It’s one of the questions we’re asked most often during site visits. The short answer: most trees in a private garden can be removed without permission — but there are some important exceptions, and it’s worth checking before any work starts.
Tree Preservation Orders
Local authorities can protect individual trees or groups of trees with a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) because of their value to the area. Cutting down, topping or lopping a protected tree without consent can lead to penalties. If you think a tree might be protected, check with Galway City Council or Galway County Council before any work is done.
Conservation areas and protected structures
Trees within an Architectural Conservation Area, or on the grounds of a protected structure, may also need consent. This is particularly relevant in historic town centres.
Felling licences outside urban areas
Under the Forestry Act 2014, felling trees in some situations requires a licence from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. There are exemptions — for example for trees in urban areas and trees within 30 metres of a building — but rural properties with larger numbers of trees should check before felling.
Planning conditions
Some newer developments have planning conditions requiring certain trees or hedges to be retained. If your house is relatively new, it’s worth looking at the planning permission for the estate.
Hedges and nesting birds
Separately, the Wildlife Act restricts the cutting of hedgerows between 1 March and 31 August to protect nesting birds, with limited exemptions.
We’ll help you check
If you’re not sure whether a tree is protected, mention it when you contact us. We’ll flag anything that needs checking during the free site visit, before any work is scheduled. This article is general guidance, not legal advice — always confirm with the relevant council for your property.
