Cutting down trees

If you want to cut down or fell a tree or trees, you usually need an environmental permit. You also often need an environmental permit if you are doing work around a tree or wood stand that affects the health of the tree.

Rule at Environment Counter

Approach

This is how you apply for an environmental permit to cut down a tree:

  • Go to the Environment Desk.
  • Do the permit check. You will see if you need to report or require a permit.
  • Log in:
    • for yourself: with DigiD
    • for a company: with eHerkenning
  • You provide, among other things:
    • what kind of tree it is (for example, an oak or a chestnut)
    • Where the tree is located with an address on a Map and with photo(s).
    • Whether you want to cut or prune or will be working under trees
    • your reason for wanting to cut or prune
    • For a monumental tree: a tree effect analysis
    • the possibility of replanting. If you are going to replant, the location, number and species
    • if you are not the owner: written permission from the owner of the tree

Costs

Applying for an environmental permit for tree felling costs €189.00 (2025 rate), €193.90 (2026 rate).
This amount is non-refundable if we refuse or revoke the permit.

Description

If you want to cut down one or more trees, you often need an environmental permit. Also if you are working under a tree and this is detrimental to the health of the tree. For example, if you dig or place heavy equipment under the tree.

Whether you need an environmental permit depends on:

  • Of the circumference of the trunk of the tree.
  • and whether the tree is on a private property or not.

On private land, you must apply for an environmental permit from 180 centimeters of trunk circumference. On all other land, you must do so from 60 centimeters of trunk circumference.
We protect all our trees inside and outside built-up areas.

Note: Trees and timber stands may also be protected by rules in the environmental plan. Outside built-up areas, the province usually has the say.  

Requirements

You are often required to replant one or more new trees for each tree felled. Are you unable to replant one or more trees? Then you must deposit an amount in the replanting fund. The municipality replants trees from this replanting fund.

  • Tree on private land: €450.
  • Tree on other land: €3,000.
  • Wood stand: € 500 per acre
  • Landscape hedge: €22.50 per meter

Term

The municipality has 2 decision deadlines:

  • 8 weeks if there are no special situations going on.
  • 6 months if special situations do come up. That can be if it is cutting down:
    • poses a significant risk to the environment;
    • harmful to protected plants or animals;
    • harmful to natural areas.

In either case, we may extend the decision period once by 6 weeks.
Please note: You may only start cutting down 6 weeks after the permit is valid.

Objections and appeals

You disagree with the decision

  • the regular procedure
    You file an objection with the municipality. Do this within 6 weeks. If you disagree with the decision on your objection, you can appeal to the court.
    If you also disagree with the court's decision, you can appeal to the Administrative Law Division of the Council of State;
  • the extensive procedure
    In this procedure, you first give your opinion on the draft decision. Do this within 6 weeks. If they do not follow your opinion, you can then appeal to the Administrative Law Division of the Council of State.

No one responds within the 6-week appeal period? Then the permit is final.

More information

locations of memorial and monumental trees in Heerlen

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