Do You Need To Get Permission To Cut Down A Tree?

by Devid Hussain Business

There is no straight answer to this question as it depends on not only the state or county you live in, but also the particular laws set out by the tree preservation ordinance by your city or local counsel.

We’re going to give you all the information to allow you to quickly find out whether you need permission to remove your particular tree, and if so how much does a tree removal permit cost.

How do I find out?

The best way to find out is go straight to your search engine and type “tree removal +[your city or council]+ permit”. You could also type “do I need permission to remove a tree in +[your city council]”.

You need to then look for your local council or city’s website. Normally there will be a link to a PDF titled “Tree Preservation Order” or “Tree Preservation Ordinance”

Once a day you will need to read through the information to find out whether you can remove your tree without a permit. Most of the time the city will have conditions either based on the height of the tree or the girth of the trunk.

Example of exemptions

So a typical example or extract from the tree preservation order would be “Residents shall be permitted to remove any tree that is no larger than 5m in height, or has a trunk circumference smaller than 110 cm”

It is worth noting that every counsel will allow you to Remove a Tree that is already dead without a permit.This also extends to trees that are an immediate hazard to persons or property. For example maybe you had a storm and now your tree is on a dangerous lean toward your house.

You do not have to wait for a permit to come in to allow you to remove this tree. You will need to document that the tree is in fact, dangerous by taking photos and also getting the nod from a local arborist who you will need to contract to do the job.

Are there specific trees that are exempt?

Yes. Most cities have a list of trees they consider a noxious weed or undesirable pest that you may remove without council permission. You will find the list of these tree species in the Tree Preservation Order.

How much does a permit cost?

Obtaining a permit to remove the tree will cost anywhere from $10-$75 per tree depending on your city.

That information is freely available on your city or local council’s website and is normally clearly written on the tree removal permit application form.

Is there a time limit to remove the tree?

All cities in councils do you give a time limit after permission is granted to remove a tree.

This is because you may apply to have a tree removed when it is relatively insignificant, but then in 20 years-time decide that you now want to remove it.

A time limit is also there because councils and cities are always updating their tree removal policies.

In most cases you will have 6 to 12 months to remove the tree. If you have not remove the tree in that time you will need to re-apply.

Do I have to replace the tree?

Lots of councils have a tree preservation ordinance in place in order to protect the canopy of the local city. Percentage of canopy cover is crucial for lowering heat island effect, purifying the air, stopping wind and soil erosion and a whole host of other benefits to the community.

For this reason, the most cities do ask that you replace trees that are being removed. They will have a list of trees that they recommend to replace your tree with, normally natives to the county or state.

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Created on Feb 13th 2019 04:33. Viewed 323 times.

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