Urban Forestry Legislation in Ontario

Abstract

Ontario's urban trees and forests lack comprehensive protection under contemporary legislation and regulation. Although the Ontario Municipal Act enables any municipality to compose and enforce tree by-laws, only larger municipal governments have enacted tree protection legislation, often based upon the Plant Diseases Act. In general, municipal trees are more subject to removal than conservation. Increased civic activism, however, has alerted municipal officials to investigate more adequate tree protection legislation. Results of a survey of municipal tree policies, regulations and by-laws is presented.