Permission to Cut or Transplant Trees on Your Site

Trees on a construction site cannot simply be cut. In Delhi, the Delhi Preservation of Trees Act, 1994 requires permission from the Tree Officer before any tree is felled or transplanted, on private or public land, and illegal felling attracts fines, imprisonment and compensatory directions. Other states have their own laws: Uttar Pradesh has the UP Protection of Trees Act, 1976 for notified species, Maharashtra has its urban trees law, and forest departments regulate trees on forest and protected land. Courts and the National Green Tribunal have taken a strict view of unauthorised felling.

For builders, institutions and homeowners, tree permission is often the first approval needed and a common cause of delay. This page explains when permission is needed, who grants it in Delhi NCR, the conditions such as compensatory plantation, timelines, and what to do if trees were cut without permission.

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Tree permission at a glance

Delhi's tree law in more detail

The Delhi Preservation of Trees Act, 1994 applies across Delhi. No one may fell, cut, remove or dispose of a tree without the Tree Officer's prior permission. Applications are made with details of the trees, the reasons and the project approvals. The Tree Officer inspects and may grant, refuse or impose conditions. Compensatory plantation is required, commonly ten saplings for each tree felled under the Act's provisions and practice, along with a deposit. Courts in Delhi have closely supervised large felling proposals, especially for public projects, and have encouraged transplantation where feasible.

Illegal felling is an offence under the Act. In addition, the Delhi High Court and the National Green Tribunal have imposed costs and compensation for unauthorised felling, and directed restoration. Builders should treat tree permission as a pre-condition to site work.

How to get tree permission

If trees were cut without permission

If a contractor or employee has cut trees without permission, act quickly. Stop further felling, document what was cut, and engage with the Tree Officer or forest department. Expect a show-cause notice, a fine, and directions for compensatory plantation at a higher ratio. Cooperating, admitting what happened and offering restoration often leads to a better outcome than denial. Where the felling was by a contractor against instructions, contracts and records can help show responsibility, though the owner may still be held liable. If proceedings reach the NGT, see our network site ngtadvocates.com.

Time and typical cost

Our fees are agreed in writing at the start, stage by stage. They are not linked to the outcome.

Documents usually needed

Laws that apply

How we work

We are a litigation and advisory practice led by Advocate BK Singh, with offices in Dwarka (New Delhi) and Vaishali (Ghaziabad). This is what you can expect:

• Right authority identified: Delhi, UP, Haryana or local body.
• Layout advice: to retain trees and speed up approval.
• Complete applications: with surveys and plans.
• Damage control: if trees were cut without permission.
• Written fee terms: agreed stage by stage, never linked to the outcome.

Mistakes we see with trees

Transplantation in Delhi

Delhi has gone further than most states in preferring transplantation to felling. Under the Delhi government's Tree Transplantation Policy, 2020, a substantial share of the trees affected by a project, generally 80 per cent, is to be transplanted rather than felled, with payment to transplantation agencies linked to the survival of the trees after a set period. Compensatory plantation under the 1994 Act continues to apply in addition.

Transplantation is not always feasible. Large, old trees and some species do not survive the move, and the season matters. A tree survey that assesses which trees can realistically be transplanted, with an experienced agency's view, makes the application credible. Applications that propose transplanting every tree without regard to survival are often questioned at inspection.

Who to approach for tree permission

Pruning, lopping and dangerous trees

Not every tree job is felling. Pruning branches that touch buildings or wires, lopping for safety, and removing dead or dangerous trees are common requests from housing societies and institutions. In Delhi, the courts and the forest department have treated heavy pruning that effectively kills a tree as felling, and the department has issued procedures for pruning. Before pruning heavily, check the current procedure and seek permission where it is required. For a tree in immediate danger of falling, inform the Tree Officer or the local body at once and keep photographs; emergency action is treated differently from planned removal.

Public projects and objections

Large public projects such as road widening, metro lines and government buildings often involve felling hundreds of trees, and residents' groups have challenged these in the Delhi High Court and the NGT. Courts have asked agencies to explore redesign and transplantation, and have supervised compliance with compensatory plantation. If you are a resident or RWA concerned about a felling proposal, you can seek information about the permission, raise objections with the Tree Officer, and approach the court or tribunal if the law is not followed. If you are an agency or builder, a transparent process with genuine alternatives considered is the best protection against a challenge.