Priority Areas for Tree Planting

Ottawa’s Tree Equity Analysis

Tree equity means ensuring every neighbourhood has enough trees so everyone can enjoy the many benefits they bring, like shade, cooler temperatures, cleaner air, and better health. In 2025, the City of Ottawa completed a Tree Equity Score Analysis to identify neighbourhoods that would benefit most from more trees.

Each residential neighbourhood within Ottawa’s urban boundary was given a Tree Equity Score based on:

  • Social, economic, and health data from Statistics Canada
  • Urban heat data from satellite imagery
  • Existing tree canopy data from the 2022 Canopy Cover Assessment

Non-residential areas were excluded, since nearby trees benefit residents most directly.

 

Priority Areas for Tree Planting

The maps below highlight the City of Ottawa’s Priority Areas for Tree Planting, based on the Tree Equity Analysis. Four Short-Term Action Areas will be prioritized first, followed by four additional Priority Areas.

These maps are to help residents see if they live in a Priority Area for tree planting and whether they may be eligible for the Full-Service Tree Planting stream.

 

Learn More and Explore the Maps

Click here for more information on the Priority Areas for tree planting. Residents can also explore the GeoOttawa website. To view Priority Areas, select both the Forestry layer and Tree Equity Score 2025 sublayer.

 

Four Priority Areas for Short Term Action

Priority Areas for Short Term Tree Planting Action are highlighted in dark purple.

Residents living in these four Short-Term Action Areas will be eligible to book site visits through the Full-Service stream as of April 8, 2026. To register, click here.

 

Dalhousie – Rochester Heights (Ward 14) 

 

East Industrial – Sheffield Glen – Russell Heights (Ward 18)

 

Heron Gate & Heatherington (Wards 10 & 18)

 

Old Barrhaven East - Rodeo Drive (Ward 24)

 

Remaining four Priority Areas For Tree Planting

Additional Priority Areas are highlighted in  light purple.

Residents living in these additional four Priority Areas will be eligible to book site visits through the Full-Service stream as of May 4, 2026, if  trees remain. To register, click here.

 

Centretown – Bank St (Ward 14)


Cummings – Cyrville (Ward 11)


Carlington – Belleview – Lepage – Caldwell (Ward 16)

Bayshore (Ward 7)

 

There will be a staggered program launch in 2026 to prioritize tree planting where it is needed most, based on the City’s Tree Equity Analysis.

Distribution stream - Free tree to pick up and plant yourself, for any City of Ottawa resident:

  • Residents in any Ward that includes a Priority Area for tree planting can place a tree order starting March 2.
  • Residents in all Wards can place a tree order starting March 9.

Full-Service Tree Planting - Free tree, site visit, and tree planting by forestry professionals, for residents living in Priority Areas for tree planting :

  • Eligible residents in the four Short-Term Action Areas can book a site visit with a forestry professional starting April 8.
  • Eligible residents in the remaining four Priority Areas can book a site visit with a forestry professional starting May 4, if spots remain.

For more information on program eligibility, please click here.