers a subsidy for planting a first tree in the front yard. This program is intended for property owners whose lot has no trees, in accordance with zoning bylaw REG‑362.

The City reimburses 50% of the tree purchase cost, up to $300 if the tree is purchased in Brossard, or $150 if purchased elsewhere.

For full details regarding this subsidy, including eligibility criteria, required documents, and the application form, please consult the official website of the City of Brossard.

Work Near Hydro‑Québec Power Lines

We can undertake tree removal 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, 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 Brossard

2001, boul. de Rome
Brossard, Québec
J4W 3K5
450 923-6311
services@brossard.ca
brossard.ca

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.