On Planting Green Spaces

Often, citizens, with good intentions, plant trees (shrubs) in areas adjacent to their plots, but which are public areas. And then it turns out that the grown trees pose a threat to buildings, and citizens ask for them to be removed, which requires budget funds. It may also happen that a tree is planted on a plot where underground utility lines run, which will also create a problem.

The Beshenkovichi District Inspectorate for Natural Resources and Environmental Protection informs that unauthorized planting of green spaces in public areas of settlements is prohibited.

In accordance with the Law "On the Plant World", land users are obliged to carry out landscaping in accordance with the legislation in the field of architectural, urban planning and construction activities, communal services, and the protection and use of the plant world. Landscaping is carried out in specially designated places, at specific times and with plant objects having quantitative and qualitative characteristics determined by urban planning and design documentation, and territorial improvement programs (plans) approved in the established manner. The planting of trees and shrubs by citizens on public lands and adjacent territories of multi-apartment residential buildings is organized by persons in the field of landscaping, housing repair and maintenance organizations, homeowner associations, and developer organizations, provided that the rules for designing and arranging landscaping are observed.

We draw your attention to the fact that the environmental norms and rules EcoNiP 17.01.06-001-2017 "Environmental Protection and Nature Management. Environmental Safety Requirements" define a list of tree and shrub species permitted for planting for landscaping purposes.

Violation of EcoNiP requirements entails administrative liability under Article 16.1 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Belarus in the form of a fine of up to twenty basic units for individuals, up to fifty basic units for individual entrepreneurs, and up to one hundred basic units for legal entities.

For the purpose of landscaping and maintenance (operation) of a land plot provided for servicing a single-family residential building, an apartment in a blocked residential building, the planting of vegetation (trees, shrubs) from the boundaries of adjacent land plots is carried out at a distance of:

tall trees (reaching a height of more than 3 meters in adulthood) - at least 3 meters;

medium-sized trees (reaching a height of up to 3 meters in adulthood) - at least 2 meters;

dwarf trees (reaching a height of up to 2 meters in adulthood) - at least 1 meter.

In the zone of 1 meter to the boundary of an adjacent land plot, it is allowed to place lawns and plants no more than 1 meter high.

It is also forbidden to plant trees closer than 5 meters from the wall of a house, in the protection zones of gas pipelines, overhead and cable power lines and communication lines, heating, water supply, and sewerage networks.