Trees on Town Property

Did you know that BWG recently passed a new by-law to help protect public trees in our Town? Check out the new Public Tree Protection By-law 2024-27 here.

Trees are valuable assets and a vital part of the Town's green infrastructure, and BWG is committed to increasing its tree canopy to help fight climate change and beautify streets. The addition of landscape features like walls and paving around trees will not allow them to reach their potential full size and age and may result in an injury to the tree and its roots, costing the Town an average of $800 in removal and replacement costs. The public Tree Protection by-law will prevent this and aid our efforts for a healthy and sustainable urban forest within BWG.

Tree Protection Measures

Trees between the sidewalk and the curb belong to the Town and trees growing on your front lawn can also be on Town property and belong to the Town. Residents must ensure they do not compromise the potential growth of any trees within these areas around their properties.

Do not place any material within 1.5m (5 feet) of the trunk of a public tree in the boulevard or over its root system as this will injure the tree. If you are unsure, please contact the Town to discuss your plans at 905-775-2162 ext. 5204.

Do not create any injury to a public tree. Injury to a public tree can result in financial penalties to the resident to help remedy the situation. When the injured public tree requires removal, it will not be replaced by the Town until the encroaching material is removed. Residents are not permitted to plant their own tree on public property and should a tree be planted, it will be removed by the Town.

A person holding a plant on a bed of soil

Take our Private Tree Protection Survey

BWG has launched a Private Tree Protection survey, and we want your feedback to help shape how we protect trees on private properties in our community. Please complete our online survey to share your opinions on private trees in BWG.

Image of tree on boulevard with soil around the base

Best Mulch Condition

Image of tree on boulevard with stone border

Not Permitted

FAQ About the New By-Law

Why do paving, garden walls, and other material added to the boulevard injure trees?

It damages trees by cutting, suffocating and confining their roots. Trees survive and grow by using their roots below ground to get water, oxygen, and nutrients from soil, which are moved up into the stems and leaves.
Most tree roots are only 12 to 18 inches below the ground, and are easily damaged by the digging and root cutting needed to add a wall or paving. Additionally they are easily suffocated by adding too much material over top of them restricting the flow of oxygen.
Adding walls around trees raises the level of soil around the tree’s trunk. Placing soft material like soil or mulch against the tree’s trunk will hold moisture against the trunk constantly and cause decay over time. It also helps fungi, bacteria and insects to attack the tree in this softened tissue area. The decay will increase the chance of the tree falling over.
The movement of vehicles close to trees can cause the tree trunk and branches to be damaged more easily.
Paving near trees prevents trees from getting water that they need to grow. Water cannot get into the ground to the roots but is moved away along the hard paved surface to the road or driveway.

What happens in situations where residents have added landscape paving and walls around public trees near their homes?

Staff will be conducting an inventory to determine the nature and addresses for where these encroachments have occurred to the public trees of Bradford in 2024. This will allow staff to track the tree’s health over time in relation to any encroachments. A Report will then be provided to Town Council who will direct the next steps to deal with these pre-existing situations. Communications will then be issued to the public on this matter. If you have a specific concern, please submit a report to our Enforcement Division at 905-775-5366 ext. 1701. Staff will not be identifying and targeting specific addresses at this point in time unless a report is received.

Trees are an important part of our Town. By ensuring the health of Town trees in BWG we are protecting the future of our tree canopy and creating a better natural environment for our community.

Please do your part and help take care of the trees by giving them space to grow. Do not pave or add landscape walls around the Town trees.

See below for more information about Public Trees in BWG and the steps you can take to ensure their protection.

Image of little kid hugging a tree with a moss heart on it

Landscaping Near Town Trees

I am not sure if the tree adjacent to my property belongs to the Town.

Create a report on the MyBWG website (Report an Issue - Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury) with as much information as possible an an email address and the town will conduct a site visit and inform resident of ownership. Town trees should not be removed, pruned or otherwise injured by residents; these actions can result in a fine.

As a rule of thumb, trees that are planted on the boulevard between the sidewalk and curb belong to the Town. Town-owned property extends for several feet up your front lawn (known as the municipal right-of-way), trees that have been planted in this area by the Town or a developer may belong to the Town. You can get a general idea of where this boundary is by locating the water shut-off valve, which is usually in the driveway or lawn

I would like to add decorations around the Town tree such as stones and other plants.

The Town does not permit this practice on public property. Adding extra material and plants can damage the tree by suffocating or cutting roots.

I want to widen my driveway but there is a boulevard tree near by.

Driveway widening cannot occur within 1.5m of a Town tree. For further information on Driveway widening please click here

I would like to add more soil and/or mulch around the Town tree.

Additional soil and/or mulch can be added; however, do not add more than a total depth of 3 to 4 inches or 7.5-10 cm of material over the tree roots. The roots are near the ground surface and need water, nutrients and oxygen. Too much material over the roots can suffocate them and hurt the tree’s health.

DO make a flat mulch ring around your tree (like a donut). DO NOT pile mulch around your tree (like a volcano)

New or Replacement Boulevard Trees

When are trees installed on Town property?

New trees are typically planted in the fall as the cool weather helps the tree to survive. If a tree has been removed, the stump may remain until it can be removed in the fall, and a new tree will be planted in the fall before the ground freezes or in the spring after the ground thaws.

Will I be notified of the date when a new replacement tree will be installed on Town property near my home?

No. Due to the number of tree planting projects throughout town, we do not notify individual residents when nearby trees are planted.

Can I choose what tree will be planted on Town property near my home?

No. The Town has a list of preferred species that have been chosen by a professional Arborist.

There is a tree that is overhanging the Hydro wires and may cause an issue with the wires.

Contact your Hydro provider, which in most cases is Alectra (1-833-253-2872), and advise them of the situation. They have specialized training to prune the trees near wires in a safe manner. The Town cannot undertake this type of pruning.

I do not have a boulevard tree nearby. Can I request to have one planted?

Create a report on the MyBWG website (Report an Issue - Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury) with as much detail as possible and an email address and the town will conduct a site visit and determined next steps.

There are some properties where it is not possible to plant a tree such as space constrictions, or conflicts with above or below-ground utilities. A town employee will determine if the site is eligible for a tree to be planted

Other Issues

I have called the Town about a tree on the boulevard that needs attention but nothing has been done.

Create a report on the MyBWG website (Report an Issue - Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury) with as much detail as possible and an email address and the town will conduct a site visit and determined next steps.

Where the Town has the legal right to do so (not on un-assumed or private property), work will be undertaken within a reasonable period of time in the correct season, typically within six weeks of notification.

My neighbour's tree branches are growing into my property and I would like these branches pruned back.

This is a private matter between you and your neighbour, as long as it is occurring between two private properties and not on Town property. You should contact your neighbour and discuss how to best resolve the issue.