Felling a tree in your own garden: do I need a permit?
The tree in your own garden has to go? It is not always that simple: many towns and municipalities protect trees by bylaw. And during the breeding and rearing season a wide-ranging felling ban applies anyway.
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What you should do now
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1. Check the bylaw
Does your municipality have a tree protection bylaw, and is your tree covered by it (trunk circumference)?
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2. Apply for a permit
If felling requires a permit, apply for it at the town or municipality.
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3. Mind the time window
Felling only outside the protection period (as a rule October to February).
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4. Plan a replacement planting
A replacement planting is often required as a condition.
Frequently asked questions
Can I simply fell a tree in my garden?
Not necessarily. Many municipalities have a tree protection bylaw under which felling from a certain trunk circumference requires a permit, even on your own property. Without a permit you face a fine and a replacement planting. So check your town or municipality's bylaw first.
When am I not allowed to fell at all?
From the beginning of March to the end of September a statutory felling ban applies to trees, hedges and shrubs to protect breeding birds and other animals (§ 39 BNatSchG). During this time only gentle shaping and maintenance cuts are permitted. A larger felling is therefore generally possible only in the winter half of the year, and possibly only with a permit.
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General information for self-help, not legal advice (RDG). In case of a high loss or uncertainty: contact a consumer advice center or a lawyer.