Can I cut down a big tree in my own garden?
In short
Usually you need a permit. The rules vary a lot between regions, and the municipality can be stricter than the region. Before you cut, ask the municipality's planning or environment department.
Video transcript
The big tree in your garden makes a lot of shade. You want to cut it down. It depends: Usually you need a permit. Rules differ a lot by region; the municipality may be stricter. The right way: Before cutting, ask the municipal planning or environment department. Do not cut in the bird breeding season. Felling without permit: Fine: E.g. Liège: 247,89 €; Also: Duty to replant; Permit afterwards: Not guaranteed.
What is not allowed, what is required?
- Flanders: A tree with a trunk circumference of at least 1 m, measured 1 m above the ground, needs a permit. You do not need a permit only if all of these apply together: the tree is not part of a forest, it is in a residential area, it is not in a villa park, and it is no more than 15 m from a home that has a permit.
- Brussels: A tree with a trunk circumference of at least 40 cm, measured 1,5 m above the ground, and a height of at least 4 m needs a permit. From 1 April to 15 August, cutting these trees and pruning them with motorised tools is forbidden without an exemption permit.
- Wallonia: An ordinary garden tree usually does not need a regional permit, but the municipality can be stricter (e.g. in Liège, every tree taller than 3 m needs a permit).
- Knowingly disturbing birds and their nests, especially during the breeding season, is forbidden in every region. In Wallonia and Flanders, the law sets no fixed dates; some municipalities set dates (e.g. Flémalle: 1 April–31 August). Ask your municipality.
- You may not cut down or prune a public tree (on the pavement, in a park, along the road) on your own; the municipality does this. You may not cut your neighbour's tree on your own either.
- When you plant a new tree: trees that are at least 2 m tall must be at least 2 m from the boundary; other trees, shrubs and hedges must be at least 0,5 m away. Your neighbour can ask for anything closer to be pruned or removed.
Penalty and indirect consequences
- Fine / payment
- Cutting without a permit is a planning/environmental violation: a fine. Example: in Liège, an administrative fine of 247,89 € and an application for a permit afterwards (for other places, ask the municipality about the amount).
Legal basis:Règlement communal Liège (nature, arbres, haies), art. 7
- Court / prison
- In serious cases, a criminal case can be started. Knowingly damaging a public tree can count as vandalism.
Legal basis:Strafwetboek (W 29.2.2024) Boek II, art. 517codex.vlaanderen.be
What really matters: the indirect consequences
- An obligation to plant one or more new trees (1–4 trees in the Liège example)
Legal basis:Règlement communal Liège (nature, arbres, haies), art. 5
- Getting a permit afterwards (regularisation) is not guaranteed
Legal basis:Omgevingsvergunningsdecreet 25.4.2014, art. 81
- If you cut your neighbour's tree, you can face a claim for compensation
Legal basis:BW Boek 6, art. 6.5
Why does this rule exist?
In the city, trees provide shade, clean air and protection from flooding; a mature tree cannot be replaced for decades. Trees are a habitat for birds and other animals.
Where can you go?
- Municipal planning departmentAsk before you start the works (dienst omgeving / service urbanisme)
- Tax office – land register (cadastre)Report renovation works through MyMinfin
- Social interpreterAt the municipality, the OCMW/CPAS, school and hospital, you can ask for an interpreter in your language; it is often free.
This site does not handle individual cases; it points you to the right service. All help addresses
Source and reliability
Official source- Source check
- 15 / 15 statements in an official source
- Checked: 22.10.2026
- Last checked
- 22.10.2026
- Rules can change
Show the 15 checked statementsopen
- Found in an official source
Flandre: 1 m'de çevre ≥1 m ağaç izne tabi; muafiyet şartları (orman değil, konut bölgesi, woonpark değil, 15 m)
Vrijstellingsbesluit (BVR 16.07.2010, codex-versie art. 2.1 van 05/09/2026, art. 2.2 en 6.1 van 01/03/2026), art. 6.1 - Found in an official source
Brüksel: 1,5 m'de çevre ≥40 cm ve boy ≥4 m ağaç izne tabi
Homegrade.brussels, tutoriel permis abattage arbre haute tige - Found in an official source
Brüksel: 1 Nisan–15 Ağustos kesim ve motorlu budama yasak
Homegrade (ordonnance nature 01.03.2012, art. 68) - Found in an official source
Valonya: sıradan bahçe ağacı için bölgesel izin genelde gerekmez
SPW Territoire, 'Actes et travaux soumis à permis d'urbanisme' (CoDT art. D.IV.4), D.IV.4 11°-12° - Found in an official source
Liège'de 3 m'den yüksek her ağaç izne tabi
Ville de Liège, Règlement communal sur la conservation de la nature, des arbres et des haies (CC 28.09.2021), art. 3-4 - Corrected according to the source
Liège: 247,89 € idari para cezası
Règlement communal Liège (nature, arbres, haies), art. 7 - Found in an official source
Liège'de 1–4 yeni ağaç dikme
Règlement communal Liège (nature, arbres, haies), art. 5 - Found in an official source
Kuş üreme döneminde müdahale yasak
Ordonnance RBC 01.03.2012 art. 68 §1, 7° (Brüksel tarihleri); Loi 12.07.1973 art. 2 §2 (Valonya, LRBPO memorandum 2024 alıntısı); Liège art. 6 (belediye örneği) - Found in an official source
Kamuya ait ağaç kesilemez/budanamaz
Règlement général de police commun aux 19 communes bruxelloises (2026), art. 104 - Found in an official source
Ağaca zarar vermek vandalizm suçudur (seviye 2)
Strafwetboek (W 29.2.2024) Boek II, art. 517 - Found in an official source
Komşunun ağacını kesen kusurlu kişi tazminat öder
BW Boek 6, art. 6.5 - Found in an official source
Sonradan izin (regularizasyon) garanti değildir; başvuru güncel kurallara ve olağan ölçütlere göre değerlendirilir
Omgevingsvergunningsdecreet 25.4.2014, art. 81 - Found in an official source
Abartı taraması (2026-10-22): Kaynak 'kasıtlı olarak' (intentionnellement) rahatsız etmeyi yasaklıyor. Kart kasıt şartını düşürmüş ve kesin 'yasaktır' demiş.
Kaynak alıntısıyla karşılaştırma (abartı taraması) - Found in an official source
Abartı taraması (2026-10-22): Vandalizm kasıt (délibérément) ister; kart kamuya ait ağaca her zararı kesin olarak vandalizm sayıyor.
Kaynak alıntısıyla karşılaştırma (abartı taraması) - Found in an official source
Abartı taraması (2026-10-22): Kaynak (polis yönetmeliği) izinsiz müdahaleyi yasaklıyor; 'hiçbir şekilde' mutlaklığı kaynakta yok (belediye kendisi keser veya izin verebilir).
Kaynak alıntısıyla karşılaştırma (abartı taraması)
The checked statements are in Turkish, as in the source text. This check does not replace legal advice.
General information, not legal advice. For your own situation, ask a lawyer or free legal aid. How was this information prepared?