SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - People may soon need a permit to cut down trees in Yellowknife. The planning and lands department wants to add tree preservation requirements to the zoning bylaw that covers landscaping.

Under proposed amendments, people will have to apply for a development permit if they're cutting down mature trees on their property.

The definition of a mature tree depends on the type. Property owners will have to consult with the bylaw guidelines for exact specifications, said Jeff Humble, the city's director of planning and lands. A permit won't be needed for trees that are diseased or hazardous, or if they're being pruned.

Humble said tree preservation bylaws are becoming more common across Canada and the city drafted the proposal after specific incidents in Yellowknife.

"I don't think the idea is to have tree police," said Humble. "There's no way on Earth the city could be inventorying all the trees in the city. Even the public trees on streets is quite an onerous process," he said, adding that enforcement may only occur if neighbours complain about trees being cut down, rather than having development officers monitoring all the mature trees in the city.

"This came through as a result of trees that were taken down in certain areas, for example in the Niven Lake area, adjacent to nature preserves," said Humble. "I don't think its council's intend to take a heavy-handed approach to these things. It's more as a bylaw that when these situations arise and occur, we can deal with them more effectively."

When the issue was brought up at a municipal services committee meeting Tuesday, Coun. David Wind questioned how feasible it would be to enforce a bylaw that would apply to all mature trees.

"It's not really conducive to good municipal government," he said.

Humble said the proposal will "most certainly" create more work for the three development officers who already monitor landscaping plans.

"It requires a bit of digestion in special situations to look at these things to see when they'll be applied and when they wouldn't. I'm sure there will be some growing pains if it does get passed," he said.

For safety reasons, he said it's usually a good idea for people to call the city and to notify officials if they're taking down a tree.