Main bylaws of the City of Saint-Mathieu-de-Beloeil regarding trees

Tree Removal Maintenance Planting

Tree Removal

A certificate of authorization (tree cutting permit) is mandatory for any tree cutting located in a front or back yard with a diameter greater than ten (10) cm, measured at 30 cm from the ground, within the territory of the municipality of Saint-Mathieu-de-Beloeil.

Tree cutting in the Town of Saint-Mathieu-de-Beloeil 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;
• The tree to be cut constitutes a nuisance or causes damage to public or private property;
• The tree to be cut is located in an area where construction is planned.

Cutting or Pruning an Ash Tree

The owner of any ash tree that is dead or where 30% or more of the branches are dead must proceed or have someone proceed with the cutting of the ash tree before December 31st of the year this condition is observed.

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 Town of Saint- Mathieu-de-Beloeil. A permit is not required if the trunk of the ash tree to be cut is less than 10 cm in diameter, measured at 1.3 m from the ground.

It is prohibited, between March 15th and October 1st of the same year, to cut or prune an ash tree, except in one of the following cases:

• The ash tree is dangerous for the safety of persons;
• The ash tree is likely to cause serious damage to property;
• The ash tree prevents the realization of a construction project authorized under the applicable urban planning regulations.

Ash cutting is authorized between October 1st and March 15th, and a tree cutting certificate may be issued for any of the following reasons:

• The ash tree is dead;
• The ash tree is affected by an irreversible disease or an uncontrollable pest insect;
• The ash tree is dangerous for the safety of persons or is likely to cause serious damage to property;
• The ash tree hinders the growth and development of neighboring trees;
• The ash tree prevents the realization of a construction project authorized under the applicable urban planning regulations.

Disposal of ash tree residues:

Anyone who cuts or prunes an ash tree in the Town of Saint-Mathieu-de-Beloeil must dispose of the ash tree residues as follows:

• Branches or trunk pieces with a diameter not exceeding 20 cm must be immediately chipped on-site into chips not exceeding 2.5 cm on at least two sides;
• Between October 1st and March 15th: branches or trunk pieces with a diameter exceeding 20 cm must be sent to a wood processing company, or kept on-site, to be processed using a compliant method, within 15 days following the cutting or pruning work;
• Between March 15th and October 1st: Branches or trunk pieces with a diameter exceeding 20 cm must be processed on-site using a process compliant with the regulations or kept until October 1st to then be transported, within the following 15 days, to one of the authorized sites for processing.

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

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

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

Anyone who contravenes the regulations concerning the cutting and pruning of ash trees is liable to a minimum fine of $500.

Certificate of Authorization (tree cutting Permit) for Tree Removal

The processing time for a tree cutting permit application in the Town of Saint-Mathieu-de-Beloeil is approximately thirty days. The permit application is free of charge.

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

• 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 (mandatory).

Two means are at your disposal to obtain your tree cutting permit from the Town of Saint-Mathieu-de-Beloeil:

• You can apply for a permit online or via your citizen portal;
• You can send the form along with all other requested documents, completed and signed, to the Urban Planning Department at the address mentioned on the form.

For any questions regarding the certificate of authorization application (tree cutting permit), you can contact the Urban Planning Department of the Town of Saint-Mathieu-de-Beloeil at 450-467-7490 or by email at the following address: permis@smdb.ca.

Anyone who cuts trees without authorization (city tree cutting permit) within the territory of the Town of Saint-Mathieu-de-Beloeil is liable to a fine of $500 or more, based on the number of trees cut without permission.

Maintenance

In the Town of Saint-Mathieu-de-Beloeil, it is prohibited to top trees 10 cm or more in diameter at breast height.

Tree pruning must be done with the goal of preserving the health of the tree.

It is prohibited to fell, prune, or uproot a tree or part of a tree located on Municipal property without first obtaining explicit authorization, except for the portion of the right-of-way between the lot and the sidewalk, which is landscaped and maintained by the owner.

Planting

The minimum number of trees per lot in the Town of Saint-Mathieu-de-Beloeil must comply with the following conditions:

• For all residential use classes, there must be one tree per ten (10) meters of lot frontage facing a roadway;
• All trees must be planted in alignment along the roadway;
• If the presence of an obstacle (sign, street lamp, etc.) hinders the continuation of the alignment, trees may be grouped near the obstacle or the location preventing the continuation of the alignment.

Any tree whose planting is required must meet a minimum diameter of five (5) centimeters measured at one (1) m above ground level.

At least 50% of the trees whose planting is required must be deciduous.

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

Any tree that is dead or showing signs of decline on 50% or more of its crown must be replaced.

The tree species listed below cannot be planted within 12 meters of any street line or any public easement for the passage of sewers and water mains:

The planting of ash trees (Fraxinus) is prohibited.

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.

Municipality of Saint-Mathieu-de-Beloeil

5000, des Loisirs
Saint-Mathieu-de-Beloeil, Quebec
J3G 2C9
450 467-7490
reception@stmathieudebeloeil.ca
saint-mathieu-de-beloeil.com

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.