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Tree removal in Tiny Township
No conservation authority here
County woodland rules
Do You Need a Permit to Remove Trees in Tiny Township?
Short answer: on most residential lots in Tiny, no. There is no conservation authority in Tiny Township, so the NVCA rules you read about online do not apply here. What can apply is the County of Simcoe woodland by-law on larger properties, the federal rules on nesting birds, and the Township itself if the trees are on its land. Here is how to tell which one, if any, covers your trees.
Insured to $2,000,000Site work division of ICFHome.caBuilding since 1979250+ projects in Simcoe County
First, the thing most websites get wrong
Tiny, Tay, Midland and Penetanguishene sit outside every conservation authority in Ontario. The Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority (NVCA) stops at Wasaga Beach, Springwater and Oro-Medonte. In north Simcoe the Severn Sound Environmental Association gives environmental advice to the Township, but it does not issue tree permits.
So if someone tells you that you need an NVCA permit to cut a tree on your Tiny lot, ask them to show you the map. They will not find one.
The rules that can actually apply in Tiny
County of Simcoe Forest Conservation By-law
Covers woodlands on properties of one hectare (2.47 acres) or more. It does not regulate smaller lots, it does not stop cutting to put up a building when your permits are in place, and it lets you cut wood for your own use as long as the forest stays a woodland. Clearing a big piece of bush for any other reason needs the County’s approval first.
Nesting birds (federal)
The Migratory Birds Convention Act makes it illegal to destroy an active nest. In southern Ontario the risky window runs roughly from early April to the end of August. We schedule larger clearing in fall and winter for this reason, and because frozen ground does less damage.
Species at risk (provincial)
Ontario’s Endangered Species Act protects the habitat of listed species. Most residential lots never come near this, but wetland edges and old shoreline woods can. If something rare lives on your lot, find out before the saw comes out, not after.
Township land and boundary trees
Trees on a municipal road allowance or a Township-owned shore road allowance belong to the Township, not to you. A tree sitting on the property line belongs to both neighbours under Ontario’s Forestry Act, and cutting it without your neighbour’s consent is an offence.
Quick check before you cut
| Your situation | Permit needed? | Who to call |
|---|---|---|
| A few trees on a lot under 1 hectare, on your side of the line | Usually no | Nobody, but check for nests in spring and summer |
| Clearing for a house or garage with a building permit issued | No County permit for the building area | Township of Tiny building department for the permit itself |
| Clearing woodland on a property of 1 hectare or more, no building permit | Likely yes | County of Simcoe Conservation Forester: 705-721-6242, forestry@simcoe.ca |
| Trees on the road allowance or the shore road allowance | Yes, it is not your tree | Township of Tiny |
| Tree on the property line | Your neighbour’s consent | Your neighbour, in writing |
Builder truth: the permit is rarely the problem in Tiny. The problem is the stump left in the ground under a future driveway or footing. Take the stumps out, or grind them deep, before you build.
Clearing for a new build
If you are building, the clearing is part of the site work, and the building permit is what matters. We clear only what the house, the septic bed, the driveway and the grading actually need, and we leave the rest standing. Every tree you keep is one you do not have to pay to plant later.
Good logs do not have to go to the chipper. We mill usable timber on our own portable sawmill, so the pine you cleared can come back as beams, trim or a mantel. See how we handle lot clearing in Tiny Township and our tree removal and stump grinding service, and check the stump grinding cost guide if you are budgeting.
Not sure what applies to your lot?
Send us the address. We will tell you what, if anything, needs a permit before a single tree comes down, and give you a written price for the work.
Keep Reading
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to remove trees in Tiny Township?
On most residential lots, no. Tiny has no conservation authority, so there is no NVCA permit. You may need the County’s approval to clear woodland on a property of one hectare or more, and you always need the Township’s permission for trees on Township land.
Is Tiny Township regulated by the NVCA?
No. The NVCA covers municipalities such as Wasaga Beach, Collingwood, Springwater and Oro-Medonte. Tiny, Tay, Midland and Penetanguishene are outside every conservation authority.
Can I cut trees on my waterfront lot?
On your own land, generally yes. Check where your property line actually is first: many Tiny waterfront lots front onto a shore road allowance, and the trees on Township-owned shore allowance are not yours to cut.
When is the best time to clear trees?
Fall and winter. You avoid the bird nesting season, frozen ground carries the machines without rutting the lot, and the lot is ready for spring building.
What happens to the wood?
Firewood can stay with you, brush is chipped or hauled, and good logs can be milled on our portable sawmill into lumber you can use in the build.
