Trees & Urban Forest | City of Victoria

Trees are an integral part of our community’s biodiversity. They enhance neighbourhoods and create vibrant, livable and sustainable communities.

Trees provide many benefits to cities and the people who live, work and play in them. Victoria's urban forest consists of the trees, shrubs, ground cover and living ecosystems of the soil on all land across the city.

There are approximately 150,000 trees across Victoria growing on residential land, on boulevards and in parks. Roughly 75 per cent of the urban forest grows on private land and 25 per cent is on land managed by the City. Together, these trees make up the urban forest and provide a city-wide canopy cover of nearly 29 per cent.

Trees Planting and Removal

A healthy urban forest is of high importance to the City. Removing unhealthy trees reduces safety risks and opens up space to plant new, young trees which will grow into our future urban forest.

Tree Protection Bylaw

Victoria’s new Tree Protection Bylaw protects the trees we have now and helps grow our urban forest for the future. The bylaw came into effect on July 1, 2021.

Tree Cities of the World Award

For the third year running, the City of Victoria has been recognized as a Tree City of the World The Arbor Day Foundation and the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations awards this recognition.

The Tree Cities of the World program is an international effort to care for and celebrate urban tree canopies. Recognized cities and towns have demonstrated commitment to sustainably maintaining their urban forests.

Tree Cities of the World

Priority Actions

The City’s Urban Forest Master Plan guides the management of Victoria's urban forest. This plan identifies 26 recommended actions for the improved management of trees on public and private lands over 50 years. Currently, the City is prioritizing the following actions.

Citizen Stewardship and Tree Planting

The support and active participation of citizens is crucial to the long-term sustainability of the urban forest. In 2020, the City became the first city in Canada to join the UN Trees in Cities Challenge to plant 5,000 trees. In 2020, the City increased tree planting by 40 per cent and planted 500 new trees in parks and on boulevards.

The City is encouraging residents to plant trees on private property. Residents can track planted trees on the Tree Tracker, so that they count towards the challenge goal. To have your trees added, email us your tree location and species to vicmap@victoria.ca. You can also include a photo of your tree and even give it a nickname. The tracker shows the total number of trees planted in each neighbourhood.

The City also provides grants to residents to plant trees on private property. The City’s My Great Neighbourhood Grant program includes an opportunity for planting residential trees. This opportunity is called the Trees in Cities Challenges $1,000 Grant for Residential Trees. For more information on the grant, the application process, and deadlines, see the My Great Neighbourhood Grant Program.

Setting Targets

The City will be developing tree canopy targets and acquiring data on ecosystem services delivered by the urban forest. These actions will help to focus tree planting and preservation initiatives in the locations where they are needed most.

View the City of Victoria canopy cover.

Review the new landscape design guidelines:

Design Guidelines for Multi-Unit Residential, Commercial and Industrial (see policies 5.8 and 5.9)
Design Guidelines for Attached Residential (see policies 4(o.) and (p.))

Tree Management & Protection

Urban forests require consistent attention and support. To support the long-term viability of the urban forest, the City works with professional arboriculture staff. The tree management program focuses on the full life-cycle of each tree. This includes efforts to:

maximize species and age diversity
adapt to our changing climate
minimize maintenance costs
take advantage of the benefits of green infrastructure

Tree Planting & Removal

Victoria’s Tree Protection Bylaw applies to trees on private property. The bylaw aims to protect the trees we have now while helping to grow our urban forest for the future. This bylaw helps ensure our urban forest continues to grow alongside development. It also implements several recommendations in the Urban Forest Master Plan and aligns with leading practices and standards across the region.

Tree Protection Bylaw

Natural Area Management

The City has a number of important natural areas and habitats. Natural areas in Victoria include what is left of the once-widespread Garry Oak ecosystem, as well as Cottonwood bog, Douglas Fir forest, Coastal Bluffs and riparian zones.

To preserve this habitat, the City:

monitors the health of natural park areas and endangered species in the city
promotes awareness of conservation and environmental issues to municipal staff and the public
develops and present educational programs for staff and the public
works with community groups involved in invasive species removal, vegetation control, natural area management
prepares grant proposals and work with groups to fundraise for support of natural areas