Frequently asked
Courtenay Tree Removal FAQ
Common questions Comox Valley homeowners ask Courtenay Tree Removal about permits, cost, protected species and BC Hydro clearance — 5 towns, one crew, answered plainly.
- Do you need a permit to remove a tree in Courtenay?
- On a lot over 4,000 m², yes, for any removal. On a smaller lot you need one if the tree is over 20 cm across at chest height, if it is one of the six protected species, or if it stands in a riparian area. A permit for a hazardous tree costs nothing. We fill in the application.
- What does tree removal cost here?
- Most removals run $400 to $2,000, and a big one over 60 feet can reach $4,000. Height, lean, what sits underneath and how close we can get the chipper move the number more than anything else.
- Which trees are protected in Courtenay?
- Garry oak, Pacific dogwood, western white pine, western yew, trembling aspen and arbutus, once they pass half a metre tall.
- Do you take the stump out as well?
- If you want it gone, yes. We grind below grade so you can replant, pave or lay turf over the spot, and it is quoted separately from the removal.
- What should I do if a tree comes down on my property?
- Tell us what is holding it up before anyone goes near it. A tree under tension releases when it is cut, so we plan that job differently from a standing removal.
- Do you work outside Courtenay?
- Yes. We cover Comox, Cumberland, Royston and Merville, and the properties on the roads between them.
- Do I need a permit to remove a tree in the Comox Valley?
- It depends on which of the four authorities your address falls under. Courtenay and Comox require a permit above a size or species threshold; Cumberland requires none on private land; the CVRD electoral areas route through development permit areas instead of a tree bylaw. We confirm which applies before we quote.
- Is Courtenay Tree Removal licensed?
- There's no provincial licence for tree work in BC, so nobody in this trade can honestly claim one. What we carry instead: ISA Certified Arborist assessment, $2M liability insurance, and WorkSafeBC certification on every crew.
- How close can you work to a power line?
- BC Hydro's minimum approach distances set the limit: 1 m under 750 V, 3 m from 750 V to 75 kV, 4.5 m from 75 to 250 kV, 6 m from 250 to 550 kV. A homeowner can prune near a line only if they can verify the voltage and hold that distance; otherwise the work needs a Certified Utility Arborist. If a tree you've called us about is inside that zone, we'll tell you upfront rather than take the job.
- What does an arborist report cost?
- $300 to $800, from the same regional pricing on our cost guide. That's separate from the $300 per-tree replacement bond some permits carry — same figure, two different things, and we always say which one we mean.
- Do you grind the stump too?
- Yes, as a separate line item from removal — stump grinding runs $200 to $600 depending on size, and we can quote both at once if you want the whole job done in one visit.
- What if my tree is storm damaged or already leaning?
- Tell us your tree is storm damaged or already leaning when you call, and we'll move it ahead of a routine quote request. We won't invent a guaranteed callback time — what we will do is tell you, over the phone, what's safe to leave alone until we're on site.