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Aerial view of town overlooking trees, roads, river and buildings.

Private Tree Protection Bylaw

Guelph values its tree canopy cover and the numerous contributions trees make to the health of our community. A private tree protection bylaw is one of the tools the City uses to protect and enhance tree canopy cover, and to help build a sustainable city.

Increasing pressures on Guelph’s tree canopy cover related to urban intensification and climate change, as well as updates to related policies and regulations, have made reviewing and updating the current Private Tree Protection Bylaw a priority.

In late 2022, the City retained a multi-disciplinary consulting team to lead the research and engagement for Guelph’s Private Tree Protection Bylaw update. In 2023 we reached out to the community to hear about your thoughts about and experiences with the private tree bylaw, then looked for your input around some options we'd identified for updating the bylaw.

Your Participation made a difference!

Council approved an updated Private Tree Protection Bylaw for the City of Guelph on April 24, 2025.

Check out the final phase of the project to learn more about what the new bylaw.

Read the City of Guelph Private Tree Protection By-law – 2025

Further reading

Please note: This project began in an older version of our website. Some of the tools and information may appear different than originally designed.

Phases

Phases overview
Phase 1: Issues and opportunities analysis
Issues and opportunities analysis
Phase 2: Your thoughts on the current bylaw
Your thoughts on the current bylaw
Phase 3: Identify options and key directions
Identify options and key directions
Phase 4: Big trees and little trees
Big trees and little trees
Phase 5: Under Review
Under Review
Phase 6: We're drafting the updated Private Tree Protection ByLaw
We're drafting the updated Private Tree Protection ByLaw
Phase 7: Guelph's Private Tree Protection Bylaw is finalized
Guelph's Private Tree Protection Bylaw is finalized

Your thoughts on the current bylaw

March 6, 2023 5:00 AM - April 15, 2023 4:00 AM

Between March 6 and April 14, 2023 we asked the community:

  • If you’ve heard about the Private Tree Protection Bylaw before
  • What you think about the current bylaw
  • How you think the bylaw can be improved

Other engagement activities phase 1

There are two phases of engagement as part of this update.

Between March 6 and April 14, we want to know:

  • If you’ve heard about the Private Tree Protection Bylaw before
  • What you think about the current bylaw
  • How you think the bylaw can be improved

Each phase will offer a survey to capture community input. There will also be a range of virtual and in-person opportunities to learn more and share your thoughts. We hope to hear from you!

How the community participated

the community was invited to participate in the first round of engagement in several ways by April 14:

  • Complete the online survey
  • Attend an information session in-person or online to learn more
  • In-person information session, March 30 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Sir Isaac Brock Public School library, 111 Colonial Drive, Guelph
  • Virtual information session, April 11, 6.30 to 8 p.m. on Zoom, register in advance here
  • Drop by one of our pop-ups scheduled around the community to speak with our team
  • March 17, 9 to 11 a.m. at the West End Community Centre lobby, 21 Imperial Road South, Guelph
  • March 25, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. at the main branch library, 100 Norfolk St, Guelph

Ward 5 Councilors also hosted a town hall on April 5

  • It's all about trees...and more! Join us for our Spring Town Hall!
  • Date: Wednesday, April 5 at 7 p.m.
  • Location: Kortright Presbyterian Church, 55 Devere Drive (west of the Hanlon)
  • Format: Both In-person and online Zoom meeting
  • For more information visit https://www.ward5.ca/
Phase 1 - Information session presentation.pdf
(3.2 MB)
Phase 1 - Private Tree Protection Bylaw update Backgrounder.pdf
(1.4 MB)