What Are We Asking?

As Saskatoon grows and changes, greater pressures are placed on our urban forest due to construction, infill, and other forms of development. Currently, the existing City policies and processes have not been sufficient in preventing damage to and the loss of public trees, primarily due to the lack of an effective form of recourse or enforcement. Therefore, the City is developing a Tree Protection Bylaw to provide improved clarity on the protection, growth and preservation of public trees, as well as improve the City’s ability to protect our urban forest.

From January – March 2022, we will be engaging the community in the development of the Tree Protection Bylaw. Based on your feedback, research on what other cities have done, and internal considerations, City Administration will seek approval from City Council to draft a bylaw that reflects the engagement results and best practices.

How Can You Get Involved?

The community and identified stakeholders are invited to provide their feedback through numerous engagement activities, including a community survey and stakeholder meetings. Please visit this page for future engagement opportunities or use the following methods to reach out to the project team.

Contact Us

Comments and questions can also be provided by email, telephone, or mail using the contact information below:

Background

Saskatoon's Urban Forest

Saskatoon’s urban forest contributes significantly to our community’s quality of life by adding beauty and character to our city, lowering the air temperature in the summer by providing shade, reducing air pollution, sequestering greenhouse gases, creating habitat for birds and other animals, and increasing property values. The City of Saskatoon (City) owns and maintains around 107,000 trees located on boulevards, center medians and in parks, and has set a target to achieve 15 – 20% canopy cover by 2060.

Why Are We Doing This Work?

Many cities across Canada have enacted bylaws to regulate the protection of public trees. These measures and bylaws have helped to ensure public trees are protected within urban environments.

In March 2021, the City’s Urban Forestry Management Plan (Plan) was passed in principle by City Council with the purpose of improving quality of life through trees. The Plan provides a structured approach to protecting and enhancing the environmental, social, and economical value provided by our urban forest and to ensure its health for the benefit of the community. One of the outcomes from the Plan was the need for a Tree Protection Bylaw to ensure public trees on City property are protected for the enjoyment of future generations.

Project Goals

The goals for the Tree Protection Bylaw include the following:

1. Update the policy that establishes the responsibilities, processes and standards for public tree protection;
2. Develop a bylaw that regulates and enforces public tree protection measures;
3. Enhance existing and/or create new technical guidance and specifications for various tree protection measures;
4. Implement effective and consistent procedures (for staff and community) to ensure trees are effectively protected; and
5. Educate City staff, stakeholders, and members of the community about the importance of tree protection and about public tree protection requirements.