Brief Overview:

• Eliminate hazards immediately: Measures to ensure traffic safety are always permitted immediately and without a permit. The goal is always to take the approach that causes the least damage to the tree.
• Call in a specialist company: In the event of dangerous damage, hire a professional tree care company as soon as possible; based on its assessment, this company may restore public safety without approval from the environmental agency.
• Hazards on public property: The fire department or THW (Federal Agency for Technical Relief) can often assist with affected or at-risk public property.
• Cordon off the danger zone: Secure the area until the hazard is removed (e.g., with caution tape). The police or fire department can assist with road closures.
• Observe the reporting requirement: For fallen trees or trees that had to be removed, a felling report must be submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency (see below).
• Permit for further steps: All measures that go beyond mere hazard mitigation must be formally applied for and approved.

The procedure is explained in more detail below— please be sure to follow these instructions!

General Information on the Tree Protection Ordinance

The City of Erlangen has a Tree Protection Ordinance. Permission is generally required for tree removal or significant pruning. As a rule, this permission must be applied for. An online form is available at www.erlangen.de/baumschutz

Scope of Application:

• The ordinance applies within the designated areas as shown on the Tree Protection Map.

Which Trees Are Protected?

• The ordinance generally protects all deciduous and coniferous trees with a trunk circumference of 80 cm or more (measured at a height of 1 m).
• Fruit trees (cultivated fruit trees) are exempt from protection; however, walnut and sweet chestnut trees, as well as wild fruit trees, are protected once they reach a trunk circumference of 80 cm or more!
• Areas that constitute forest as defined by the Forest Act fall under the jurisdiction of the Office for Food, Agriculture, and Forestry (AELF); the Tree Protection Ordinance does not apply here.

Procedures for Damage or Hazardous Situations Caused by Extreme Weather

Before submitting a request to us, please check whether your inquiry is already addressed by the guidelines below! To remain capable of responding to severe weather events and to work efficiently, every phone call and email we do not have to respond to is helpful. We appreciate your understanding!

Step 1: Contact a specialized company

In the event of significant damage to trees that you cannot repair yourself, you should first contact a professional tree care company as soon as possible to have them identify and carry out the measures necessary from a technical standpoint.

At night, or if there is a danger to public areas or to life and limb, please call the fire department or the THW to address the immediate hazard.

Step 2: Restore traffic safety

Case 1: The tree has fallen over or the crown has broken off completely.

You may remove (or have removed)fallen trees and completely dead trees without a permit or confirmation from the Environmental Protection Agency. You are only required to report this.

Please notify us of the removal of the fallen tree afterward by emailing baumschutz@stadt.erlangen.de with the following information:

• Address of the tree’s location
• If there are multiple trees on the property: a rough site plan showing the tree’s location
• A clear photo of the fallen trees (overall view of the tree)

Case 2: The tree was damaged by extreme weather.

Hazard mitigation takes priority! Measures to eliminate the immediate danger may be taken immediately; approval from the Environmental Agency is not required for this!

• Damaged parts of the tree may be removed immediately and without a permit.

If traffic safety can be restored without cutting down the tree, only this measure may be carried out for the time being. You do not need to report such measures to the Environmental Agency.

Examples: Broken or snapped branches in the tree crown; split branches (“accident beams”)

• If, according to the tree care service, traffic safety cannot be restored through pruning, the tree may be felled immediately (felling of a hazardous tree/emergency felling).
• Afterward, a felling notification must be sent to baumschutz@stadt.erlangen.de (tree location, clear photos, specialized company performing the work).

Examples: A tree that has suddenly become significantly leaning or half-uprooted; loss of the majority of the crown; a deeply split trunk

• The complete removal of damaged trees is also permitted without formal authorization if, after the dangerous parts of the tree have been removed, the tree has no foliage or needles —or only a minimal amount —which is clearly insufficient for the tree’s survival (Example: a pine tree that, after pruning, has only a small branch remaining in the crown).
  

This decision may be made by the specialized contractor carrying out the work based on their professional assessment on site. In case of doubt, the contractor must consult with the relevant tree protection officials.

Subsequently, a felling notification must be sent to baumschutz@stadt.erlangen.de with the following information:

• Location/address of the tree,
• Photo of the situation before felling (at least one full view of the tree)
• the tree care company carrying out the work.

Please note: If the tree has hollows or other similar structures, you must contact us in advance. – Email naturschutz@stadt.erlangen.de

Any measures beyond ensuring public safety and proper maintenance require prior approval!

Therefore, you may not simply fell or heavily prune a tree following an extreme weather event. If pruning or felling is desired or recommended in addition to the technically necessary measures to ensure public safety, please submit a corresponding application at www.erlangen.de/baumschutz.

Further Information

Species Protection:

The general species protection requirements of the Federal Nature Conservation Act must be observed. Please direct any questions regarding species protection to naturschutz@stadt.erlangen.de.

City Trees:

If you have suffered damage caused by a city tree, please contact the City Greenery Department (stadtgruen@stadt.erlangen.de) for an assessment and, if applicable, compensation for the damage. If known, please include the number on the tree tag attached to the trunk to facilitate identification.

Liability:

Liability issues under private law must be resolved between the parties involved. Since extreme weather events constitute force majeure, the City of Erlangen assumes no liability for trees that have fallen on private property; this generally applies even if a request to remove the fallen tree had previously been submitted and denied. Damage caused by force majeure is not taken into account in the assessment of felling applications, as on this basis every tree near built-up areas would pose a potential hazard, and protecting the city’s tree population would thus be virtually impossible. Natural disaster insurance is generally recommended.

Replacement Plantings and Deadwood as Habitat

In cases of emergency felling, we are always pleased when sections of the trunk are voluntarily left standing as“standing deadwood” for insects and other deadwood-dwelling organisms.