Saugeen Shores aims to protect its trees with new bylaw

Southampton, Ont. as seen on Oct. 30, 2025. (Scott Miller/CTV News London)

Saugeen Shores wants to protect its trees.

While experiencing record setting residential growth over the past five years, Saugeen Shores has lost some of its trees and wants to protect what’s left.

The town has adopted two new bylaws, the Urban Tree Conservation Bylaw, and the Tree Protection on Town-Owned Property Bylaw, to protect urban tree cover, in Port Elgin and Southampton.

A recent tree survey found that 39.6 per cent of Saugeen Shores urban settlement area was covered by trees.

The new bylaws put in place strict regulations and potentially fines, for the unregulated destruction of trees in the community.

“These bylaws aim to strike a balance between preservation and property rights by focusing on town property, environmental protection areas, and areas where development is planned,” said Saugeen Shores Mayor, Luke Charbonneau.

“They [the bylaws] are a meaningful step forward in protecting the trees that define our community’s character and contribute to our environmental health, reflecting our dedication to sustainability and a balanced approach to growth,” he added.

The new bylaws are expected to come into effect in the new year.