Cut down trees

When moving, felling 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 options

1. The tree is yours.
2. The tree belongs to the municipality.
3. The tree belongs to someone else, for example 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 a protected area? ?
• Protected trees are all trees (wood stands thicker than 10 cm):
  • on the industrial estates in Zoetermeer
  • in the village
  • on the historical 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.
• The landowner applies for the permit via the Environmental Desk .
• When cutting down a few trees, the owner of the land must provide a printout from the National Flora and Fauna Database (NDFF) must be submitted. An ecological study must also be included with the application.
• Clearly indicate why you want to cut down or transplant the tree.
• The technical tree specialist advises on the application.
• The permit department will process the application within 8 weeks.
• You must pay for the application to be processed.
• 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 has passed. When applying for a provisional measure with an objection, you must wait to remove the tree until the judge has ruled on the request.
• Permit rejected? You can appeal .

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 will be issued and we will remove the tree.

When is the municipality allowed to cut down trees without a permit?

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

• Emergency felling ⇒ the tree poses an immediate danger to the environment.
• If the cross-section of the trunk is less than 10 cm, measured at a height of 1.30 metres.
• When the tree is dead.

3. The tree belongs to someone else (not yours and not the community's)

• Only the owner of a tree can submit an application for an environmental permit.
• The owner of the land on which the tree stands is also the owner of 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 point 1.
• Will the owner not remove the tree? You can go to court.

To process an application for a preliminary consultation WABO :

Price changes and typographical errors reserved.

If advice from an external tree committee is required to assess the application, the costs are €304.72 per advice.

• You will receive notification within 8 weeks whether you have been granted the permit.
• The municipality can extend this period once by 6 weeks.
• If the municipality does not make a decision within the deadline, you will automatically receive the permit.

Objecting

If you do not agree with the municipality's decision, you can file an objection within 6 weeks.

• General local regulations (APV)
• Trees (including list of monumental trees)
• Tree policy Zoetermeer
• Overview of felling applications
• Spatial plans