Guidance

Tree felling: getting permission

Find out when you need a felling license to fell trees, and what we do if trees are felled without a licence. This can apply to your land, or land you manage.

• From: Forestry Commission
• Published: 1 August 2007
• Last updated: 14 January 2025 — See all updates

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Tree felling: getting permission

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Tree felling: getting permission

PDF, 3.97 MB, 28 pages

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Details

This guidance contains the following:

• what is a felling licence for?
• exceptions from the need for a felling licence
• environmental legislation and protection
• other controls on tree felling
• applying for a licence
• considering a felling licence application
• penalties for felling without a licence
• law

Read more information on tree felling:

• Tree felling overview page
• Tree felling licence: when you need to apply
• Apply online for a felling licence
• Find local tree felling projects
• Report suspected illegal tree felling

Published 1 August 2007
Last updated 14 January 2025 + show all updates

1. 14 January 2025

   Added links to more information on tree felling and changed page template type from 'statutory guidance' to 'guidance' for clarity.

2. 18 January 2024

   Added an web-accessible version of the guide.

3. 17 July 2023

   Update to new version of the leaflet.

4. 30 March 2020

   The 'Tree felling: getting permission' guide has been updated.

5. 20 August 2019

   The updated guide has been added to this page.

6. 1 August 2007

   First published.