Council has approved an expansion to the Town’s Administrative Monetary Penalty System (AMPS). This has created a new, more effective penalty system for unauthorized tree removals, effective July 2, 2024.
Trees which are protected by the Town’s Site Alteration and Tree Removal By-law are summarized here. Protected trees require a permit and approval from the Town prior to any removals taking place.
Summary of Updates to the Penalty System for Unauthorized Tree Removals:
- Tickets will be issued by Municipal Law Enforcement immediately for the following infractions under By-law No. 2024-50:
- Injuring, damaging or felling a tree without a tree permit;
- Failure to comply with the terms or conditions of a tree removal permit;
- Obstruction or interference with an Officer or any person authorized by the Town in discharge of their duties under the By-law.
- The AMPS penalties are outlined in the table below and apply for each unauthorized tree which is removed;
- Repeat offenders will be subject to escalating penalties (see 2nd and 3rd or subsequent contravention penalties listed in the table below);
- Tickets issued under AMPS are not processed by the Provincial Offences Court, these are processed by the Town; and
- Ticket recipients wishing to dispute the offence must go through a screening process conducted by the Town.
Learn more about the Administrative Monetary Penalty System.
| Administrative Monetary Penalties for Unauthorized Tree Removals (Schedule 'C' Site Alteration and Removal of Trees By-law No. 2024-50) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Contravention | Administrative Penalty Tier 1 (First Contravention) | Administrative Penalty Tier 2 (Second Contravention) | Administrative Penalty Tier 3 (Third Contravention) |
Injure/Damage/Fell tree without permit (Individual) | $600 | $800 | $1,000 |
Injure/damage/fell tree without permit (Corporation) | $1,500 | $1,750 | $2,000 |
Fail to comply with conditions of a permit (Individual) | $200 | $400 | $600 |
Fail to comply with conditions of a permit (Corporation) | $500 | $750 | $1,000 |
| Obstruction of Director or Officer | $500 | N/A | N/A |
About AMPS
AMPS is an alternative to the Provincial Offences Act process of administering and adjudicating tickets. The AMPS model manages disputes of By-law infractions in a manner that is fair, effective and efficient. Expanding the AMPS program to tree-related offences will support efficiencies of enforcement processes and increased compliance with Town By-laws.
On July 2, 2024, Council approved By-law No. 2024-50 (a By-law to Regulate Site Alteration and Removal of Trees and By-law) No. 2024-51 (a By-law to Establish AMPS for Non-Parking Related Offences) to expand the Non-Parking Administrative Monetary Penalty System (AMPS) to include tree-related infractions under the Site Alteration and Removal of Trees By-law.
- View By-law No. 2024-51 to establish an Administrative Monetary Penalty System for non-parking related offences.
- View By-law No. 2024-50 for Site Alteration and Removal of Trees (prohibiting and regulating the alteration of property grades, the placing or dumping of fill, the removal of topsoil and the injuring or destruction of trees). The new AMPS penalty structure for unauthorized tree removals can be found on Schedule ‘C’ of the by-law.
For more information please refer to the staff report PD-24-24 in the June 17 agenda or contact the Planning & Development department at 905-563-2799. Copies of the new By-laws will be added to this page as soon as they are available.
