Evaluation for felling permissions

Before any trees are felled in Scotland, landowners or agents must ensure that the work is either exempt from regulation or covered by an approved Felling Permission.

This page explains what applicants need to provide, how we assess applications, and what to expect at each stage of the process.

You may only fell trees in Scotland if one of the following applies:

the work meets a specific legal exemption
you have been granted a Felling Permission by Scottish Forestry
you have approval through other means (e.g. as part of a Planning Permission)

Only the landowner, or a person authorised by them in writing, can submit an application.

If you’re unsure whether you need permission, please contact your local Scottish Forestry office.

Important: issuing a permission

We will only issue a permission when we are satisﬁed we have all the required information.

Before you apply

To accept your application, we require certain information.

This helps us assess your proposal efficiently and avoids delays.

You must provide:

applicant and landowner contact details
maps showing species, boundaries, and operational areas (see Required Mapping Standards)
the total area of the proposal
operational details describing the felling work
restocking plans, unless otherwise agreed
details of any Tree Preservation Orders or Conservation Areas
access consent allowing Scottish Forestry to inspect the site
a record of stakeholder engagement, including anyone who may be affected
the reason for felling
any site sensitivities or constraints, and how you will avoid or mitigate impacts

Felling trees

Guidance for applicants

Our guide explains how to apply for a Felling Permission under the Forestry and Land Management (Scotland) Act 2018. It also covers how to appeal a decision and provides information on enforcement procedures and the penalties for felling without permission.

Read our felling permission application guidance

Our Evaluation Process

Our assessment ensures that every felling proposal meets the required standards for sustainable forest management.

The process usually follows these steps:

Checking your application

We first confirm your submission includes all mandatory information. If anything is missing, we will request it before the assessment can continue.

Assessing against the UK Forestry Standard

We review your proposal against the UK Forestry Standard (UKFS), which sets the benchmarks for environmental, operational, and sustainable forest management practice.

Desk-based checks

Using tools such as our Land Information Search, we identify:

environmental sensitivities
designated sites
protected species
constraints that may influence the proposed operations

Explore the Land Information Search

Requesting further details (if needed)

If clarification or extra information is required, we will ask you to supply it.

Providing clear and timely responses helps keep your application moving.

Site visit

In most cases, a Woodland Officer will visit your site. This visit helps confirm:

site conditions
operational constraints
any additional environmental or legal considerations

Public register and consultation

Once we are satisﬁed that all issues are addressed, we will publish your proposal on our public register. This lets interested parties to comment on an application. We will also notify any relevant stakeholders directly.

Final decision

After all consultation feedback is considered and any issues are resolved, we make a final decision. If approved, you will receive your Felling Permission along with any conditions.