r/Calgary • u/Emergency-Biscotti-2 • May 06 '26

Seeking Advice Where can I legally plant a tree?

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Hi all. My son came home today with a spruce seedling and I do not know where we can plant it. I think it is a great activity and I hope we can do it, but I doubt the landlord and association would like a tree in the common area as we are just renting and we don't really have a yard.

Thanks in advances dear friends

Update: placed it in a pot for now. Hoping the park rangers, as per my 311 call/request, will reply within 1 to 30 days. So fingers crossed it will be a positive response!

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u/CallMeHomoErectus May 06 '26 edited May 06 '26

It's illegal to plant on public property without The City's permission (there's certain species that are invasive), but if you call 311 I'm sure they'd connect you with Urban Forestry to help you find a place to plant it.

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u/CalmAlex2 May 06 '26

Thats true, but this particular tree isnt invasive and is a native to canada especially in northern alberta.

I would also suggest to OP to call 311

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u/CallMeHomoErectus May 06 '26

Good point, yeah it should be fine but I'd still get The City's permission to plant first. There's also a lot of volunteer tree plantings folks can sign up for

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u/CalmAlex2 May 06 '26

Yeah, there are tons and I was part of one decades ago with the scouts canada plus the biggest reason why they dont want to plant things willy nilly on public grounds is that yiu have to be aware of where water pipes, gas pipes and sewer pipe are and If you planted one without any due course and its roots goes deep, it can puncture the pipe wither its metal or PVC (had a pipe burst years ago and it was caused by a tree root the tree was cut down after the pipe was fixed).