Tri-Cities • Maple Ridge, BC

Land Clearing in Maple Ridge

Maple Ridge's mix of urban infill and larger rural acreage (from Silver Valley to Hammond and Whonnock) means land-clearing projects here run into the City's tree bylaw fast: under Bylaw 8045-2026, most trees 20cm DBH or larger need a permit, and any application beyond a single ordinary tree needs an arborist report. Root Down plans multi-tree clearing across Maple Ridge with that threshold built into the quote from the start.

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When to Call for Land Clearing in Maple Ridge

If your Maple Ridge clearing project involves more than one tree, or any tree near a creek or in a riparian setback, budget time for the arborist report and permit before equipment mobilizes.

Permits & Bylaws in Maple Ridge

Maple Ridge protects trees 20cm DBH and larger under its 2026 bylaw, with significant trees at 60cm+ drawing extra scrutiny and fines up to $5,000 each, and permits valid for six months: so timing the application against your construction schedule matters. Clearing more than a single ordinary tree requires an arborist report, and the city sets replacement requirements (or a cash-in-lieu option) when it issues the permit.

Under the new Tree Protection and Management Bylaw 8045-2026 (May 2026), permits are required for trees 20cm+ DBH. Significant trees are 60cm+ DBH with extra protection and fines up to $5,000 each. An arborist report is required for every application except a single non-significant, non-hazard tree. Permits are valid 6 months.

See Maple Ridge tree bylaws

Bylaw rules change. Verify current requirements directly with Maple Ridge 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 Maple Ridge

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

Number of trees (5+ triggers a mandatory arborist report)
Tree size relative to the 20cm/50cm/70cm DBH thresholds
Urban infill lot vs. rural acreage (Silver Valley, Albion, Whonnock, etc.)
Proximity to creeks or riparian setbacks (removes the size threshold entirely)
Replacement planting or cash-in-lieu, set at permit issue
Permit timing against your 4-month validity window and construction schedule

Recent Land Clearing Work in Maple Ridge

See examples of our land clearing work across Tri-Cities.

View recent work

Frequently Asked Questions

For anything beyond a single ordinary tree, yes: Maple Ridge's 2026 bylaw requires an arborist report with the application. Every tree 20cm DBH or larger needs a permit, and we can prepare the documentation either way.

Maple Ridge permits are valid for four months, so we time the application against your actual construction or clearing schedule to avoid having to reapply partway through.

Maple Ridge requires replacement planting to maintain 16 trees per acre, but where that's not practical on a build site, cash-in-lieu is available at $618 per tree. We can advise which makes more sense for your project.