Tree Preservation Order (TPO) Check by Postcode
Free UK Tree Preservation Order check and Tree Protection Order check. Run official search and preservation orders by postcode to verify TPO planning constraints, Conservation Areas, and avoid £20,000 statutory fines before undertaking tree works.
Quick Answer: How to Check if a Tree Has a Tree Preservation Order (TPO)
How to Check If a Tree Has a TPO: Statutory Rules & Penalties Matrix
Town & Country Planning Act 1990When you run a tree preservation order check or tree protection order check, local planning authorities govern works across four statutory dimensions before any pruning, lopping, or felling can legally occur:
Specific trees or groups mapped under Section 198. Requires standard 1APP council application with 8-week determination.
Automatic statutory protection for any tree with trunk diameter >75mm. Mandatory 6-week Section 211 Notice prior to work.
Statutory exemption under Regulation 14 requires 5 working days' written notice to the LPA tree officer with photographic evidence.
Fines up to £20,000 per tree in Magistrates' Court or unlimited fines in Crown Court plus mandatory Section 206 replanting duties.
| Protection Category | Trunk Threshold | Notice / Application | Authority Ruling | Non-Compliance Penalty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individual TPO | Any size recorded in schedule | 8 weeks (Formal 1APP) | Local Planning Authority (LPA) | Up to £20,000 / Unlimited fine |
| Conservation Area | >75mm at 1.5m height | 6 weeks (Section 211 Notice) | Borough / District Tree Officer | Prosecuted as full TPO breach |
| Group or Woodland TPO | All trees within boundary | 8 weeks (Formal 1APP) | Local Planning Authority (LPA) | Up to £20,000 per tree destroyed |
| Dead / Dangerous Exemption | Immediate risk of injury | 5 working days written notice | LPA Arboricultural Team | Strict liability without proof |
Tree Preservation Orders (TPO): The Legal Framework & Fines
A Tree Preservation Order (TPO) is an official statutory order made by a Local Planning Authority (LPA) under Section 198 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to protect specific trees, groups of trees, or woodlands in the interests of public amenity.
Anyone who cuts down, tops, lops, uproots, or willfully damages a protected tree without LPA permission commits a criminal offence punishable by a fine of up to £20,000 in the magistrates' court, or an unlimited fine in the Crown Court.
To carry out works on a TPO tree, you must submit a formal application to the council (standard form 1APP). The council has a statutory 8-week period to approve, approve with conditions, or refuse the application.
How to Check if a Tree Has a TPO (Tree Preservation or Protection Order)
Whether you are checking for a formal Tree Preservation Order or running a colloquial "tree protection order check" before purchasing, extending, or hiring arborists, follow these core steps to verify statutory compliance:
Enter your property postcode above to scan official planning.data.gov.uk statutory records for active TPOs, Conservation Area boundaries, and Article 4 directions within 250m.
During conveyancing, instruct your solicitor to commission a formal LLC1 search. TPOs legally bind the land and must be registered as local land charges on the property title.
Contact the Local Planning Authority's Arboricultural Officer before any work. They hold the official schedule and map identifying individual protected trees, species, and exact locations.
Cutting down, uprooting, topping, lopping, or willfully damaging a protected tree without council consent is a criminal offense. Offenses can lead to a fine of up to £20,000 per tree in the Magistrates' Court, or an unlimited fine in the Crown Court, alongside a statutory obligation to plant a replacement specimen.
The 4 Types of Tree Preservation Orders
Protects a single specified tree (e.g. an ancient oak, beech, or cedar) marked with an exact point on the LPA's statutory map.
Protects a distinct cluster of trees where the collective visual amenity of the group is valuable, even if individual specimens are not exceptional.
Protects all trees present within a designated boundary at the time the order was drafted. Often used as an interim emergency protection measure.
Protects an entire woodland ecosystem, including existing trees and any natural saplings and regeneration that sprout in the future.
Trees in Conservation Areas (Section 211 Notice)
If a property is situated within a designated Conservation Area, all trees with a trunk diameter exceeding 75mm (measured at 1.5m above ground level) receive blanket statutory protection automatically, even without an individual TPO.
Before pruning, topping, or cutting down any tree in a Conservation Area, property owners must give the council 6 weeks' formal written notice (a Section 211 Notice). This gives the LPA the opportunity to consider whether to issue a full Tree Preservation Order before work begins.
Checking planning constraints or tree preservation across major UK metropolitan authorities? Access comprehensive regional diligence briefs covering conservation areas, Land Registry benchmarks, and environmental catchment models:
Statutory Tree Protection Guides & Regulations
Legal guidance covering Town and Country Planning Act 1990 rules, fines, exemptions, and neighbor disputes.
How to Find Out If a Tree Has a TPO in the UK
Step-by-step verification using local planning authority portals, LLC1 land charges searches, and digital spatial data.
What Is the Fine for Cutting Down a TPO Tree?
Section 210 penalties: up to £20,000 in Magistrates' Court, unlimited Crown Court fines, and Proceeds of Crime Act confiscations.
Can I Cut Down a Protected Tree If It Is Dead or Dangerous?
Statutory exemptions, the mandatory 5-day council notice rule, emergency arborist evidence, and replacement planting duties.
Tree Preservation Rules in Conservation Areas
Automatic protection under Section 211 of the 1990 Act, the 75mm trunk diameter rule, and submitting 6-week Section 211 notices.
Can a Neighbour Cut Branches from a TPO Tree?
Common-law overhanging branch rights vs statutory TPO criminal liability: why written LPA application consent is mandatory.
Frequently Asked Questions: Tree Preservation Orders & Planning
Essential guidance for home buyers, owners, and developers regarding tree regulations.
The fastest way is using an online statutory checker by entering the property postcode to scan official planning.data.gov.uk spatial datasets in seconds. For binding legal verification before contract exchange, your conveyancer should submit a Local Land Charges search (form LLC1) to the Local Planning Authority.
Tree Preservation Orders, Fines & Ecology Rules
Official guidance on Section 211 Conservation Area notices, Town and Country Planning Act 1990 rules, arboricultural exemptions, and BNG metric compliance.
Can a Neighbour Cut Branches from a Protected TPO Tree?
No. While common law normally allows neighbours to trim overhanging branches back to the boundary line, this right is legally overridden if the tree is protected by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) or sits in a Conservation Area. A neighbour must obtain written council planning consent before cutting any part of a protected tree.
What Is the Fine for Cutting Down a Tree with a Tree Preservation Order?
Under Section 210 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, cutting down, uprooting, or deliberately destroying a tree protected by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) carries an unlimited fine in the Crown Court or up to £20,000 in a Magistrates Court. Courts can also confiscate development profits under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA).
Can I Cut Down a Protected Tree If It Is Dead or Dangerous?
Yes, but you must give your Local Planning Authority at least 5 working days written notice before cutting down a dead or dangerous tree with a TPO under Regulation 14. If the tree poses an immediate, catastrophic threat to safety, you may carry out urgent remedial pruning, but you must retain comprehensive photographic and arboricultural proof.
How Do You Calculate Statutory Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) in the UK?
Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is calculated using the statutory Defra metric formula: Biodiversity Units = Baseline Habitat Area (hectares) × Habitat Distinctiveness (1 to 8) × Habitat Condition (1 to 3) × Strategic Significance (1.0 to 1.15). To secure planning permission under Schedule 7A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, developers must demonstrate that post-intervention units (on-site retained and enhanced habitats plus off-site units) equal at least 110% of the pre-development baseline score across each of the three mandatory unit types: area habitats, hedgerows, and watercourses.
What Are the Statutory Rules for Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) in 2026?
In 2026, statutory Biodiversity Net Gain is mandatory for all major developments (since February 2024), small residential sites (since April 2024), and Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs, mandated in 2026). Key statutory requirements include: (1) A legally binding minimum 10.0% net gain over pre-development baseline, (2) Submitting an approved Biodiversity Gain Plan before commencement of works, (3) Securing habitat enhancements for a minimum 30-year maintenance period via Section 106 agreements or Conservation Covenants, and (4) Registering off-site gains on Natural England's National Biodiversity Gain Site Register.
BNG Small Sites Metric (SSM): Rules & Calculator for Small Developments
The Small Sites Metric (SSM) is a simplified statutory calculation tool created by Natural England for minor developments. In residential schemes, it applies to developments between 1 and 9 dwellings on sites under 0.5 hectares (or under 0.2 hectares if dwelling numbers are unspecified). For non-residential schemes, it applies where floorspace is under 1,000 square metres or site area is under 1 hectare. Unlike the main metric, the SSM does not require a certified CIEEM ecologist to complete condition sheets if the site contains only low or medium distinctiveness common habitats.
How to Find Out If a Tree Has a Tree Preservation Order (TPO)?
You can find out if a tree has a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) on your property by querying your Local Planning Authority (LPA) tree register or using our free Tree Preservation Order Checker. When buying a property, your conveyancer verifies TPOs via the official Local Land Charges register (LLC1) and standard Law Society CON29 inquiries.
What Are the Tree Preservation Rules in Conservation Areas?
In a designated UK Conservation Area, all trees with a trunk diameter exceeding 75mm (measured 1.5m above ground level) receive automatic statutory protection under Section 211 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. You must give your Local Planning Authority at least 6 weeks written notice before carrying out any work.