Zwickau city council protects deciduous trees: new woody protection statutes passed!

Zwickau city council protects deciduous trees: new woody protection statutes passed!

On July 15, 2025, the Zwickau city council decided on fundamental changes in the handling of trees. These innovations were published in the electronic official gazette of the city of Zwickau on July 4th, 2025 and came into force on July 5th. The aim of the new woody protection statute is to preserve the valuable deciduous trees and hedges in the city in the long term and at the same time to simplify administrative procedures in order to accommodate citizens, as zwickau.de reports.

A significant change concerns felling permits. Previously, an application was required for the felling, but now a notification of the removal of the trees to the Office for the Environment and Urban Planning is sufficient. This ensures quick processes: If there is no response within three weeks, the felling can be carried out taking into account the cutting ban that applies from March 1st to September 30th.

Protective measures and compensation payments

Another central point of the new regulation is the protection of deciduous trees with a trunk circumference of 100 cm or more at a height of one meter, as well as birches, poplars and willows. However, conifers and free-growing shrubs are no longer protected. If a tree owner wants to fell a tree, this must be compensated for by a replacement planting at a ratio of 1:1, although it is possible to deviate from this rule in exceptional cases. If a replacement planting is not possible, the owner can make a compensation payment of 750 euros per tree to the city of Zwickau.

In order to avoid misunderstandings of the old statutes, the city now offers advice on legal bases, replacement planting and tree care measures. This is particularly important because the legal framework regarding the ban on cutting and the special protection of species is now clearer. Other areas of law, such as monument protection or planning law, can also result in restrictions for felling, as landkreis-zwickau.de explains in their information sheet.

Overview of tree protection regulations

The topic of tree protection is not new in the Zwickau district. Similar protective statutes already exist in many cities and municipalities. Residents should always check with the relevant authorities before felling whether a permit is required. In addition, the Federal Nature Conservation Act stipulates that cutting or removing trees during the growing season is generally prohibited, thus emphasizing the protection of nature.

Compliance with tree protection regulations is also important because violations can be treated as an administrative offense, with possible fines of up to 25,000 euros or even 50,000 euros. However, in the case of justified requests, the lower nature conservation authority can issue exceptional permits in order to respond to special situations, emphasizes nabu.de.

The city of Zwickau also provides a comprehensive range of information. Not only are the application forms for felling trees available on their website, but you can also find valuable tips on planting and the legal framework. This promotes a transparent and citizen-oriented approach to local trees.