Trees

Clarington's Public Works Department is responsible for maintaining all municipal trees including boulevard trees, trees at the sides of roads, within our parks and at facilities.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the maintenance or conditions of municipal trees, please contact the Public Works Department.

Replacement of Municipal trees

If the tree on your boulevard is dead or is diseased, you can have your tree replaced.

Report a dead or diseased tree online, by email or by calling 905-263-2291. We will come look at the tree to determine if it should be removed and/or replaced.

Tree removal

By-law 97-35 regulates the destruction of trees in Clarington.

If you are planning to cut down or remove trees within a woodland area, you may need a permit from the Region of Durham. There are two types of permits available under the Region's Tree By-law--a Good Forestry Practices Permit and a Clear Cutting Permit. A "Woodland" is a treed area one hectare in size and greater, but does not include orchards, tree nurseries or Christmas tree plantations.

Read more about tree removal on the Region of Durham website.

Trees for Rural Roads Program

The Trees for Rural Roads Program offers trees free of charge to Clarington's rural residents to be planted along municipal roads on private land.

Emerald Ash Borer

In 2013, Clarington’s Public Works Department took an inventory of trees infested with the Emerald Ash Borer. Over the course of several years, staff have identified and removed over two thousand infested trees from municipal parks and urban municipal right-of-ways. Clarington is now working to replace all removed trees with a variety of other native species. Throughout 2021, crews have been planting replacement trees on urban boulevards in Newcastle, and in fall 2021, we will begin replanting in our municipal parks.

The emerald ash borer beetle is native to China and eastern Asia. The emerald ash borer lays eggs on tree bark and in crevices. In its larva form, the emerald ash borer feeds on the tree, and cuts off its water and nutrient supply, eventually causing the tree to die.