Kingston bans most clear cutting as it works toward long-term woodland protections.
The City of Kingston has introduced an interim bylaw to temporarily ban most clear cutting across the municipality, effective immediately.
The measure applies to all mapped woodlands within Kingston and comes in response to recent large-scale tree removal. Officials say it is designed to protect natural areas while a new Official Plan and permanent tree protection rules are developed.
Under the bylaw, clear cutting is defined as removing more than 50 per cent of tree canopy within a 0.1-hectare area over a 12-month period. The restriction applies whether trees are removed all at once or gradually. Some limited exemptions are allowed, and council can approve site-specific exceptions.
The city says enforcement will include fines starting at $5,000, with additional penalties based on the amount of land cleared.
The bylaw will remain in effect until the new planning framework is finalized.
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