Felling a Tree on Mallorca: Permits and Costs

A mature pine that has grown in your garden for decades is not something you take down on Mallorca in an afternoon. Felling a tree on Mallorca almost always needs a permit: whether an informal notice to the town hall is enough, or you need to wait for authorization from the island government, depends on where your property sits, what species the tree is, and whether it is listed as protected. This post explains which procedure applies when, what time of year is allowed, and what high pruning with a climber or cherry picker, as well as felling itself, actually costs.

A felling permit on Mallorca is the official authorization to remove a tree entirely. Depending on the type of land, it is issued either by the town hall or by the Conselleria de Medi Ambient, and it is a different thing from the simple notice required for smaller pruning work.

When you need a permit and when a notice is enough

If your property sits within the town boundary, on developed urban land (suelo urbano), the town hall decides on the felling. In practice, an informal notice with photos and a short justification, such as root damage to the foundation or a dead tree, is often enough. For larger or particularly valuable trees, the town hall may also ask for an expert report.

If your tree stands on rural land (suelo rustico) and counts as a forest tree, such as a pine, holm oak or wild olive, you need authorization from the Conselleria de Medi Ambient. The relevant procedure is called Solicitud de autorizacion de aprovechamientos forestales, and it applies whenever your finca has no approved management plan (Instrumento de Gestion Forestal Sostenible) in place. You file the application through the Sede Electronica of the CAIB; the Servicio de Gestion Forestal answers questions at 971 176 677.

For the application you will generally need:

• The land registry reference and proof of ownership for the property
• A description of the trees to be felled, including species, number and location
• The reason for the felling, such as disease, a safety risk or planned construction
• For forest land, proof that no management plan exists

These trees you cannot simply cut down

Old olive trees are specially protected on Mallorca, regardless of what type of land they stand on. Law 6/1991 on the protection of the Balearic Arboles Singulares allows trees of exceptional age, size or cultural value to be added to a dedicated catalogue. The catalogue currently lists 66 individual trees or groups of trees, including the Olivo de La Reina, the Pinos de Vicent de Blaia and a carob tree in Son Mora.

Under Article 3 of the law, catalogued trees may not be felled under any circumstances, and even pruning requires prior approval from the Conselleria de Agricultura y Pesca under Article 4. You can check whether your tree is on the catalogue through the Servicio de Proteccion de Especies of the Balearic government.

Timing it right: wildfire season and nesting season

Even with a permit, you cannot fell at any time of year. During the high wildfire risk period, which on the Balearics usually runs from early May to mid-October, open fires outdoors are banned, which rules out burning the cuttings at the edge of your property as a disposal method. Our guide to disposing of garden waste on Mallorca explains how to get rid of it instead.

It is also worth checking the nesting season. From spring into early summer, many native bird species nest in old tree crowns, and intentionally destroying the occupied nests of protected species is banned regardless of the tree itself. Depending on severity, fines range from several thousand up to 200,000 euros. Plan larger felling work for winter whenever you can.

What high pruning and felling cost

The prices above are rough guidelines for Mallorca and vary a lot depending on how accessible the property is, how tall the tree is, and the distance to the nearest road. Our guide to garden maintenance on Mallorca shows what garden upkeep costs overall through the year.

Disposing of the cuttings and finding the right company

Reputable tree services on Mallorca will often handle the permit application for you and know the deadlines of the local town hall. Make sure the quote states clearly whether transport and disposal of the cuttings are included, since larger amounts of branches cannot simply go out with household waste. You can find companies with a climber, cherry picker or crane for bigger felling jobs in our directory of garden services.

Do I still need a permit for a sick or dead pine?

Yes, you do not fell even a dead tree without a permit, or at least a notice to the town hall, unless it poses an immediate danger. If there is an immediate risk to people or buildings you may act right away, but you must report the felling afterward.

What happens if I fell without a permit?

You risk fines that depend on the species, age and protection status of the tree, and they are considerably higher for catalogued trees. The authority often also requires you to plant a replacement.

Conclusion

Felling a tree on Mallorca almost always means a visit to the town hall first, not the tree service. On urban land a simple notice is often enough, on rural land with forest trees you need authorization from the Conselleria de Medi Ambient, and for catalogued Arboles Singulares the chainsaw stays in the shed entirely. Plan the felling outside the wildfire season and budget for the expert report and disposal alongside the tradesperson's price. Then that old tree in the garden will not turn into a story with the town hall.