Cut down trees

When moving, cutting or pruning a tree, you must always follow the rules of the Nature Protection Act. This means that you may not damage (protected) plants and animals.

There are 3 possibilities

1. The tree is yours.
2. The tree belongs to the municipality.
3. The tree belongs to someone else, such as your neighbor or the housing association.

Below is what you need to do for each option.

1. The tree is yours

• Is it a monumental tree? Or is the tree in protected area?
• Protected trees are all trees (wood stands thicker than 10 cm):
  • on the business parks in Zoetermeer
  • in the Village
  • on the historic ribbons: such as the Voorweg, Vlamingstraat, Bleiswijkseweg, Zegwaartseweg, Rokkeveenseweg, Stationsstraat, Broekwegkade, Roeleveenseweg
  • trees in protected cityscapes such as the Koepeltjesbuurt in Meerzicht, the Meerpolder and along the Randstadrail, among others.
• The landowner applies for the permit through the Environment Desk.
• When cutting down a few trees, the landowner must submit a printout from the National Database on Flora and Fauna (NDFF). An ecological survey must also accompany the application.
• Clearly state why you want the tree cut down or transplanted.
• The tree technical specialist advises on the application.
• The permits department will process the application within 8 weeks.
• To process the application, you must pay.
• We can attach rules to the permit. For example, a period may be determined in which you may not remove the tree because of the breeding season or you must replant new trees.
• Permit approved? You may not remove the tree until the 6-week objection period is over. When applying for a preliminary injunction on an objection, you must wait to remove the tree until the judge has ruled on the request.
• Permit disapproved? You can object.

2. The tree belongs to the municipality

• Do you have nuisance from a tree belonging to the municipality? You can file a report.
• The tree safety inspector will process your report within 8 weeks.
• The inspector disagrees with you? The tree will not be removed.
• The inspector agrees with you? We will apply for a permit to remove the tree. The application will appear in the newspaper, on the map felling request and you will receive a letter.
• If no one objects, the permit is issued and we remove the tree.

When can the municipality cut down trees without a permit?

In the following cases, the municipality does not require a permit:

• Emergency logging ⇒ the tree is an immediate hazard to the surrounding area.
• If the cross-sectional area of the trunk is less than 10 cm, measured at a height of 1.30 meters.
• If the tree is dead.

3. The tree belongs to someone else (not yourself and not the municipality)

• Only the owner of a tree can apply for an environmental permit.
• The owner of the land on which the tree stands also owns the tree.
• You can ask the owner of the tree to remove or move the tree.
• Does the owner want to remove the tree? See further information under item 1.
• Will the owner not remove the tree? You can go to court.