In Ottawa, the arborist report you hear about is what the City calls a Tree Information Report, or TIR. You need one whenever you apply for a City tree permit: to remove a distinctive tree (30 cm or more across, measured 1.3 m up the trunk) on a lot of one hectare or less in the urban area, to remove a City-owned tree, or as part of an infill building permit or Committee of Adjustment application. It is also how you use the by-law's exemption for a dead tree, which only applies when an arborist confirms the tree is dead.
What the City actually asks for
Ottawa's Tree Protection By-law (2020-340) defines a Tree Information Report as "a report prepared by an arborist" that contains the information set out in Schedule C of the by-law. You submit it online, and the tree permit fee is paid at the same time, so the report is not an extra step on top of the permit: it is the permit application.
When you need an arborist report
- Removing a distinctive tree on a private lot of one hectare or less inside the urban area. Distinctive means 30 cm or more in diameter at 1.3 m above the ground.
- Removing a City tree, anywhere in the city.
- Infill development: a Tree Information Report is required with Committee of Adjustment applications and building permit applications for infill in the urban area.
- Relying on the dead-tree exemption: the by-law exempts a tree that is "dead as confirmed by an arborist". A photo alone is weaker evidence than a written confirmation.
When you do not need one
- Pruning. No permit is needed for pruning that maintains the health of the tree and follows good arboricultural practice. Heavy cuts, topping or root damage can still count as injuring a protected tree.
- An immediate threat to public health and safety. The City asks you to photograph the tree before it comes down, as evidence of its condition and the reason.
- Ash trees infested with emerald ash borer, which are exempt from the permit requirement.
- Smaller trees. A private tree under 30 cm in diameter on an urban lot of one hectare or less is not a distinctive tree.
Larger and rural properties follow different rules. Our guide to Ottawa tree removal permits covers the full set of rules, fees and exemptions.
Short report or full report?
Schedule C sets out two versions.
TIR - Short, for a removal with no development involved:
- owner, arborist and contractor contact information
- the location, species and size of each tree
- who owns the tree
- the condition of the tree
- your reason for removing it
- the arborist's recommendation
- a self-declaration statement
TIR - Full, for infill development, adds:
- plans showing the tree locations, such as a grading or site plan
- tree protection and mitigation measures for the trees being kept
- boundary tree confirmation and consent
- tree replacement information
- any federal or provincial regulations that apply, such as the Endangered Species Act or the Migratory Birds Convention Act
Where a removal is justified by the tree's condition, the City can ask for more detail, including a tree risk assessment, to support the arborist's recommendation.
Larger development under the Planning Act needs a different document, a Tree Conservation Report under Schedule E.
Who can write it
The by-law's definition of an arborist is broader than many people expect. It includes an arborist qualified by the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, a certified arborist with the International Society of Arboriculture, a consulting arborist registered with the American Society of Consulting Arborists, a Registered Professional Forester, or a person with similar qualifications.
The owner, the arborist and the contractor all sign the application. By signing, you agree to the work and to any protection measures described, and you acknowledge that a City inspector may visit the property.
What it costs in City fees
The City's own fee is separate from whatever the arborist charges for the report. Since 1 February 2026 it is $200 per tree for a distinctive tree that is not part of an infill development, and $1,240 per tree for removals tied to infill development. Both are capped after five trees and are paid when you submit the report online. The fee is non-refundable, so check the tree count before you submit.
After the permit
- Replacement trees. Outside of development the City requires one new tree for each tree removed. Infill development requires two replacements for a distinctive tree 30 to 49 cm across and three for one 50 cm or more.
- Following the report. The owner is responsible for carrying out the protection and mitigation measures in the report, under an arborist's supervision where required.
- Boundary trees. A tree whose trunk grows across the property line is the common property of both owners under section 10 of Ontario's Forestry Act. Removing it without both owners' consent is an offence, on top of any City permit.
- Fines under the by-law range from $500 to $100,000.
Getting a report from Tree King
Tree King prepares Tree Information Reports for Ottawa homeowners and handles the removal once the permit is issued. We will tell you first whether your tree needs a permit at all. See arborist reports and tree removal in Ottawa, or call 613-627-2017.