New rules on tree felling outside forests take effect in Latvia
Amendments to Latvia's regulations on felling trees outside forests took effect on 21 August, reducing cases requiring municipal permits while keeping protection for valuable trees and protected species habitats.
Amendments to Latvian Cabinet of Ministers Regulation No. 309 on felling trees outside forests have entered into force, aiming to reduce the administrative burden on landowners, businesses and municipalities. The changes reduce the number of situations requiring a municipal permit to cut down a tree, while the Ministry of Agriculture stresses that protection for especially valuable trees and habitats of protected species remains in place.
Clarified terms and exceptions
The regulations now clearly define the terms "avenue" (tree-lined road) and "row of trees" to remove ambiguity about when permits are required. The update also resolves a contradiction with the Road Law: road owners will no longer need a separate municipal permit to remove a tree when it threatens traffic safety or road maintenance.
Larger stump diameter exempt from permits
One of the most significant changes, taking effect on 1 January 2027, raises the stump diameter exempt from permit requirements from 20 to 30 centimetres. Property owners will also be able to measure either diameter or circumference, whichever is more convenient. However, permits will still be required for certain species at smaller sizes — for example, arborvitae — since the species, location and protection status all matter, not just size.
More exemptions, stricter protection in some areas
From 2027, trees removed as part of certain construction projects will not require a separate permit if compensated by planting new trees. The rules also clarify how dead or hazardous trees must be documented with photographs from multiple angles before removal. At the same time, the list of areas where a Nature Conservation Agency opinion is required before a permit is issued has been expanded, including territories with cultural monuments, parks, avenues and the coastal dune protection zone along the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Riga. Municipalities retain the right to set stricter requirements for preserving trees in their territories.
