Hudson is one of the most wooded towns we work in, and the Town protects its trees closely. If you are thinking about taking a tree down on your property, here is how the permit works, based on the Town of Hudson's own application forms and its summary of the planning bylaws adopted in 2024. Rules change, so confirm the details with the Town's urban planning department before any cutting.
When You Need a Permit
In Hudson, you need a tree-cutting permit to fell any tree with a trunk diameter of 10 centimetres or more, measured 1.3 metres above the ground. That is a small tree, about four inches across at chest height, so in practice almost every tree on a Hudson lot is covered. The Town considered lowering the threshold to 5 cm in 2024 and kept it at 10 cm. Fines for cutting without a permit were revised that year to match the provincial amounts adopted in December 2023.
Reasons the Town Asks About
The application asks you to state why the tree should come down: it is dead or nearly dead, dangerous to public safety, diseased, causing damage to public or private property, in the way of planned construction (attach a site plan showing the construction zone), or another reason you describe. You also list the number of trees, their species and where they stand on the lot (front, side or back yard), and add a sketch. Before the inspection, mark every tree you want removed with rope or tape.
Remarkable Trees
Hudson gives extra protection to trees it designates as remarkable. Under the 2024 bylaws, a remarkable tree can only be felled if it is dead, dying or dangerous and a report shows that felling is the only solution. The Town produces that report at its own expense.
How to Apply and How Long It Takes
You can apply online through the Town's permit request portal, or with the Tree Cutting form from the urban planning department at 481 Main Road (450 458-5347). The form has a section for an applicant who is not the owner, so your tree service can prepare and submit it with you. The Town handles requests in the order received and warns that processing times can be longer than usual; an inspector contacts you once your file is assigned. Apply well before you need the work done, ideally weeks ahead for anything that isn't urgent.
Replacement Trees and the Planting Reimbursement
Depending on the situation, the Town can require replacement trees, and its tariff bylaw provides for a deposit tied to them. The good news is on the planting side: Hudson reimburses residents for trees they buy and plant on their property, subject to available funds. Each tree must be more than 1.8 metres tall and more than 3 cm in diameter, and you send the Town the invoice, a photo of the planted tree and proof of residence. Payment comes by cheque within 90 days of a complete application.
How We Help in Hudson
We are based next door in Saint-Lazare and work in Hudson regularly, on everything from steep lots near Mount Victoria to waterfront properties. We prepare the permit application with you, mark the trees, and schedule the removal once the permit is issued. If you need to replant, we can plant trees that meet the reimbursement's size rules and give you an itemized invoice for your claim. See our Hudson tree services, tree removal and tree planting pages, or call (438) 365-5410 for a free on-site quote.