Metro Vancouver • Burnaby, BC

Land Clearing in Burnaby

Burnaby's redevelopment boom (from Brentwood towers to Metrotown infill) means land clearing here almost always intersects the City's tree bylaw. Root Down clears building lots and larger properties across Burnaby, from established South Burnaby yards to sites near Burnaby Mountain and Deer Lake, coordinating permits and retained-tree protection as we go.

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When to Call for Land Clearing in Burnaby

If you're prepping a Burnaby lot for a build, addition, or subdivision and there are trees 30cm DBH or larger in the way, plan on a permit and a site assessment before equipment shows up.

Permits & Bylaws in Burnaby

Burnaby generally allows removal of trees under 30cm DBH without a permit, but anything larger (or any tree at all near a creek or in the riparian zone) needs a permit and a replacement security of $1,500 minimum per tree (or 120% of replacement cost), refunded on compliance. Multi-tree clearing for a development site typically means an arborist report identifying which trees must be retained or replaced, and we build our clearing plan around that before crews start.

Burnaby protects conifers 30.5cm+ and broadleaf trees 45.7cm+ on ordinary lots -- and ANY tree 20.3cm+ once a development application is in, plus streamside and covenanted trees at any size. Permits carry a replacement security of $1,500 minimum per tree (or 120% of replacement cost, adjusted yearly). Cutting a protected tree without a permit draws a $500 ticket, and prosecution runs $2,000 to $10,000 per violation.

See Burnaby tree bylaws

Bylaw rules change. Verify current requirements directly with Burnaby before starting any work.

Our Land Clearing Process

Site Assessment

We survey the property and identify any protected trees or environmental concerns.

Permit Coordination

We help navigate permits and regulations for your municipality.

Clearing

Trees and brush are removed efficiently using appropriate equipment.

Site Prep

Stumps are ground and debris removed, leaving the site ready for your project.

What Affects Land Clearing Cost in Burnaby

Every job is unique, so we provide free, detailed estimates rather than one-size-fits-all pricing. The main factors:

Number and size of trees on the site (30cm+ DBH triggers permitting)
Whether the property backs onto a creek or riparian area such as Still Creek
Permit and replacement-security requirements ($1,500 minimum per tree)
Access for equipment on established South Burnaby lots vs. open development sites
Debris and stump volume: haul-away vs. mulch on-site
Replacement tree or arborist documentation requirements for retained trees

Recent Land Clearing Work in Burnaby

See examples of our land clearing work across Metro Vancouver.

View recent work

Frequently Asked Questions

Almost always, if any tree on site is 30cm DBH or larger, or if the property is anywhere near a creek: the standard size threshold disappears near water. We handle the permit application and the replacement security that comes with it.

Yes: that's the norm on Burnaby development sites. We identify which trees the City's bylaw or your development permit requires you to keep, fence and protect them during clearing, and document compliance.

Those are areas where Burnaby's usual 30-centimetre threshold doesn't apply: every tree needs individual assessment, and federal fisheries rules can add further restriction. We scope this during the site assessment before quoting.