How does Christchurch protect trees?
The rules are in Chapter 9 of the Christchurch District Plan. Significant trees on private property are listed in Appendix 9.4.7.1 and shown on the Planning Maps. The plan also protects trees on council-owned roads, parks, reserves and other public open space.
The plan is precise about the work itself: what can be done to a significant tree, what needs a works arborist (one who meets the plan's qualification standard), and what needs a consent.
What can be done to a significant tree?
| Under the plan | Detail | |
|---|---|---|
| Cutting roots under 25mm across | Permitted | Measured at the point of cutting |
| Broken branches, deadwood, diseased or faulty branches | Permitted | Faults include cracks, splits, decay and cavities |
| Branches under 50mm in the bottom third | Permitted | Only if the natural shape, form and branch habit are kept |
| Branches touching buildings or blocking paths and driveways | Works arborist | Done by one, or on one's advice |
| Branches 50mm to 100mm in the bottom third | Works arborist | Done by one, or on one's advice |
| Foliage in the top third | Works arborist | No more than 10 per cent over any three years, and five per cent in any one year |
| Any other pruning, gardening or felling | Resource consent | A dead or failed tree goes through the certificate below |
Dead or failing significant trees
Christchurch has a separate path for a significant tree that's dead, has lost structural integrity that can't be fixed, or breaches airport protection rules. Before it's felled, a Tree Removal Certificate (form P-024) has to go to council.
The certificate is prepared by a technician arborist from council's list and has to include the information in Appendix 9.4.7.3. A technician arborist is someone competent to the Level 6 NZQA Diploma in Arboriculture standard or equivalent. A works arborist is the Level 4 NZQA Certificate in Horticulture Services (Arboriculture) benchmark.
Council lists its approved technician, supervising and works arborists on the protected trees page.
Can I garden under a significant tree?
Planting shrubs, flowers, lawn or bark inside the dripline (the ground under the outer edge of the canopy) is permitted, as long as there's no mechanical cultivation, no new trees planted and no change to ground levels.
How to check and apply in Christchurch
Check the appendix and the maps
Look the address up in Appendix 9.4.7.1 and on the District Plan's Planning Maps.
Ask the duty planner if it's unclear
Council points people to its Duty Planner for help working out whether a tree is protected.
Match the job to the list
Compare the work with the permitted list line by line. If it falls outside, apply for a resource consent before any work.
Book the right arborist
A council-listed technician arborist for a P-024 certificate, and a works arborist for the pruning that needs one.
Street and park trees
Council-owned street, park and reserve trees need council's permission before any work. To ask for one to be removed, start by requesting an inspection by a council arborist, online or by phone.
If the tree doesn't meet council's renewal criteria, the application goes to the local Community Board at its next available meeting. Shading, leaf litter and views aren't reasons on their own unless the Tree Policy allows it.
Council says a resource consent is likely as well if the tree is over 6 m high in the road corridor or 10 m in a park, sits in a Character area overlay or water body setback, or is a listed species such as rimu, kaikawaka or nikau palm.
Your own trees have to clear 2.5 metres above the footpath and berm, and 5 metres above the road.
Christchurch City Council tree rules and consents: what to do next
We'd check Appendix 9.4.7.1 first, then hold the job up against the permitted pruning list. If the tree is dead or failing, we'd book a technician arborist from council's list for the P-024 certificate before anyone talks about felling. And if the work sits between two lines on that list, we'd ask the duty planner rather than guess.
Want an arborist to look at it?
Tell us the job and your postcode, and a local arborist calls you to talk it through.