Environment, Climate, Energy and Agriculture Authority

Apply for first afforestation

If you want to create new forest on an area where there were no trees before, you must apply for a permit in advance.

Detailed description

If you intend on an area where there are no trees

stand to create a new forest, you need a permit for this. You must have permission before you begin planting.

 

Information

Prerequisites

  • The first afforestation must not conflict with the requirements of spatial planning or state planning.
  • Afforestation must not conflict with nature and environmental protection law.
  • The profitability of neighboring properties must not be significantly impaired by afforestation.
  • Carrying out an environmental impact assessment or preliminary environmental impact assessment

Documents required

  • Informal application
  • Information on the parcel concerned (parcel map)
  • Information on the target population (planned tree species)

Please note

Approval for the first afforestation is not required if afforestation has been made legally binding on the basis of other public law regulations.



The first afforestation may only begin when the decision on the permit has become final.

Deadlines

No

Procedure

In order to obtain the permit, you must submit an application to the competent authority. Approval will be issued to you by the competent authority after a positive examination of your application and all legal and factual requirements.

Processing time

The processing time depends on the type and scope of the individual case. As a rule, you can expect processing within 8 to 10 weeks from the submission of the complete application.

Fees

No

Legal remedies

Objections to the decision can be raised within one month. You can find more details in the instructions on legal remedies in the decision.

Legal basis

§ 10 Federal Forest Act (BWaldG)


Section 4 of the Hamburg State Forest Act

Section 5 of the Hamburg State Forest Act

Address and contact information

Environment, Climate, Energy and Agriculture Authority

Agriculture

We have a limited number of customer parking spaces. To reserve a parking space, please contact our receptionist by e-mail at zugang@bsw.hamburg.de or by telephone on +49 40 428 40 - 50 50. Our working hours are: Monday to Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:15 p.m , Friday from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Haven't found the right one yet?

To Hamburg Service startpage

Keywords: Forest afforestation forest law forest ownership forestation new forest formation

Last updated: 18.07.2026