1. Confirm ownership first
Montreal requires private/public ownership to be separated in the rule analysis Do not prune or remove a boulevard/City tree as if it were private property.
Municipal tree source checked
Reviewed Sep. 13, 2026Private/public scope checked against the municipal source
Tree removal rules in Montreal, QC
A plain-English guide to what Montreal publishes about tree removal and protection. The first question is whether the rule covers your private tree at all—not every City tree bylaw is a private-yard permit bylaw.
CITY-SPECIFIC SUMMARY
What Montreal actually regulates
Montreal’s published tree and bylaw rules, in plain English:
Borough matters
Montréal’s tree-felling process is borough-specific. The citywide portal requires the user to select a borough because thresholds, fees, validity periods and replacement rules can differ.
Private trees
Many boroughs require a felling authorization for private trees once a stated diameter threshold is reached; the exact measurement height and threshold must be checked for the borough.
Injury can count
Some borough rules also regulate major branch/root cutting or significant grade changes, not only full removal.
Replacement
Several boroughs require replacement planting after permitted removal.
Regional context
Montreal uses a municipal certificate/permit framework that can differ from neighbouring Quebec municipalities. See the Quebec tree-rule overview and rely on the Montreal source for local thresholds and accepted reasons.
LOCAL QUICK READ
Montreal at a glance
These are the main signals in the Montreal municipal source: who the rule covers, whether a permit path is identified, any published diameter signal, and extra requirements that can change the answer.
Rule scopePrivate and public-tree rules both need to be separated
Permit signalA permit or authorization process is identified
Diameter numbers found10 cm, 15 cm, 20 cm
Extra requirements namedReplacement planting, Construction / root-zone rules
LOCAL DECISION PATH
The local checks that change the answer in Montreal
Montreal’s published material needs to be read by tree ownership, location and project context rather than through one Canada-wide rule.
2. Check whether the property has special controls
In Montreal, development applications, environmental areas, riparian/ravine lands, covenanted trees or planning approvals can create tree-protection rules even when an ordinary private-yard tree is not covered by a blanket bylaw.
3. Use the published measurement only where it applies
The local material includes 10 cm, 15 cm, 20 cm. Make sure that number applies to this ownership/location category before using it.
4. Keep public-tree work with the municipality
If the tree is on a Montreal road allowance, boulevard, park or other municipal land, use the municipal process before pruning, root disturbance or removal.
General guidance lives separately
For general tree-law concepts, use these guides:
Public vs. private trees · Construction near trees · Tree-removal permits ·CONSTRUCTION NEAR TREES
When construction can change the tree-rule answer in Montreal
Montreal’s local material identifies development, construction or tree-protection-zone issues. Before excavation, grading, a driveway, utility trench, retaining wall, pool or building work near a tree, check whether the municipal rule treats root/soil disturbance as regulated injury.
Private tree
Local source detailMontréal requires an authorization certificate before felling a tree on a private lot under the city's tree-felling rules.
Open Montreal’s rule ↗City / boulevard tree
Local source detailIf the trunk is on Montreal municipal land, a boulevard or road allowance, do not self-authorize pruning or removal. Confirm ownership and use the municipality’s tree process.
Check ownership rules ↗Boundary tree
Ownership mattersIf the trunk sits on or very near a property line in Montreal, confirm ownership before work. Municipal tree rules do not replace private-law rights involving a co-owned or neighbouring tree.
Check local application rules ↗Development site
Often stricterIn Montreal, development work such as demolition, additions or subdivision can bring tree-retention, arborist or replacement requirements into the approval path; use the linked development-tree source for the site.
Check development-tree rules ↗SOURCE TRACE
What we verified for Montreal
The Montreal source shows mixed or conditional tree-rule coverage. Primary source checked September 13, 2026. The page does not turn that into a blanket private-tree rule when the municipality has not done so.
Open primary Montreal source ↗How Tree Rules Canada fact-checks pages →OFFICIAL LINKS
Go straight to Montreal
Use Montreal’s current municipal source before booking removal or construction near a tree. That source controls the current threshold, exceptions, forms, fees and any replacement conditions.
Montreal tree sources checked September 13, 2026. Re-check the linked municipality for current fees, protected-tree definitions and permit steps; Tree Rules Canada is independent.