Chilliwack tree rules

The City says residents must maintain private trees so they do not encroach onto a roadway or sidewalk or obstruct traffic-control devices, but Chilliwack does not otherwise regulate ordinary private-tree trimming through this program. Neighbour-tree disputes are generally left to the neighbours.

Most subdivisions require a Tree and Greenspace Management Plan before final subdivision approval. That process is tied to the Tree Management (Land Development) Bylaw rather than the ordinary private-yard maintenance rule.

Chilliwack’s current urban-forest page says new development must achieve a tree density of at least 50 trees per hectare, counting both retained/new private-land trees and street trees that become part of the City inventory.

Within designated Development Permit Areas, subdivision, construction or land alteration can require a development permit. For example, riparian-area applications can require a Qualified Environmental Professional assessment, while hillside areas have additional environmental and slope-protection requirements.

The City warns that the public right-of-way can extend farther into what looks like a front yard than residents expect. Planting or other alteration in the right-of-way can be an encroachment, so property-line confirmation matters before tree work near the street.

For a normal existing yard, start with ownership and encroachment. For subdivision, redevelopment, hillside work, riparian land or significant site alteration, switch to the land-development and development-permit rules before clearing trees.