Free Download – Learn the Laws, Avoid Fines, and Keep Your Trees Safe

Planning construction near trees in Toronto?

Before you break ground, download our Free 2025 Tree Protection Guide – your essential resource for understanding local tree bylaws, setting up Tree Protection Zones (TPZs), and avoiding costly mistakes.

This field-tested guide is written by ISA-certified arborist Adam Gower, with over 10 years of experience.

Backed by Toronto’s latest Tree Protection Policy and Bylaws, this guide is packed with expert tips to help homeowners, contractors, builders, and developers stay compliant.

What You'll Learn

Toronto’s Tree Protection Zone (TPZ) laws explained

How to set up a TPZ that passes City of Toronto

When and how to apply for tree removal or injury permits

Why hiring an ISA-certified arborist is essential

Common mistakes that lead to $100,000 fines per tree

Final landscaping rules and how to get your deposit refunded

Why This Matters for Construction in Toronto

Toronto’s bylaws are strict and actively enforced when it comes to protecting trees during construction. Damaging a protected tree—even accidentally—can delay your project, increase costs, and land you with massive penalties. Don’t risk costly delays or legal issues. If your job site is anywhere near a tree, you need this guide.

What Is a Tree Protection Zone

A TPZ is a legally required barrier that protects a tree’s roots, trunk, and canopy from construction damage. Whether the tree is on your property, your neighbour’s, or city-owned—it may be protected by law. The guide includes:

TPZ setup diagrams

Required fencing specs

Minimum distance rules by trunk size

Special guidelines for ravines and natural areas

Avoid Fines – Stay Compliant with Toronto's Tree Bylaws Learn

Toronto bylaws like the Private Tree Bylaw, Street Tree Bylaw, and Ravine Protection Bylaw are actively enforced. Get it wrong and you could face

Fines up to $100,000 per tree

How to set up a TPZ that passes City inspection

Permit delays or rejections

Lost deposits and replanting orders

This guide walks you through every step – from pre-construction to post-build – in plain, easy-to-follow language.

Designed for

Homeowners

Understand your responsibilities when renovating or landscaping near trees. Avoid fines and ensure your property’s greenery stays protected.

Builders

Stay compliant with Toronto’s tree protection laws to prevent costly project delays. Learn how to set up TPZs and pass inspections with ease.

Developers

Mitigate risks and avoid legal issues by implementing tree protection measures during construction. Ensure your site remains compliant and on schedule.

Architects

Design with trees in mind from the start. Incorporate TPZs into your plans and collaborate effectively with arborists for approval-ready designs.

Landscapers

Protect existing trees during projects and ensure compliance with city bylaws. Deliver successful results while preserving your client’s landscape investment.

If you’re filing a building permit, ordering excavation, or working near any protected tree in Toronto, you need this eBook before you start.

Choose Tree Doctors for reliable tree care services that aim to meet your expectations.

Download Free Guide:

Fill out the form to get instant access to the 27-page 2025 Tree Protection eBook PDF. You'll also get a free consultation to help set up your Tree Protection Zone (TPZ) – done legally, safely, and affordably.

Let Tree Doctors Handle It For You

We're Toronto’s most trusted tree protection experts, with years of experience helping contractors and homeowners stay compliant.

TPZ Setup & Removal

Arborist Reports & Tree Protection Plans

Permit Applications

Site Inspections

Tree Health Recovery Post-Construction

What Clients Are Saying Across the Web?

We would enthusiastically recommend

We live right in Downtown Toronto in a townhouse. Some of our neighbors' trees were starting to cause potential safety issues in our yard with branches that risked breaking during snow and ice storms. There is no laneway behind our house so everything has to go through it. The Tree Doctors were able to trim the trees in question so that there are no longer safety concerns with no damage to our house,…

Brad Coutts

Toronto, November 2025

Excellent experience with their crew

Used their services for the first time to cut off a number of dead branches high up on a large oak tree, and to trim back a spruce tree and a chestnut tree. Excellent experience with their crew (Matt, Dave, and Eric). Very apparent they work well as a team, looking out for each other's safety and communicating clearly so they always know what's happening. They were thorough and checked multiple…

Richard Hamel

Toronto, November 2025

Worth every penny

The free quote turned into a full tree health plan - and I actually learned something. They flagged early signs of borer damage on our ash and set up a treatment schedule. It wasn’t cheap, but way less than losing the tree entirely. Worth every penny.

Alex Henderson

Toronto, November 2025

Highly recommend

Fast, efficient, fairly priced (got other quotes), and personable staff. Tree Doctors did such an amazing job - and cleaned up fully, not leaving a trace of anything behind. If you need an arborist this is the team for you. 10/10. Highly recommend.

Gee Boh

Toronto, October 2025

Very satisfied indeed!

I had Tree Doctors remove a 40-50 ft, 30-yrs old Pine tree from my porch in Mississauga Heartland residential area (townhouse unit), October 17 2025. They came to estimate within days and in less than three weeks they removed the monster tree at a very good price (well below other quotes we got). The work was done in about 2.5 hrs, leaving the area very clean. The crew even did a favour to us and…

Jack Brag

Toronto, October 2025

I recommend this company

A three member crew did the tree pruning on my property. They did a very good job and were very courteous and professional. They left the premise clean and tidy. I recommend this company.

Nick Lekic

Toronto, October 2025

2025 Tree Protection Guide for Toronto Construction Projects

Free Download – Learn the Laws, Avoid Fines, and Keep Your Trees Safe

What You'll Learn

Why This Matters for Construction in Toronto

What Is a Tree Protection Zone

Avoid Fines – Stay Compliant with Toronto's Tree Bylaws Learn

Designed for

Let Tree Doctors Handle It For You

What Clients Are Saying Across the Web?

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