Information for Lod residents regarding the cutting of trees

  • Every mature tree in Israel is protected by law.
  • A mature tree is defined as a tree that is 130 cm high and at least 10 cm in diameter.
  • Trees are protected by law on both private and public land.
  • Any cutting or transplanting of a protected tree requires a permit from the regional forestry officer.
  • Any cutting or transplanting of a protected tree without a permit from the forestry officer is a criminal offense.

Residents of the City of Lod are requested not to cut down trees without permission and coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture.

Any resident wishing to cut down or transplant a protected tree must follow these guidelines

  1. Residents wishing to cut down trees are required to fill out a permit application form. The forms can be found at the link on the Ministry of Agriculture's forestry officer website.
  2. After completing the forms, send them, along with photos of the tree (at least two clear photos of each tree), to the Parks and Landscaping Department of the Lod Municipality at log_nisimr@lod.muni.il.
  3. Once you have received the signature of the person responsible for trees at the municipality, continue the process with the Shefela District Forest Officer, Ms. Hila Zisser, from the Forest and Trees Department at the Ministry of Agriculture, by email at Hillazi@moag.gov.il
  4. If a tree cutting permit is obtained, it must be complied with and presented to a municipal inspector upon request.
  5. Residents who observe an action that constitutes tree felling – cutting the central trunk without leaving the main branches, an action that could cause the death of a tree, such as spraying, poisoning, cutting roots, building in the tree canopy, and uprooting – are required to report this to the Municipal Hotline at 106 in Lod.

Residents who wish to appeal against tree cutting requests may do so within 14 days of publication on the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development website at the following link.Appeals against the decision of the authorized forestry officer of the local authority should be submitted to the forestry officer of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development: Telephone: 03-9485938, Fax: 03-9485526, Email: trees@moag.gov.il.

Additional information is available on the Forest Officer's website.

Nissim Raz

Director of Sanitation and Landscaping