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Environment and projects · France and Switzerland : separate country-labelled rules

Protected tree removal: local permissions and records

Tree removal may require public-law checks even where the tree stands on private land. Location, protection status and the proposed work matter separately from a neighbour's pruning request. France and Swiss cantons use different rules. The site sheet connects plans and authorisation documents without assuming ownership gives unrestricted felling rights or treating a local exception as a nationwide permission.

Text in force1 January 2016Sources checked1 November 2026

Go to the toolSee the texts cited
  • Official texts cited
  • Sources checked on
  • Drafted with AI assistance, our method

By the AlphaDeep legal editorial team

General legal information with official references and dated checks. It is not personalised advice: for a decision that commits you, have your situation checked by a qualified professional.

Julie by AlphaDeep

Illustrative conversation
Example question

Which French local protection is identified?

Julie Illustration

L113-1 can include EBC and isolated trees; L151-19/23 concern other designations. Read the actual map and rule.

Read the references

Your question concerns “Protected tree removal: local permissions and records”. I can help organise the facts and records. Which document have you received or prepared, and is this a French or Swiss matter?

French law

3 free questions at signup. Avoid names and sensitive information.

Answer

Which tree and parcel are involved?

Identify location and planning record. This concerns public-law tree protection, not merely neighbour planting distances.

Code de l’urbanisme art.L113-1Code de l’urbanisme art.L151-19Code de l’urbanisme art.L151-23Code de l’urbanisme art.R*421-23Genève RCVA L4 05.04 : art_2Genève RCVA L4 05.04 : art_3

Answer

Which French local protection is identified?

L113-1 can include EBC and isolated trees; L151-19/23 concern other designations. Read the actual map and rule.

Tool

Which records are still missing from your file?

Indicate which records you have. The result identifies gaps and prepares a complete question for Julie, without requiring an account.

julie://tool/echeancierNothing leaves your browser

Answers stay on this page until you explicitly continue to Julie. Avoid names and sensitive information.

Fictional example · Your preparation

Point to complete: Notice and decisions. R421-23 has categories and exceptions. Private ownership alone does not put a tree outside public protection.

Tree and parcel
Record available
Local public protection
Record available
Proposed works
Record available
Notice and decisions
Needs checking
Records indicated
3 / 4
  1. Which French notice or permission needs assessment?

This worksheet organises records; it does not establish admissibility, entitlement or a procedural outcome.

Answer

What work is actually proposed?

Separate cutting, felling, intervention and maintenance. Calling it pruning does not automatically remove every public-law condition.

Answer

Which French notice or permission needs assessment?

R421-23 has categories and exceptions. Private ownership alone does not put a tree outside public protection.

Answer

Does Geneva have a nationwide Swiss felling rule?

No. RCVA 2/3 is a labelled Geneva framework for non-forest vegetation protection and authorisation, with exceptions. Other cantons need their own rules.

Code de l’urbanisme art.L113-1Code de l’urbanisme art.L151-19Code de l’urbanisme art.L151-23Code de l’urbanisme art.R*421-23Genève RCVA L4 05.04 : art_2Genève RCVA L4 05.04 : art_3

Comparison

Which documents answer which questions?

Which documents answer which questions?
Record or informationIssue to check
Tree and parcelIdentify location and planning record. This concerns public-law tree protection, not merely neighbour planting distances.
Local public protectionL113-1 can include EBC and isolated trees; L151-19/23 concern other designations. Read the actual map and rule.
Proposed worksSeparate cutting, felling, intervention and maintenance. Calling it pruning does not automatically remove every public-law condition.
Notice and decisionsR421-23 has categories and exceptions. Private ownership alone does not put a tree outside public protection.

Code de l’urbanisme art.L113-1Code de l’urbanisme art.L151-19Code de l’urbanisme art.L151-23Code de l’urbanisme art.R*421-23Genève RCVA L4 05.04 : art_2Genève RCVA L4 05.04 : art_3

Answer

Does a neighbour's pruning right decide public permission?

No. Private-neighbour claims and public protection are separate legal questions in both jurisdictions.

Code de l’urbanisme art.L113-1Code de l’urbanisme art.L151-19Code de l’urbanisme art.L151-23Code de l’urbanisme art.R*421-23Genève RCVA L4 05.04 : art_2Genève RCVA L4 05.04 : art_3

Answer

Which records should precede work?

Keep plan, designation, suitable photographs, proposal and authority response. The worksheet does not diagnose tree health.

The law

Which official provision helps explain this situation?

Les plans locaux d'urbanisme peuvent classer comme espaces boisés, les bois, forêts, parcs à conserver, à protéger ou à créer, qu'ils relèvent ou non du régime forestier, enclos ou non, attenant ou non à des habitations. Ce classement peut s'appliquer également à des arbres isolés, des haies ou réseaux de haies ou des plantations d'alignements.

Code de l’urbanisme art.L113-1In force since 1 January 2016Read on Légifrance

In plain English: No. RCVA 2/3 is a labelled Geneva framework for non-forest vegetation protection and authorisation, with exceptions. Other cantons need their own rules.

Answer

What does the protected-tree file prepare?

It connects status, works, formality and decision. It authorises no felling and performs no arboricultural assessment.

Frequent questions

What other questions arise in this file?

Which French local protection is identified?

L113-1 can include EBC and isolated trees; L151-19/23 concern other designations. Read the actual map and rule.

Code de l’urbanisme art.L113-1Code de l’urbanisme art.L151-19Code de l’urbanisme art.L151-23Code de l’urbanisme art.R*421-23Genève RCVA L4 05.04 : art_2Genève RCVA L4 05.04 : art_3

Which French notice or permission needs assessment?

R421-23 has categories and exceptions. Private ownership alone does not put a tree outside public protection.

Code de l’urbanisme art.L113-1Code de l’urbanisme art.L151-19Code de l’urbanisme art.L151-23Code de l’urbanisme art.R*421-23Genève RCVA L4 05.04 : art_2Genève RCVA L4 05.04 : art_3

Does Geneva have a nationwide Swiss felling rule?

No. RCVA 2/3 is a labelled Geneva framework for non-forest vegetation protection and authorisation, with exceptions. Other cantons need their own rules.

Code de l’urbanisme art.L113-1Code de l’urbanisme art.L151-19Code de l’urbanisme art.L151-23Code de l’urbanisme art.R*421-23Genève RCVA L4 05.04 : art_2Genève RCVA L4 05.04 : art_3

Which records should precede work?

Keep plan, designation, suitable photographs, proposal and authority response. The worksheet does not diagnose tree health.

Code de l’urbanisme art.L113-1Code de l’urbanisme art.L151-19Code de l’urbanisme art.L151-23Code de l’urbanisme art.R*421-23Genève RCVA L4 05.04 : art_2Genève RCVA L4 05.04 : art_3

Sources

Which official references should you consult?

  1. Code de l’urbanisme art.L113-1Légifrance
  2. Code de l’urbanisme art.L151-19Légifrance
  3. Code de l’urbanisme art.L151-23Légifrance
  4. Code de l’urbanisme art.R*421-23Légifrance
  5. Genève RCVA L4 05.04 : art_2Source officielle
  6. Genève RCVA L4 05.04 : art_3Source officielle

Texts cited last checked: 1 November 2026

Next steps

Which neighbouring situations should remain separate?