The arizónicas in Madrid are a common part of gardens, plots, and enclosures, but their presence also appears in the official recommendations for prevention against forest fires. The Community of Madrid advises avoiding this type of hedge in the vicinity of homes located in risk areas and opting for less flammable vegetation.
However, removing a hedge does not always follow the same procedure. The arizónicas in Madrid may be subject to a license, prior communication, responsible declaration, or authorization, depending on whether the plot is within the municipality of Madrid, the nature of the land, and the specific action intended to be carried out.
Is a permit needed to remove arizónicas in Madrid?
If the plot is located in the municipality of Madrid, the City Council has a specific procedure to request a license for the felling and transplanting of trees, tree masses, or shrub vegetation. The complete removal of a hedge may be included in this regime, so the owner must consult the municipal procedure before starting the work.
The application is processed before the City Council, and the action must comply with the conditions established for this type of intervention on vegetation located on private land. The procedure allows the City Council to assess the specific characteristics of the action before authorizing it.
The municipal regulations distinguish between the removal of vegetation and its maintenance. In the case of trees located in private spaces, the City Council of Madrid provides for prior communication for certain pruning actions.
Therefore, before starting the work, it is advisable to determine exactly what is going to be done. It is not the same to trim or reduce an arizónica as to completely eliminate the hedge, and that difference can change the procedure that corresponds to be submitted to the Administration.
What happens if the plot is in forest land
Outside the municipality of Madrid, and especially when the action affects land considered forested, the regulations of the Community of Madrid may come into play.
The Community has a specific procedure to authorize certain forest uses in forests not managed by the Administration. This regime may affect work related to cutting, pruning, or clearing vegetation, depending on the characteristics of the land and the action.
Among the documentation that may be required are plans or orthophotos that allow delimiting the area where the work will be carried out. The procedure is also subject to the conditions established by the regional administration and may require the payment of a fee.
When a responsible declaration may suffice
The Community of Madrid also contemplates a regime of responsible declaration for certain forest uses. Among the anticipated cases are some minor actions on non-protected species and certain works covered by forest management instruments.
In these cases, the correct submission of the responsible declaration allows the action to begin under the terms provided by the regulations, although this does not mean that any removal of vegetation can automatically be covered by this route.
The documentation and requirements depend on the type of use, the species, and the characteristics of the land, so it is advisable to check beforehand if the specific action fits into any of the cases established by the Community.
The exceptions: when it may not be necessary to process authorization
The regional regulations also contemplate certain uses that may be exempt from authorization or responsible declaration. Among them is, under the conditions established by the Community of Madrid, the use of certain low shrubs and limited surface, as long as they do not affect protected species.
But this exception does not allow concluding that any hedge of Arizona cypress can be removed without any procedure. Height, surface, location, and the consideration of the land are elements that may be decisive.
The practical recommendation, therefore, is to first check if the plot is within the municipality of Madrid and if the action requires a municipal license or, in case of affecting forest land, consult the authorization and responsible declaration procedures of the Community of Madrid. Only after that is it advisable to hire or start the work.
Why Arizona cypress appears in fire prevention recommendations
Prevention is the origin of a good part of the interest in removing this type of hedges. The Community of Madrid includes among its recommendations to protect homes against wildfires the advice to avoid arizonicas and maintain the surroundings of the buildings with suitable vegetation.
The issue is not only to remove plants but to reduce the continuity of combustible vegetation in the surroundings of the homes and keep the plots in conditions that hinder the spread of fire.