Board Certified Master Arborist serving Mississauga
Arborist reports and tree protection plans prepared to City of Mississauga standards, with replacement calculations included so there are no surprises at permit time.
Mississauga at a glance
| Protected | The rule |
|---|---|
| Private trees | 15 cm or more, measured at 1.4 m. Dead and dying trees still need a permit (no fee) |
| City trees | Any size |
| Review time | 30 business days from a complete application |
| Replacement | One tree for every 15 cm of diameter removed |
The 15 cm threshold
Mississauga requires a permit to injure or remove a private tree 15 cm in diameter or larger. That single number has an outsized effect, because it captures most mature trees on residential lots, including unremarkable trees that have been growing quietly in a backyard for fifteen years.
The result is that most development in Mississauga needs an arborist. When a removal is tied to development or construction, the City requires an arborist report from a certified arborist. Removals approved through site plan, subdivision or consent conditions are handled through those conditions instead of a separate tree permit.
Replacement is one tree for every 15 cm of diameter removed. If you replant on your own lot, the City holds a deposit for a year; if there’s no room, you pay for planting on City land instead. On projects with several removals, that belongs in the budget from day one.
What triggers an arborist report in Mississauga?
- Severances and infill. The new footprint competes with trees that have had decades of undisturbed root growth.
- Additions, extensions and pools. Even modest projects can reach the root zone of a 15 cm tree.
- New homes on vacant or redeveloped lots.
- Site plan, rezoning, subdivision and consent applications, which call for a tree inventory and preservation plan.
The City has 30 business days to review a complete application. The key word is complete: incomplete applications aren’t processed, so the quality of the first submission is tied directly to your timeline.
How I can help
- Arborist reports with replacement calculations, built to clear review on the first submission
- Tree protection plans with hoarding, root zone limits and staging
- Severance and infill assessments
- Construction monitoring and AirSpade root investigation
- Early design advice. With a 15 cm threshold there are almost always more regulated trees than people expect.
For most residential and infill projects, five to seven business days from the site visit. Larger sites or high tree counts may take seven to ten.
Official sources
For the full rules, go to the source. Last checked 6 October 2026.
Also working in Toronto, Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton. Compare the rules side by side in the tree bylaws guide.
Common questions
How does Mississauga’s 15 cm threshold compare with other cities?
It is one of the lowest. Toronto protects private trees from 30 cm and Burlington from 20 cm, while Oakville matches Mississauga. Projects that would not need an arborist in Toronto often do here.
What happens if my application is incomplete?
The 30 business day review only starts on a complete application, and incomplete ones aren’t processed. Getting the first submission right is the fastest route.
How are replacement trees calculated?
One replacement tree for every 15 cm of diameter removed, rounding up: a 20 or 30 cm tree needs two, a 45 cm tree three, a 75 cm tree five. I include the calculation in every Mississauga report so you know the obligation before the conditions arrive.
Do dead trees still need a permit in Mississauga?
Yes, but there is no fee and no arborist report for a dead or dying tree.
How much does an arborist report cost in Mississauga?
It depends on the number of regulated trees, the size of the property and the application. The low threshold often means more trees than clients expect. I give a fixed quote after a short conversation.
Working on a project in Mississauga?
Tell me what you are dealing with, and I will tell you what you need and what you can skip.