Private Tree Bylaws
Before cutting down a tree in town (or planting one for that matter) you should find out if there is a private tree bylaw affecting you.
Many places still consider private trees to be the property of their owners, and trust the owners to make decisions about them. However, with political pressure and the well intended desire to protect trees, some cities now have bylaws for private trees. These usually simply require paying for a permit when you want to remove one, and set fines for damaging trees. Kitchener, Stratford, and Cambridge have bylaws, while Waterloo only has one for woodlots over a certain size. Thankfully most bylaws are fairly reasonable (and very similar to each other), so if the tree is dangerous, or causing problems the permit doesn’t cost as much as for removing a healthy tree. However, if you are planting a tree it is now important to make sure you put it where you won’t regret it in 20 years, because you might not be allowed to cut it down even if it is now reaching over your house, or in the way of a new building.
Currently Kitchener’s bylaw only applies to properties over one acre: https://www.kitchener.ca/en/resourcesGeneral/Documents/DSD_PLAN_Tree-Conservation-Bylaw.pdf
Cambridge bylaw applies to all healthy trees over 8 inches diameter: https://www.cambridge.ca/en/learn-about/resources/Private-Tree-Forestry-By-Law-124-18.pdf
Stratford’s bylaw applies to trees a little over 10 inches in diameter: https://www.stratford.ca/en/play-here/resources/Parks_Forestry/stratford-private-tree-preservation-by-law-86-2020.pdf
Personally I believe the best way to get more tree canopy is to incentivize tree growing instead of punishing tree owners with strict bylaws. However, I’m an arborist, so my job is to do the best I can for both trees and their owners. Lets take good care of our trees regardless of whether someone is telling us we have to, but be aware of what the bylaws say.
Now, what I wrote is just my opinion and an effort to increase awareness of bylaw since many people are surprised when I tell them they need a permit, or that it will cost extra. You are responsible for knowing the regulations in your area.