When a felling licence is needed

You need a felling licence to fell any growing trees on land in England, unless exemptions apply. This ensures that tree felling complies with legal requirements and environmental guidelines.  

All felling should be carried out in accordance with the UK Forestry Standard (UKFS). A woodland management plan can help to provide you with a structured framework to plan felling and other activities as part of sustainable woodland management.

What is a felling licence

A felling licence grants permission to legally fell growing trees and provides evidence of legally felled timber entering the market. Licences are free in England and are issued by the Forestry Commission.

In certain circumstances you may need permissions or consents from other organisations before you can fell trees. Sometimes this applies even if you do not need a felling licence, for example when carrying out works on a site of special scientific interest (SSSI). Your tree felling may be exempt from the need for a felling licence, but SSSI consent will still be required.

Licence conditions

To help support forest sustainability, meet legal requirements and government policy against the permanent removal of woodland, felling licences usually require restocking of the felled area. This means you’ll need to replant trees or allow natural regeneration after felling. 

Restocking is typically required for all felling licences, and you will usually need to provide a restocking proposal as part of your application. However, felling licences for thinning only will usually be unconditional and do not require restocking, unless combined with other felling operations.  

For information on the different tree felling and restocking methods, see the Definitions of felling and restocking.

Deforestation

Where deforestation is proposed, applicants can apply to the Forestry Commission for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) with their felling licence application. An EIA assesses if your felling is likely to have a significant effect on the environment.  

It considers factors such as soil, water, air quality, biodiversity, landscape character and people. Deforestation will usually require compensatory replanting. This may not be required if the proposed felling is to restore open habitat, under the government’s Open Habitats Policy. For further information, see when to convert woods and forests to open habitat.

Some proposals in scope of the EIA regulations will require consent from the Forestry Commission or other organisations. For further information, see Environmental Impact Assessments for woodland.

Who can apply

Only someone with an interest in the land (for example a freeholder, leaseholder, or tenant – or an agent acting on their behalf) can apply for a felling licence. 

Lessees must ensure that their lease entitles them to fell trees. Where an owner or lessee uses an agent, the agent must demonstrate that they are authorised to represent the applicant by using the Forestry Commission agent authority form.

When you need a felling licence

You’ll need a felling licence if you plan to fell any growing trees on any land in England, unless exemptions apply. This ensures that tree felling complies with legal and environmental guidelines. This includes individual trees and groups of trees.

Volume and diameter limits

You need a felling licence if your trees have an over bark diameter of 8cm or more, or in the case of coppice or underwood, 15cm or more, measured at 1.3m above ground level. 

For trees over these diameters, you will need a licence to fell more than 5 cubic metres within any of the following calendar quarters: 

• 1 January to 31 March 
• 1 April to 30 June 
• 1 July to 30 September 
• 1 October to 31 December 

You can sell up to 2 of the 5 cubic metres per calendar quarter. If you sell more then you will require a licence. 

If you stay within these limits, you can cut down trees without a licence. The Timber Volume Calculator can help you estimate the volume of timber you wish to fell.

When you don’t need a felling licence

Not every tree felling project will require a licence. Some aspects that may affect the need to have a felling licence include: 

• the size and amount of timber you wish to fell 
• the location and type of land your trees are on
• prevention of danger or the prevention or abatement of a nuisance
• legal and statutory undertakings 
• tree maintenance activity such as lopping and topping
• other permissions already in place 

For full details of exceptions you should read Tree felling: getting permission.

If you are unsure if you need a felling licence after reading the guidance, you can also contact your nearest Forestry Commission area office before felling to check whether a licence is required. 

What happens if you don’t get a licence where one was required

Felling trees without a licence is an offence when one is required. 

Everyone involved in tree felling can be prosecuted if: 

• there is no licence or other valid permission where one is required 
• the wrong trees are cut down 

All parties are responsible to check permissions before work starts. This includes landowners, tenants, agents acting on behalf of owners, timber merchants and contractors.

Find out about more about penalties for unauthorised tree felling.