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Protected trees and guidelines

There are rules in the Christchurch District Plan to protect a number of the city's most significant trees, as well as trees in Council-owned roads, parks, reserves and public open spaces.

Trees are a major part of the city’s character and amenity. One of the objectives in the District Plan is to maintain and enhance the contribution of trees to the amenity of the community while also providing for the reasonable use and enjoyment of property. 

Trees are identified as being significant because they have particular botanical, heritage, amenity, landscape, cultural, ecological and/or environmental values. 

The District Plan contains rules to protect significant trees, including limits on pruning, the type of gardening that can be carried out underneath a tree, and the circumstances in which a tree can be removed. Some works are permitted, while other works require a resource consent. 

For more information about the tree protection rules please contact our Duty Planner.

Significant trees and groups of trees on private property are listed in Appendix 9.4.7.1(external link) of the Christchurch District Plan.

These trees are also identified on the Planning Maps.

General pruning

Pruning is permitted if it meets the following criteria:

  • Roots less than 25mm in diameter at the point of cutting.
  • Removal of broken branches, deadwood or diseased vegetation.
  • Removal of branches with structural faults, e.g. cracks, splits, decay, cavities, torsion, bleeding/sap flow.
  • Removal of branches less than 50mm in diameter at the point of cutting in the bottom third of the tree (measured from ground level to the top of the canopy), where the natural shape, form and branch habit of the tree is retained. 

The following additional pruning work is permitted only if it is carried out by a qualified works arborist listed further down this page, or in accordance with advice from one:

  • removal of branches physically interfering with existing buildings or pedestrian and vehicle accessways
  • removal of branches 50mm–100mm in diameter at the point of cutting in the bottom third of the tree (measured from ground level to the top of the canopy), where the natural shape, form and branch habit of the tree is retained
  • removal of foliage in the top third of the tree, of no more than 10 per cent over any three-year period, with the maximum amount removed in any one year limited to no more than five per cent, and the natural shape, form and branch habit of the tree is retained.

If a tree is causing a hazard to electricity lines or airport approach slopes it should be pruned to remove the hazard. The work must be carried out by or under the supervision of a qualified arborist. For electricity clearance work, the arborist must be engaged by the utility company.

Felling of dead or hazardous trees

A significant tree on private property may be removed if it:

  • is dead
  • has a loss of structural integrity where the defects cannot be rectified and maintenance practices cannot improve the framework of the tree or mitigate threats to the safety of persons or property
  • does not comply with airport protection rules.

Prior to felling the tree, a Tree Removal Certificate (P-024) must be submitted to the Council confirming that the tree meets the above criteria for removal. The certificate must be prepared by one of the qualified technician arborist listed further down this page, and contain the information outlined in Appendix 9.4.7.3 of the District Plan.

Gardening

Gardening, including the planting of shrubs, flowers, ground cover and other small plants, and covering ground in lawn or bark, is permitted within the dripline of a significant tree as long as it does not involve:

  • mechanical cultivation
  • planting of trees
  • altering existing ground levels or disturbing land other than to the extent necessary to undertake the gardening.

The dripline is shown in this diagram:

Dripline diagram for spreading and columnar canopy trees

If in doubt about which to apply, use whichever of the two measurements is greater.

With irregular-shaped trees (e.g. leaning trees), the dripline is calculated by taking the greatest radial spread of the canopy from the trunk in a full circle around the tree.

A resource consent is needed for any pruning, gardening or felling of significant protected trees not listed above.

Please contact the Council if you have any questions about trees on public land or report a problem.

The District Plan includes rules relating to pruning, felling and construction/earthworks within the vicinity of trees on public land, including roads (street trees), parks and reserves, and other public open space.

These trees are owned by the Council and no work should be carried out without the appropriate permission. You can read the full set of rules relating to Significant Trees in Chapter 9(external link) of the Christchurch District Plan.

Apply to be an approved Council works or technician arborist

Technician arborist

In relation to Sub-chapter 9.4(external link), significant and other trees of Chapter 9 Natural and Cultural Heritage, means a person who:

  1. by possession of a recognised arboricultural degree or diploma and on-the-job experience, is familiar with the tasks, equipment and hazards involved in arboricultural operations; and
  2. has demonstrated proficiency in tree inspection, evaluating and treating hazardous trees; and
  3. has demonstrated competency to Level 6 NZQA Diploma in Arboriculture standard (or be of an equivalent arboricultural standard).

Technician arborists are available at the following companies:

Christchurch-based

Based outside of Christchurch

Supervising arborist

An arborist who has been approved by Christchurch City Council to supervise works around trees as per the requirements of 22.3.3 of CSS: Part 1 2019. 

To become an approved supervising arborist, the applicant must meet the requirements of a works arborist and attend the supervising arborist workshop.

Works arborist

In relation to Sub-chapter 9.4(external link), significant and other trees of Chapter 9 Natural and Cultural Heritage, means a person who:

  1. by possession of a recognised arboricultural degree, diploma or certificate and on-the-job experience, is familiar with the tasks, equipment and hazards involved in arboricultural operations; and
  2. has demonstrated competency to Level 4 NZQA Certificate in Horticulture Services (Arboriculture) standard (or be of an equivalent arboricultural standard).

Works arborists are available at the following companies:

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