Trees

The tree cadastre is a spatial register containing information on trees on urban properties. It forms the basis for investment, maintenance and renovation measures and provides the basic data for the designation of natural monuments, tree protection statutes and for decisions within the framework of urban land use planning.

The tree-related data are determined by employees of the garden, cemetery and forestry departments. The most important data elements are completely recorded for all trees: Tree species, tree number, site coordination, and classification. This data is essential for the annual tree inspection and the resulting maintenance measures.

A central tree care team inspects all trees on site every year to ensure their road safety. The tree care measures in Stuttgart are carried out both by the central tree care team itself and by external companies. These include, for example, making the trees safe for traffic by removing dry branches, shortening crowns, securing crowns, felling trees that are no longer worth preserving, and many other measures.

To prevent tree damage from occurring in the first place, there is a whole range of preventive measures that serve to protect trees and protect them from soil compaction.

If trees are damaged, measures to treat root, trunk or crown damage take effect to eliminate the damage. Soil compaction is loosened with special equipment.

Trees are important for the natural balance. They have significant climatic functions and provide habitats for many animals, especially bird and beetle species. They also represent important design elements in the city, especially in a conurbation like Stuttgart.

Trees should therefore only be felled, cut back or topped if this is unavoidable. Trees are often protected and may not be felled without good reason, for example if the tree:

• is designated as a natural monument,
• is located in a nature reserve or landscape conservation area,
• is located in areas designated as forest
• has been designated in a development plan as being to be preserved,
• has been designated as requiring preservation in a building permit, or
• is located in the area of application of the tree protection statutes.

For more information, see the Tree Protection Statutes and Tree Cutting Permit section.

The tree protection statute protects trees in certain districts of the city. These trees must be professionally maintained by the owner. If you intend to cut down, prune or trim protected trees, dig into their root area or fill in the ground, for example, you will need an exemption from the prohibitions of the tree protection statute.

You must submit this application in writing. In addition to the application, we need from you

• a site plan showing the location of the tree.
• If available, photos of the tree and the situation, expert opinion on the vitality of the tree, proof of damage to buildings, pipes, etc.
• For all construction projects, a declaration from the client about the possible impact on the existing trees.

You can create the site plan sketch with the  map viewer (opens in a new tab)by using the “Draw / Write” tool to mark the desired area and then the “Print” tool to save or print the section as a PDF.

If the tree is to be removed in connection with a building project requiring approval under building regulations, which is approved by the Building Law Office, the application must be submitted to the  Building Law Office of the City of Stuttgart together with the building application.

In all other cases, the application must be submitted in writing or by e-mail to the address of the green space advisory service. You can download all the necessary documents here.

The  Green Regulations and Administrative Tasks department is responsible for the tree protection statutes. If you have any questions, please contact Elisabeth Stark, Carmen Schlieben or Elisa Gneuß.

Please send your signed application/pruning permit for tree felling on private land by e-mail to:  Post Office Tree Protection or by post to: Department of  Green Regulations and Administrative Tasks

Note: Please save the “Application for Pruning/Tree Felling Permit on Private Property” - after filling it out - on your computer -before printing it out- so that the entered text and any special characters appear correctly on the printout.