Exemption under nature conservation law; application

In the period from March 1 to September 30, it is prohibited to cut down or uproot trees, hedges, living fences, bushes and other woody plants that are located outside areas used for horticultural purposes.

In the Free State of Bavaria, green spaces, parks, cemeteries, sports grounds and other outdoor facilities, street trees and avenues as well as trees in the open countryside are not considered to be land used for horticultural purposes.

This prohibition does not apply

• for trees in short rotation plantations or horticulturally used areas (areas in commercial horticulture, home gardens, allotment gardens and orchards are considered horticulturally used areas in Bavaria),
• for gentle shaping and maintenance pruning to remove growth and maintain the health of trees (e.g. normal hedge pruning, removal of dead wood or damaged branches, so-called summer pruning of fruit trees),
• for measures ordered by the authorities,
• for measures that cannot be carried out in the public interest by other means or at other times, if they
  • be carried out by the authorities,
  • are officially approved or
  • serve to ensure road safety,
• in the case of permitted construction projects, if only minor woody vegetation is removed for the realization of the construction project,
• for interventions in nature and landscape permitted under § 15 BNatSchG.

Exemptions from this prohibition are possible in accordance with Section 67 (1) BNatSchG and can be requested from the lower nature conservation authority.

Under Forms you will find the "Information sheet on felling trees outside the forest".

• There must be an overriding public interest or
• the ban would lead to an unreasonable burden in individual cases and
• the deviation must be compatible with the interests of nature conservation and landscape management.

• Information sheet on felling trees and shrubs outside the forest

No. 8.III.0/12 KvZ to the Bayer. Costs Act: Fee range 50 to 10,000 euros

• Art. 16 Act on the Protection of Nature, Landscape Conservation and Outdoor Recreation (Bavarian Nature Conservation Act - BayNatSchG)
• § Section 67 Act on Nature Conservation and Landscape Management (Federal Nature Conservation Act - BNatSchG)

You must apply for exemption from the relevant lower nature conservation authority.