Due to poor air quality conditions, Recreation & Culture programming has been modified for July 15, 2026.
For more information about Air Quality Warnings and ways to mitigate health risks from poor air quality, please visit durham.ca/airquality
The urban forest is made up of all the trees that grow in Ajax: the trees in your backyard, the ones that line roadways and those found in public parks and woodlots.
Trees provide important environmental, social and economic benefits. These benefits include cleaning the air we breathe, helping us fight climate change and beautifying our community.
Want to increase your knowledge on Ajax’s Urban forest? Check out these FREE resources and programs below.
Tree pruning is an important practice for managing trees in an urban setting, it can help promote healthy plant growth, maintain the tree’s structure, promote good visibility and prevent conflicts with the built environment. The Town is responsible for pruning trees located only on Town-owned property and conducts inspections on a routine basis to determine if pruning needs to take place.
Please note: Trees located within 3m (10ft.) of energized utility lines that require pruning can only be completed by the local utility company. Please contact Elexicon at maintenance@elexiconenergy.com or 1-905-427-9870 (general line).
Town-owned trees located on boulevards and parks undergo pruning on a 6-8 year cycle. This is to help maintain the tree’s structure, maintain good visibility and prevent conflicts with the built environment. This work is completed by a professional urban forestry company under the direction of the Town of Ajax. The completion of the work is carried out in the winter months (October-March).
Presently, Town-owned woodlots without designated trails/paths do not undergo pruning, however individual concerns can be forwarded to the Ajax Operations Centre. A representative from the Forestry Department will then assess the tree(s) and determine if maintenance is required.
The Town will only remove trees that are on Town property and in poor condition or are a hazard to the surrounding area. Residents within close proximity of the removed tree will be notified 48 hours prior to the start of any work. Individual concerns can be forwarded to the Ajax Operations Centre. A representative from the Forestry Department will then assess the tree(s) and determine if maintenance is required.
The Town’s Mature Tree Conservation Program supports the community by offering rebates to residents that maintain their mature tree using qualified arborists to complete the work. Eligible maintenance work includes pruning, cabling, and bracing. Rebates will typically return 25% of tree maintenance costs, with a maximum amount of $1,000.
To apply, please confirm your tree’s eligibility and submit an application form. Applications will require an invoice for the work completed. Applicants must apply no later than six months after the completion of their tree maintenance.
Tree eligibility:
Qualifying services include:
All eligible maintenance work must be completed by a certified arborist, defined as qualified by any of the following institutions:
*Under special circumstances, the Town may grant authority to a qualified tree expert who is not an arborist if their experience is deemed appropriate for the work being completed.
The arborist invoice must include the following information:
Mature trees are essential in urban areas for their environmental, social, and financial benefits; they improve air quality, absorb carbon dioxide, and support biodiversity while mitigating the risks associated with climate change and extreme weather.
Mature trees are integral components of urban communities in Ajax. Their presence enhances natural heritage while promoting mental and physical well-being for residents.
The financial benefits of mature trees offset their maintenance costs by increasing property values, reducing energy costs, and lowering stormwater management expenses, making them a strategic investment for a healthier, more sustainable town.
A tree’s ability to filter air pollution, store carbon, release oxygen, and manage stormwater is directly related to its canopy size. Unshaded urban areas can have an air temperature as much as 5° C greater than shaded areas and surfaces up to 13.9° C hotter. Maintaining mature trees for healthy and strong canopies supports environmental and community wellbeing, particularly against a warming climate.
Stormwater management is another service provided by urban trees. Large trees store stormwater from areas that otherwise cannot absorb water, preventing flooding and protecting homes.
Maintenance aimed at extending a tree’s life and prolonging its benefits can lower costs associated with energy usage, storm water management, healthcare, and infrastructure damage. Within a tree’s life cycle, the cost benefits are greatest throughout the mature phase when maintenance is present. Without maintenance, a tree’s cost benefits begin to fall between semi-maturity and maturity.
Late-stage maintenance, such as crown thinning, structural pruning, fertilization, cabling, and bracing can reduce canopy weight and humidity. In doing so, the likelihood of branch breakage is reduced, and removal costs can be deferred.
Trees have been shown to improve focus and learning, especially in children. Their presence encourages time spent outdoors, improving community involvement and physical wellbeing. Their air filtering properties also support respiratory and cardiovascular health.
The Town of Ajax strives to maintain and protect its urban forest canopy to ensure trees can continue to provide social, economic and environment benefits. In order to assist with the protection two By-Laws are currently these consist of:
Tree Protection By-Law- BY-LAW NUMBER 137-2006
The purpose of this By-Law outlines policies that prohibit the damage or destruction of trees without a permit for trees located within
The by-law also outlines the compensatory process should a Removal Permit be granted.
The urban forest is made up of all the trees that grow in a city: the trees in your backyard, the ones that line roadways and those found in public parks and wilderness areas.
Trees provide environmental, social, recreational, and human benefits and recognizing the value of Ajax’s urban forest is the first step in managing and protecting it. In 2023, the Town completed an Urban Forest Study to assess the distribution, structure, and function of Ajax’s urban forest. The study will inform the comprehensive update to the 2010 Urban Forest Management Plan.
*Note: A copy of the 2023 Urban Forest Study and 2010 Urban Forest Management Plan is available upon request, please contact operations@ajax.ca.
If you know of a boulevard location that would benefit from a tree, a request can be made by contacting the Ajax Operations Centre 905-683-2951 or email operations@ajax.ca. A representative from the Forestry Department will investigate and determine if the location and conditions are suitable for a tree. If successful, you will be notified, and the request will be added to the next available planting season.
Each Spring and Fall, the Town hosts community planting events to help increase Ajax’s tree canopy.
Want to help? Visit the Community Event calendar and subscribe to Environmental event updates. This will allow you to be the first to know when the next Tree Plants are taking place!
Trees can provide a wide range of benefits to your property. If you are looking to plant trees on your property, check out the programs offered to Ajax residents to assist with helping you green your grounds!
Local Enhancement & Appreciation of Forests (LEAF*), is a non-for-profit organization helping to protect and improve Ajax’s urban forest through the delivery of a subsidized Backyard Tree Planting Program in partnership with the Town of Ajax and Ontario Power Generation.
Residential and commercial property owners in Ajax looking to plant trees on their property can receive expert tips and help for getting the right tree in the right location at a subsidized rate ranging from $150-220 per tree.
For a limited time and while supplies last, Ajax residents can receive an additional $150 rebate when they plant a LEAF tree on their property. Limit of one rebate per property per year. First come, first served. This offer applies to single family homes, multi-units and businesses.
Ajax residents participating in the Full Service Backyard Planting Program will receive:
The full value of the service is about $500 per tree and the difference is paid by the program’s funding partners.
There is also a Do-It-Yourself version of the program, a Multi-Unit and Businesses Subsidized Planting program and native shrubs and garden kits are also available. Visit the LEAF website for details and to participate!
The Town of Ajax Tree Dedication Program is a wonderful way of honouring a loved one. Open to all residents, the dedication program allows loved ones to be dedicated in any park or parkland across the Town of Ajax.
Your gift of a dedication will take its place within natural surroundings, making a contribution to the beauty of the parkland, providing a rest and gathering place for families to gather and enjoy the natural environment.
While a request may be made at any time throughout the year, dedications are only done twice a year, in late spring and in the fall. Prices for dedications are as follows: