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The ruleWhere the areas areProposed areasWhat needs noticeHow the notice worksEmergenciesTPO or conservation area?Practical tips
The short answer. In a Croydon conservation area, give the council six weeks' written notice before work to a tree. If the tree also has a TPO, the TPO rules apply instead. Croydon's own page doesn't mention a small-tree exemption or an emergency exemption, so don't assume either applies without checking. We prepare and submit the notice for you.
| Your situation | What to do |
|---|
| Tree in a conservation area, no TPO | Give six weeks' written notice before cutting down or pruning |
| Tree also has a TPO | The TPO rules apply. See our TPO guide |
| Tree is dead | Give the council notice and keep photographs |
| Tree is dangerous | Only urgent works, and tell the council. Don't rely on an exemption without checking |
| Not sure whether you're in a conservation area | Check before you cut. We can check for you |
The Rule
Croydon Council says you must give the council six weeks' written notice before carrying out work to trees in a conservation area. It says a fine of up to £20,000 can be imposed for destroying or cutting down a tree there without consent, and up to £2,500 for pruning one without consent. The relevant law is section 211 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.
Which Trees Are Covered?
Nationally, the notice requirement applies to trees with a trunk diameter of more than 75mm, measured 1.5 metres above ground level (100mm if you are thinning to help other trees grow). Croydon's page doesn't mention a small-tree exemption, so do not assume one applies, and check with the council or us before treating a tree as too small to count.
You won't usually have a diameter tape. A tape measure around the trunk gives you the circumference:
| Trunk diameter | Circumference at 1.5m (tape measure around the trunk) |
|---|
| 75mm | about 236mm (about 9.3 inches) |
| 100mm | about 314mm (about 12.4 inches) |
Measure around the trunk at 1.5m above the ground (roughly chest height). If it's more than about 236mm round, treat it as covered. Where a tree has several stems, measure each one. The rule covers trees, not ordinary garden hedges or small shrubs, but trees growing in a hedge can be covered. See hedge cutting.
Where the Conservation Areas Are
Our area pages cover those we have checked, including the Croham Manor Road, East India Estate, Norbury Estate, Webb Estate and Upper Woodcote Village and Kenley Aerodrome conservation areas, and those in Upper Norwood. Croydon has a number of conservation areas. Boundaries change, and they can cover one side of a road and not the other, so check the council's current map.
How to check whether you're in one:
- Use Croydon Council's conservation area map.
- Ask the planning team, with your address.
- Look at your property papers: designation is normally recorded as a local land charge.
- Ask us. Send an address and we'll check as part of every quote.
In areas near borough boundaries, such as Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood and Norbury, the council that applies depends on the exact address.
Areas the Council Is Considering
Croydon Council has named nine areas it would consider for conservation area status, including Croham Park Estate, Court Avenue in Coulsdon, Sanderstead Village and the Whitgift Estate, and its Cabinet agreed a list of potential new areas in December 2025. Until an area is designated the rule does not apply to it, but it's worth knowing if you're planning tree work in one of them. See Coulsdon, Sanderstead and Shirley.
What Work Needs Notice?
| Work | Notice needed? |
|---|
| Cutting down, topping, lopping or uprooting | Yes |
| Pruning, including crown reduction, lifting or thinning | Yes |
| Wilfully damaging or destroying, including cutting roots | Yes |
| Work on a tree below the size threshold | Check first. Croydon's page doesn't mention an exemption |
| A dead tree | Give the council notice first and keep photographs |
| A dangerous tree | Only the urgent works necessary, and tell the council |
| A tree with a TPO | TPO rules apply instead |
How the Six-Week Notice Works
| Step | What happens |
|---|
| 1. You send a notice | Written notice to Croydon Council, with the address, species, exact work, reasons and photographs. There's no council fee. |
| 2. The council registers it | The six weeks run from when it receives a valid notice |
| 3. The council considers it | It can make a TPO, or have no objection |
| 4. Outcome A: a TPO is made | The tree is now protected, and you'll need to apply for consent in the usual way |
| 5. Outcome B: no objection or no response | You can carry out the work as described once the six weeks have passed, or sooner if the council confirms it has no objection |
| 6. Carry out the work | Exactly as described in the notice, normally within two years of the notice. |
Don't start early unless the council has told you in writing it has no objection.
What to Put in a Notice
| Include | Why |
|---|
| Full address and where the tree stands | So the council can find it |
| Species, or a description | Helps the council assess it |
| Trunk size, if known | Shows it's covered |
| Exact work, in specific terms | Vague notices cause delays |
| Reasons for the work | Damage, safety, health or light |
| Photographs and a simple sketch | Shows the tree and its surroundings |
| Supporting reports | An arboricultural or engineer's report, where relevant |
A clear description: "Crown reduce the beech by up to 2m on the house side to clear the roof by 2m, leaving a balanced crown. All work to BS 3998:2010."
Emergencies
Other councils say there is an emergency exemption for dead or dangerous trees, but Croydon's page does not say so. Do not rely on one without checking with the council. If a tree in a conservation area is an immediate danger, limit the work to what is needed to remove the danger, photograph the tree before you start, tell the council as soon as you can, and keep records. See emergency tree work.
TPO or Conservation Area: What's the Difference?
| Tree with a TPO | Tree in a conservation area (no TPO) |
|---|
| What you must do | Apply for consent | Give six weeks' notice |
| Can the council refuse? | Yes | It can't refuse a notice, but it can make a TPO |
| Size threshold | None. Applies to any size of protected tree | Nationally, trunk over 75mm at 1.5m (100mm for thinning). Check for Croydon |
| Fee | None currently | None |
| If both apply | The TPO rules take priority | |
Practical Tips
- Photograph the tree from several angles before you send the notice, and keep copies.
- Be specific about the work. "Reduce by up to 2m" is clearer than "prune".
- Plan around nesting season. Active nests are protected, and a notice period doesn't override wildlife law. See our nesting season guide.
- Don't wait for an emergency. If you know a tree needs work, give notice early.
- Keep the paperwork: the notice, the council's reply and the date.
- For a neighbour's tree, the owner gives the notice, and you need their agreement.
- Subsidence: if a tree may be affecting your building, take advice from your insurer and engineer before removing it. See trees near buildings.
