Arborist Consulting & Permits
Land and Lot Clearing with Tree Permit Support near Victoria
Land clearing prepares a lot for a new home or project by removing trees and vegetation after the required permits are in place. Oakstead Tree & Property Care helps with land clearing in Victoria, Saanich and on southern Vancouver Island by assessing the trees and supporting the tree cutting permit application, then refers the removal of approved trees and any required replacement planting to vetted local partners.
In plain words
Land clearing gets a lot ready for a new home. Trees can only come down once the permits are in place. Oakstead checks the trees and helps with the permit. Vetted local partners do the removal and any replanting.
Clearing a new lot? We can start by helping you out with the tree permitting process.
If you are clearing for a house, the surveyor will generally be required to survey all the trees on the property as part of the overall property survey. Unless you are living in an area without tree bylaws, chances are you will need to have each of your trees assessed to a minimum level by an arborist. Having the trees located on your survey plan will allow the arborist to determine the impacts of the building footprint, driveways, utility trenches, etc., on the trees. The arborist will also determine if the species, condition, or danger of a tree makes it unsuitable for the location it is in. Protected trees will also be identified. Once the Tree Cutting Permit is obtained, specified trees may be removed.
It would be our pleasure to assist you with this process, from the tree assessment and permit application to arranging the removal of approved trees and the planting of “replacement trees” with vetted local partners.
Photos of hands-on work below are from Oakstead's earlier field work, from before it focused on consulting.
Land Clearing: frequently asked questions
Do I need an arborist before clearing a lot for a house?
In most areas with tree bylaws, yes. Each tree usually needs to be assessed to a minimum level by an arborist, who looks at how the building footprint, driveway and utility trenches affect it and identifies protected trees. Rules vary by municipality.
Why do trees need to be on my property survey?
When you clear for a house, the surveyor is generally required to locate all trees as part of the property survey. Having trees on the survey plan lets the arborist judge construction impacts and which trees are unsuitable or protected before a permit is issued.
When can trees be removed from a building lot?
Specified trees can be removed once the tree cutting permit has been obtained. Oakstead can help with the whole process: it supports the permit application, then refers the tree removal and the planting of any replacement trees the permit requires to vetted local partners.
Ready to talk to a Certified Arborist?
We respond to every request. Serving the Saanich Peninsula, Greater Victoria and the Cowichan Valley.