Felling Licence & TPO Consent - Birmingham Bylaws

Land Use and Zoning England 4 Minutes Read · published February 11, 2026 Flag of England
Birmingham, England property owners and developers must understand when a local Tree Preservation Order (TPO) consent or a national felling licence is required before removing or significantly pruning trees. Local TPOs protect trees that contribute to amenity or conservation and are enforced by Birmingham City Council’s planning and tree protection teams. National felling licences cover larger-scale felling or commercial forestry operations and are issued by the UK government agency responsible for forestry regulation. Getting the right permit avoids criminal and civil penalties, speeds approval, and reduces the risk of enforcement notices or restoration orders.
Always check both the council TPO rules and the national felling licence rules before starting works.

Penalties & Enforcement

Contravening a TPO or carrying out unauthorised felling can trigger enforcement action by Birmingham City Council and potential criminal prosecution under planning law. Details of specific monetary penalties, fixed penalty notices, or statutory limits are not specified on the cited Birmingham pages and should be confirmed with the council and national guidance.[1] National guidance on felling licences explains administrative requirements but does not list local enforcement fines.[2]

  • Monetary fines: not specified on the cited page for local penalties; see council contact for amounts and prosecution policy.[1]
  • Escalation: enforcement can progress from warning/notice to prosecution or court order; local escalation steps are set by the council enforcement team (not specified in exact timeframes on the cited page).[1]
  • Non-monetary sanctions: enforcement notices requiring reinstatement, tree replacement, restoration works, and stop notices are used by the council; courts may order remedial works.
  • Enforcer: Birmingham City Council Planning and Tree Protection teams handle TPO enforcement; complaints and inspections are managed via the council planning contact pages.[3]
  • Appeals & review: appeal routes and timescales for TPO decisions or enforcement actions are set out by the council or through statutory appeal bodies; specific time limits are not specified on the cited page and should be confirmed with the council.[1]
If you carry out work without consent you may face enforcement notices or prosecution.

Common violations

  • Removing or damaging a tree subject to a TPO without consent.
  • Failing to follow approved conditions on a tree works consent.
  • Large-scale felling without a required national felling licence.

Applications & Forms

To apply for consent for works to trees covered by a TPO you must submit the council’s tree works application form, including an accurate plan and tree schedule. For commercial felling or large scale removal you may also need a national felling licence; guidance and application processes are published by the UK government forestry authority. Where a fee or form number is used it is shown on the council or national application pages; if a specific form number or fee is not published on the cited page, it is "not specified on the cited page" and applicants should follow the links below to the official application pages.[3][2]

Submit tree work applications with clear plans and photographs to avoid delays.

How decisions are made

Officers assess amenity value, public benefit, conservation status, and the impact of works. For trees in conservation areas different prior-notice rules may apply; check the council guidance for conservation-area tree procedures. The council inspects sites where complaints are received and may serve a TPO or enforcement notice where necessary.[1]

Action Steps

  • Check whether the tree is in a conservation area or subject to a TPO on the Birmingham City Council tree pages.[1]
  • Complete and submit the council tree works application form if the tree is protected; include scale plans and photos.[3]
  • If removing multiple trees or felling for commercial purposes, verify whether a national felling licence is required and apply via the government portal.[2]
  • Contact Birmingham City Council planning enforcement to report unauthorised works or request an inspection.

FAQ

Do I always need permission to cut down a tree in Birmingham?
You need consent if the tree is subject to a TPO or is in a conservation area; check the council pages and, for larger/commercial removals, national felling licence rules.
How long does the council take to decide a tree works application?
Decision times can vary; specific council timeframes are not specified on the cited page so contact the council planning team for current processing times.[1]
When do I need a national felling licence?
You need a national felling licence for many larger-scale or commercial felling operations; see the government guidance for thresholds and exemptions.[2]

How-To

  1. Identify whether the tree is in a conservation area or has a TPO by checking the council’s tree protection pages.[1]
  2. Gather site plans, photographs, and a concise arboricultural report if available.
  3. Submit the council tree works application form online or by post as instructed on the council site; pay any required fee or follow fee guidance on the application page.[3]
  4. If large-scale felling is planned, check the national felling licence guidance and apply via the government portal before starting works.[2]
  5. Comply with any conditions, schedule inspections as required, and respond promptly to enforcement or information requests from the council.

Key Takeaways

  • Check both Birmingham City Council TPO guidance and national felling licence rules before working on trees.
  • Apply early and provide clear plans to reduce decision time and enforcement risk.

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