Cut down a tree

What do you need to know

With the Permit check at the Environment Desk check whether you need to apply for a permit or report for your work

urgent orders

• If a tree poses an immediate danger, report this via 14 035
• Ask for the tree expert from the living environment management and maintenance team 
• The tree expert comes to you. If there is indeed an emergency, you will receive permission or order to cut down the tree immediately. If a permit is required, you can arrange this after the tree felling 
   

Permit required

• With a trunk diameter of 30 centimeters or more. This does not apply to dead trees or an American Bird Cherry
• With a trunk diameter of less than 30 centimeters in the Northwest Villa area. This does not apply to ordinary maintenance in a protected cityscape
• The tree you want to cut has been planted from a replanting obligation
• If in doubt, you can check the do a permit check via the Environment Desk

No license required

• Removal of dead trees or bird cherry. You must then have one report, 4 weeks before you start cutting
• Trees with a trunk diameter of less than 30 centimeters, measured at a trunk height of 1.30 meters. There are 2 exceptions to this: trees less than 30 centimeters in height Northwest Villa area and trees planted for the replanting obligation
• Pruning work with a maximum of 1/3rd of the tree crown
• If in doubt, you can check the do a permit check via the Environment Desk

Mandatory to plant new tree

• If you receive an environmental permit for felling, you are obliged to plant a new tree (replanting obligation)
• If replanting is not possible, you must pay to the replanting fund
• Whether you have to replant a tree or deposit money in the fund depends on where you live within the municipality. You can read what you must do in the message from the municipality (decision) when you receive the permit
• If trees are felled to improve the growth of new trees (thinning), the replanting obligation does not apply. The municipality determines whether there is thinning

• More explanation about the tree values ​​can be found in the Sheet policy Hilversum 2024-2040 

Contact

For questions, please contact the Living Environment department, Management and Maintenance team, telephone number 14 035

What do you have to do

Submit

Apply for the permit online via the Environment counter and go through the questions. You can directly upload the documents that you must submit with the application.

• Name the number of trees you want to cut
• Give the reason why you want to cut
• Send a site drawing (or color photo) of the tree or trees, clearly showing the location  
  • The situational drawing must contain the following information per tree:
    • the type of tree
    • the place where the tree or trees are located in the front, side or rear yard
    • the diameter of the tree or trees measured in centimeters at a trunk height of 1,30 meters
    • the possibility of replanting
• Please include the owner's permission if this is not you

Do you have a plan for replanting? Then add this to the request or notification:

•    location of replanting
•    number and types of timber stands to be replanted 

After your request

• After your request you will receive a confirmation email
• We will only process your application once you have submitted all documents and data
• We will process your request within 8 weeks. The municipality may extend this period once by a maximum of 1 weeks. You will receive an email if this is necessary
• If your application is not complete, the municipality will send you an email to send you the missing information. The time you get for this does not count in the treatment period of 8 weeks
• You will receive the decision by email. The decision will also be published on government.nl
• 3 working days before the tree is cut down, you must send an email about this to kapmeldingen@hilversum.nl

6 weeks of objection

•  After the decision on your permit application, you can: to object. This is allowed within 6 weeks after the decision has been made
• Other people may also object
• As an applicant, you will be notified if there is an objection
• We recommend that you only start the work a few days after these 6 weeks. Will a request for a provisional measure be submitted during this objection period? Then you may only start cutting once a decision has been made on that request

We advise you to discuss your plans with your neighbors in advance.

What does it cost

• Request per tree € 222,00
• You can find the legal fees in the Fees Regulation (Article 2.30) 
• Takes into account the costs for mandatory replanting or payment of the replanting fund
• You also pay costs if the permit is not granted or if you stop the application 

also look at

• Sheet policy Hilversum 2024-2040 
• Construction activities and protected plants and animals
• Register the tree as a valuable tree