Main bylaws of the City of Saint-Lambert regarding trees

Tree Removal Maintenance Planting

Tree Removal

It is prohibited to cut a deciduous tree with a diameter of more than 10 cm (measured at 30 cm from the ground) or to cut a conifer measuring more than 2 m in height on private property in the City of Saint-Lambert. The owner of the tree must obtain a certificate of authorization from the city if they wish to cut a tree with these characteristics.

Tree cutting in the City of Saint-Lambert may be authorized for one of the following reasons:

• The tree to be cut is dead or affected by an incurable disease;
• The tree to be cut is dangerous to the health or safety of citizens;
• The tree to be cut constitutes a nuisance or causes damage to public or private property;
• The tree is a nuisance to the growth and health of neighboring trees;
• The tree is located within an unrestricted cutting zone.

When a tree is cut, it must be replaced. The replacement tree must be planted on the same lot and within the same yard area as the original tree.

On a property already landscaped or for which a permit or certificate of authorization has been issued, whether for work on a French drain, an intervention on existing foundations, or a connection to municipal networks, the removal of a tree is permitted without condition when it is located within two meters of the work and compromises its execution.

Cutting or Pruning an Ash Tree

The owner of any ash tree that is dead or has 30% dead branches must proceed with the cutting of the ash tree, as the infestation is too significant to be treated.

Ash cutting must be carried out between October 1st and March 15th to prevent the spread of the emerald ash borer within the territory.

A certificate of authorization is required to cut an ash tree in the City of Saint-Lambert.

It is strongly recommended not to cut ash trees (species of the genus Fraxinus) between March 15th and October 1st of the same year, unless cutting is necessary and the tree is considered dangerous.

Disposal of ash tree residues:

Anyone who fells or prunes an ash tree in the City of Saint-Lambert must dispose of the ash tree residues as follows:

• Logs, stumps, chips, firewood, etc., must be taken, between October 1st and March 15th, to the Marie- Victorin eco-center or to the Grande-Allée eco-center;
• If the branches have a diameter of less than 5 cm, they are accepted during the collection of green waste, between October 1st and March 15th.

If an ash tree is cut between March 15th and October 1st, the ash tree residues must remain on-site and cannot be moved before October 1st.

It is prohibited, between March 15th and October 1st, to transport ash tree residues that have not been processed using a compliant method.

Certificate of Authorization (Tree Cutting Permit) for Tree Removal

The processing time for a tree cutting permit application in the City of Saint-Lambert is approximately 30 days. The cutting permit costs $40 per tree. The cutting permit is free of charge when the tree in question is an ash or a buckthorn.

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

• Completed and signed permit application form including the following information;
  • Diameter of the tree, its species, and the number of trees to be cut;
  • The name and contact information of the contractor;
  • Complete contact information of the applicant and the owner;
  • Indication of the location of the tree(s) to be cut;
• Photos clearly justifying the reasons for cutting.

Two means are at your disposal to obtain your cutting permit from the City of Saint-Lambert:

• You can send the form along with all other requested documents, completed and signed, to the following address: urbanisme@saint-lambert.ca;
• You can appear in person at the Urban Planning, Permits and Inspection Department at 2035-C Victoria Avenue with the completed form and all other requested documents.

For any questions regarding the certificate of authorization application (tree cutting permit), you can contact the Urban Planning, Permits and Inspection Department of the City of Saint-Lambert at 450-466-3277 or by email at the following address: urbanisme@saint-lambert.ca.

Maintenance

The following practices are prohibited in the City of Saint-Lambert:

• Over-pruning a tree;
• Topping a tree;
• Placing objects or materials on the ground likely to obstruct the supply of water, air, or nutrients to a tree's roots;
• Marking, removing bark, or performing any action likely to injure a tree;
• Building structures in trees in a manner that causes damage;
• Poisoning a tree or bringing a tree into contact with a toxic or harmful substance;
• Modifying the slope, soil height, or drainage in a manner that obstructs the supply of water, air, or nutrients to a tree;
• Girdling a tree trunk;
• Cutting a tree over 10 centimeters in diameter measured at 30 centimeters from the ground without first obtaining a certificate of authorization from the City of Saint-Lambert.

During construction work, preserved trees must be adequately protected to avoid any risk of damage to the roots, trunk, and branches.

Planting

Any tree that has been cut in the City of Saint-Lambert must be replaced by another tree in the same section of the lot where the cut tree was planted. Tree replacement is not required if the number of trees present is greater than the minimum required for that section of the lot.

The minimum number of trees required on a lot must comply with the following:

A minimum of two large-growth trees must be planted per lot.

The owner is obligated to have at least one tree present in each section of the lot, regardless of its area. If a part of the lot has a small area and planting might be impossible, we suggest you contact the Urban Planning center to discuss a possible agreement on this subject.

The City of Saint-Lambert asks all owners to maintain or plant at least one tree within the street right-of-way in front of their property.

It is possible that the City of Saint-Lambert, following the cutting of one or more tree(s), may require the planting of tree(s).

A replacement tree must have at least the following dimensions:

• For a deciduous tree: 5 centimeters in diameter, measured at 30 centimeters from the ground;
• For a conifer: 2 meters in height.

When cutting a large-growth tree, the replacement tree must be a medium or large-growth tree with the minimum required dimensions mentioned above.

When a tree is cut, it must be replaced in the same yard where it was cut.

No tree or shrub may be planted within 1.5 meters of a fire hydrant.

If after 24 months, the planted trees are no longer alive, the replacement of these dead trees are required.

These tree species are prohibited within 20 meters of a sidewalk, public roadway, underground pipes, water main, sewers, or a property line in the City of Saint-Lambert:

This regulation applies only to new plantings.

Work Near Hydro-Québec Power Lines

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

City of Saint-Lambert

35 Fort Avenue
Saint-Lambert, Quebec
J4P 3S9
450 466-3277
urbanisme@saint-lambert.ca
saint-lambert.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.