The city of Ottawa wants to hear your thoughts on tree girth

The city of Ottawa is seeking public input on a plan to bring the tree protection bylaw in the suburbs in line with the urban core.
Under the current bylaw, trees with a trunk diameter of 30 cm or more, measured at breast height, are defined as "distinctive" if they are on private property that is one hectare or less in size, and so a permit is required to move them.
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
- Sign up now for our nightly CTV News Ottawa newsletter
A tree with a diameter of 30 cm will have a trunk circumference of 94 cm.
In the suburbs, trees must be at least 50 cm in diameter (157 cm circumference).
This means that trees must be older and more mature in the suburban areas outside the greenbelt to qualify for protection under the bylaw than the trees in the urban parts of Ottawa.
"This has caused confusion amongst residents around how the tree bylaw applies. It implies that smaller trees in the suburbs are less valuable, which is not the case," the city says. "In fact, the City of Ottawa is committed to protecting and growing the canopy cover across the urban area."
The tree canopy in parts of Ottawa has suffered significantly since the 2018 tornadoes and the 2022 derecho. The city estimates the 2022 storm alone led to the loss of more than 2,500 trees on city property and countless more on private land.
Council asked staff to amend the tree protection bylaw to make it universal across both urban and suburban areas, providing tree protection to all trees with a diameter of 30 cm, no matter which side of the Greenbelt they're on.
You can fill out the survey here. It is open until Oct. 10.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories

Global Affairs reports Canadian killed in Lebanon in connection with Israel-Hamas war
Global Affairs is reporting the death of another Canadian due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. This is the ninth casualty connected to Canada.
Israel orders evacuations as it widens offensive but Palestinians are running out of places to go
The Israeli military on Monday renewed its calls for mass evacuations from the southern town of Khan Younis, where tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians have sought refuge in recent weeks, as it widened its ground offensive and bombarded targets across the Gaza Strip.
NEW Canada's primary care needs serious updates, study reveals
Canada is trailing behind other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries when it comes to both the number of physicians relative to the population, and its spending on primary care, according to a new analysis published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
This Canadian couple used surrogacy to have a child. Here's what they want you to know
Families that need help conceiving a child are met with financial burdens that should be covered through government health care and insurance, advocates say.
From COVID-19 to alien contact, conspiracy theories are popular in Canada: survey
The Earth is flat. We have been secretly contacted by intelligent beings from other planets. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin did not land on the moon in 1969. They may sound like bizarre statements, but a new poll suggests a sizable number of Canadians believe in these and other conspiracy theories.
Renowned Quebec entrepreneur, partner reported dead in Caribbean
Quebec entrepreneur Daniel Langlois and his spouse Dominique Marchand have died in their adopted home of Dominica, in the Caribbean, a source has confirmed.
Oxford University Press has named 'rizz' as its word of the year
Oxford University Press has named 'rizz' as its word of the year, highlighting the popularity of a term used by Generation Z to describe someone's ability to attract or seduce another person.
These are the 5 headlines you should read this morning
Global Affairs Canada confirms the death of an eighth Canadian amid the Israel-Hamas war, Venezuelans approve a referendum to claim sovereignty over much of Guyana, and international students are once again set to face working hour limits.
Renowned Canadian musician and former April Wine singer Myles Goodwyn dead at 75
Myles Goodwyn, the award-winning Canadian singer and songwriter who shot to stardom as the former lead singer of April Wine, has died at age 75.