In the City of Hamilton, there are essentially 2 different standards of care for the maintenance of a tree, depending on whether or not the tree is a:

Private Tree (located on private property) 

According to the City of Hamilton’s website, as of July 6th, 2022 – “The City of Hamilton does not have a private tree by-law that outlines how/what residents are to do with their private tree.” Essentially, if the tree is located on your property, you do not need a permit to trim or remove the tree.

City Tree (located on City property)

If a tree is located on City property, you are forbidden from trimming or removing it. The City of Hamilton routinely prunes trees located on City-owned property (including parks and road allowances) every 7 years. To report an issue with a City tree, please call 905-546-2489. 

If you are trying to determine whether or not a tree is a private tree or a city tree, please call the City of Hamilton Property Standards at 905-546-2424 ext. 2782 or give us a call and we will do our best to advise you on the best path forward.