Tree felling

• You can only apply for an environmental permit if you are the owner of the land on which the tree is located.
• The municipality can determine that you may only cut down the tree if you plant a new tree that is worth as much in money as the felled tree. The municipality will then also determine the time limit within which you must do this.

Permit denied

You will not get a permit if the municipality considers other interests more important. These interests may have to do with:

• conservation of nature
• cultural history
• the landscape
• town or village image

Outside built-up areas, different rules often apply about felling trees.

In Kerkrade, by "within the built-up area" we mean all residential neighborhoods and the urban area (think: Heilust, Holz and Eygelshoven-Kom) and the industrial areas (with the exception of the "Julia area").

By "outside the built-up area" we mean the outdoor area. These are the areas outside residential neighborhoods, urban areas and business parks that have scenic, cultural-historical and ecological value. These are the following areas:

1. Subarea around Orchard Pit Road.

2. Burgemeester Boyensbos/Schouffertsbos subarea.

3. Anselder Brook valley subarea between Hopel and Finch.

4. Subarea Carisborg

5. Area Worm valley, Baals bridges, Berenbos and Rolduc

6. Anselder-/Bleijerheiderbeek valley

7. Area between businesses on Tunnel Road and Terwinselen.

8. The area between Parralelweg and
Industriestraat/Schifferheidestraat/Vauputs including agricultural land and farm on Vauputs

9. The area on Baam Street.

10. Agricultural area between the municipal border (Heerlen) and Euregioweg.

11. The area around Crombacherstraat.

This is also on the Map Inside and outside built-up areas under the Forest Act

Do you want to apply for a permit?
Then you must own the land the tree is on.
 

If you have neighbors,
Consult first to see if they object to the tree being cut down.
 

Do you need a permit or report? Please indicate:

• what kind of tree is involved
• where the tree stands
• the diameter in centimeters, measured at 1.30 meters from ground level
• whether it is 1or more trees
• how you want to approach felling
• why you want to cut down the tree
• Whether you are going to replant

Is the tree diseased?
If so, include a statement from an arborist.

You will be notified within 8 weeks whether you will receive the permit.
The municipality may extend this period by 6 weeks. There may be an additional 4 weeks if the municipality needs advice and/or permission from another competent authority.
 

Permit denied

You will not get a permit if the municipality considers other issues more important. For example:

• conservation of nature
• cultural history
• the landscape
• town or village image

If you disagree with the municipality's decision,
File an objection within 6 weeks.

To cut down trees covered by the Nature Protection Act, you must file a felling notification. These include trees outside built-up areas. 

Do you own a tree on the municipal list of valuable and monumental trees? If so, you must report any change to the municipality. Reasons for the notification can be:

• You sell the tree to a new owner.
• The tree fell down or was otherwise destroyed without an environmental permit for cutting.
• The tree is about to fall or is about to die

If anything about your protected or monumental tree has changed, report:

• what kind of tree it is (for example, an oak or a chestnut)
• how big the tree is
• where the tree is located (address)
• What is going on with the tree or what is going to change in the area around the tree

The lists of valuable and monumental trees in Kerkrade can be obtained at gemeentehuis@kerkrade.nl