Canvis a "Private Property & Bylaws / Governance & Accountability"

Title Establish a Neighbour Tree Dispute Mediation Process for Calgary Residents

Category Private Property & Bylaws / Governance & Accountability

Ward Citywide

Body Calgary currently has no mechanism for resolving disputes between neighbours about trees on private property. When a tree from an adjacent property poses a hazard, drops debris, blocks light, or encroaches across a fence line, affected homeowners have no official recourse. The city has no jurisdiction. Certified arborists won't act without the tree owner's consent. The only legal option is civil litigation — expensive, slow, and destructive to neighbourly relationships.

This gap affects thousands of Calgary homeowners every year and generates significant animosity between neighbours over situations that a simple, low-cost process could resolve.

We propose that Calgary establish a formal Tree Dispute Mediation Service modelled on successful programs in Vancouver and Toronto, operating as follows:

Step 1 — Complaint submission: Either party submits a complaint through 311 or an online form describing the dispute and the tree in question.

Step 2 — Certified assessment: A city-approved arborist assesses the tree within 30 days and produces a written report on its health, safety risk, and recommended action. Cost shared equally between both parties, capped at $150 each.

Step 3 — Mediated resolution: A trained mediator facilitates a conversation between both parties using the arborist report as the basis for discussion. Most disputes resolve at this stage.

Step 4 — Binding determination: If mediation fails, a city adjudicator issues a binding determination on what action must be taken, enforceable under the existing bylaw framework.

Why this matters: The absence of any dispute process pushes neighbours toward civil court over issues that could be resolved in an afternoon. It also means genuinely hazardous trees — ones that pose real risk of falling on people or property — can remain unaddressed indefinitely because their owners refuse to act and nobody has authority to compel them. A mediation service resolves disputes fairly, preserves relationships, and ensures safety issues are addressed without requiring anyone to hire a lawyer.

Who needs to act: Calgary City Council, Community Standards, Urban Forestry and Parks

What success looks like: Within two years of launch the majority of tree disputes submitted to the service are resolved at mediation without requiring adjudication. The number of tree-related civil disputes filed in Calgary courts measurably declines. Residents report higher satisfaction with the city's handling of neighbourhood tree issues.

Cost estimate Similar programs in other Canadian cities operate for approximately $300,000 to $500,000 annually including staff, contracted arborists, and mediation services. Partial cost recovery through the shared assessment fee.