Can excavation near a tree stop my renovation?

It can. Under Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 813 a permit is required for any activity that removes or injures a private tree 30 cm or more in diameter at breast height, measured 1.4 m from the ground, and every City street tree is protected regardless of size.

The tree protection zone is 2.4 m of radius for a 30 to 40 cm tree, 3.0 m for 41 to 50 cm and 3.6 m for 51 to 60 cm, doubled in ravines and natural areas. Excavation, vehicle operation, material storage and soil disturbance inside that zone all trigger the permit. We map the protection zone before an excavator is booked.