Tree surveys in Cardiff
If you're building near trees in Cardiff, Cardiff Council will usually want a BS 5837 tree survey with the planning application. If you're worried about a tree's safety, or a lender or insurer has asked about one, you need a condition survey instead. We can introduce you to one vetted arboricultural consultant who covers your site in Cardiff.
Beatrice Vasey is a horticulturist, not an arboricultural consultancy. We introduce you to one vetted arboricultural consultant and are paid a referral fee by that business.
Protected trees and planning in Cardiff
- Planning decisions
- Planning applications in Cardiff are decided by Cardiff Council.
- Tree preservation orders
- Check Cardiff Council's map of tree preservation orders; trees in conservation areas use the same application form.
- Conservation areas
- In a conservation area, give the council 6 weeks' written notice before working on a tree, unless its trunk is under 7.5 cm across at 1.5 m.
- Felling licences
- Felling 5 m³ or more of timber in a calendar quarter usually needs a felling licence, but gardens are exempt. Licences are issued by Natural Resources Wales.
Tree survey types and costs
For a planning application in Cardiff, start with the BS 5837 survey and commission it before the layout is fixed, so the design can work around the trees worth keeping.
| Survey | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| BS 5837 tree survey | Before the layout is designed | About £300 to £760 for a small domestic site |
| Arboricultural impact assessment (AIA) | With the planning application, once the layout is drawn | About £500 to £1,000 together with the survey |
| Arboricultural method statement and tree protection plan | With the application, or to discharge a planning condition | About £250 to £500 for a small extension |
| Tree condition or safety survey | Any time | About £150 to £350 for a basic inspection; £350 to £900 for a detailed report on several trees |
| Mortgage or insurance tree report | When a lender or insurer asks for one | From about £300 plus VAT |
Typical prices from published cost guides. Your consultant quotes for your site.
Your arboricultural consultant in Cardiff
We pass each Cardiff enquiry to one vetted arboricultural consultant who covers your site. You get an email naming them before your details are shared, and they quote you directly. We are paid a referral fee by that business, as set out in how our partner network works.
We also arrange tree surveys in Bristol, Bath and Exeter.
In Cardiff we can also introduce you to specialists for Japanese knotweed treatment, bat surveys, ecological surveys, tree surgery and landscaping, all listed on our Cardiff page.
Tree survey questions in Cardiff
Do I need a tree survey for a planning application in Cardiff?
Usually, if there are trees on the site or close enough to be affected, including trees on neighbouring land. A BS 5837 survey is what councils, including Cardiff Council, normally expect.
How do I find out if a tree has a TPO in Cardiff?
Check Cardiff Council's map of tree preservation orders; trees in conservation areas use the same application form.
Can I cut down a tree in my garden in Cardiff?
Only if it isn't protected. Work on a protected tree needs the council's consent, under the same 1990 Act as England. Dead or dangerous trees need at least five days' notice, except in an emergency. The Planning (Wales) Act 2026 will restate these rules, expected from October 2027. In a conservation area, give the council 6 weeks' written notice before working on a tree, unless its trunk is under 7.5 cm across at 1.5 m.
Will I need other surveys for planning in Cardiff?
Possibly. Trees with cavities, cracks or loose bark can hold roosting bats, so felling or heavy pruning may need a bat survey in Cardiff, and larger sites often need an ecological survey in Cardiff as well.
Get a tree survey quote in Cardiff
Tell us about the site and the trees. Beatrice reads every enquiry.