Back to SearchDIEPPE, N.B. — In June 2023, the City of Dieppe adopted its very first tree by-law, an innovative regulation and the first of its kind in Atlantic Canada. At the January 20 meeting of the Standing Committee on Strategies and Public Policies, the Environment Department presented a positive assessment of the by-law’s impact.
Since the Tree By-Law came into force, 440 certificates of authorization have been issued, representing over 1,021 replanted trees. For projects where replanting was not an option, financial compensation totalling $86,000 was paid to the municipality, enabling tree planting elsewhere in the city.
“The funds have already allowed us to plant 32 street trees, mainly on Surette and Jeanette, an area with low tree cover and at high risk of becoming a heat island” said Alexandre Truchon-Savard, Environment Department director. “More strategic planting will follow in 2025.”
|
Request Type |
Number of Certificates of Authorization |
|
In connection with a building, development or subdivision permit |
230 |
|
All other requests, e.g., dead or decaying tree, safety hazard, tree causing damage to a structure |
210 |
Tree cover management
The most recent analysis of Dieppe’s tree cover indicates that between 2017 and 2022, approximately 316.8 hectares of forest were cut, including 180 hectares outside the urban perimeter, notably east of the Trans-Canada Highway. Despite these losses, forest cover still accounted for 60% of Dieppe’s total area, or over 6,000 hectares, in 2022.
“Between 2017 and 2022, we lost around 5% of our forest cover. The Tree By-Law aims to strike a balance between protecting trees and allowing the development needed to address the housing crisis. Since its adoption, over 41,000 square metres of woodland have been protected on private land under development,” added Truchon-Savard.
Diversified residential development
From 2019 to 2024, Dieppe authorized the construction of over 4,000 housing units, helping to alleviate the current shortage. The projects offer a mix of housing types: single-family, semi-detached, townhouse and multi-family.
|
Year |
Single-Family Homes |
Semi-Detached/2-Unit Dwellings |
Townhouses |
Multi-Family Dwellings |
Other |
Total |
|
2019 |
29 |
48 |
43 |
180 |
12 |
312 |
|
2020 |
46 |
78 |
84 |
402 |
9 |
619 |
|
2021 |
65 |
98 |
158 |
240 |
7 |
568 |
|
2022 |
27 |
22 |
163 |
497 |
10 |
718 |
|
2023 |
43 |
72 |
274 |
519 |
0 |
926 |
|
2024 |
59 |
65 |
277 |
775 |
12 |
1,188 |
Upcoming improvements
More than a year after the Tree By-Law’s implementation, adjustments will be made in response to public feedback. Among other things, the Environment Department suggests recognizing complementary environmental initiatives, such as the addition of green roofs, rain gardens and naturalized retention ponds.
In 2024, over 3,000 seedlings and 130 mature trees were also planted in Dieppe under other community planting programs.