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The City of Offenbach supports citizens in planting new trees and preserving existing old trees on private property. This support serves to preserve and restore the city's tree population and actively contributes to improving the urban climate, air quality and biodiversity. The funding is part of efforts to create a green environment worth living in. The city council adopted the tree promotion guideline at its meeting on 05.12.2024. The tree promotion guideline came into force with its publication on 17.12.2024.
1 Why does the City of Offenbach promote private tree planting and the preservation of old trees? Why plant and preserve trees?
The city of Offenbach is committed to climate protection and a liveable environment. Trees make an invaluable contribution to our urban ecosystem. With the tree promotion guideline, we want to promote above all
Improve air quality through oxygen production and fine dust filtering
Protection from heat islands through shade and cooling through water evaporation
Promote biodiversity: trees are habitats for animals (including birds and insects)
Climate protection through the binding of CO₂
A more liveable environment for all residents
By providing financial support, the city gives citizens the opportunity to actively participate in the re-greening of their surroundings and to secure and restore the tree population in Offenbach.
Where does the city get the money to support tree planting and maintenance?
This funding is financed entirely from compensation payments received by the Office for the Environment and Climate within the framework of the City of Offenbach's green protection statutes. Compensation payments are made, for example, if no replacement can be planted when a tree needs to be felled. By financing the funding from the compensation payments, no additional funds are required from the municipal budget. This solution therefore not only strengthens urban environmental protection, but also protects municipal finances.
2 Who can apply for funding?
Eligible applicants are
Private property owners (individuals or companies)
Homeowners' associations (with the written consent of all members)
Non-profit organizations, religious communities, registered associations, cooperatives and communities of heirs
Public institutions (including subsidiaries), allotment garden sites or farms are not eligible.
3. what is supported?
New plantings:
Planting of native and climate-resistant deciduous trees or yews appropriate to the location, as these promote the urban climate and biodiversity in the long term. You can find a list of suitable tree species herePDF-File142,90 kB.
The planting list contains recommendations. In the case of deviations from native tree species, funding will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis based on the ecological added value
Prerequisite:
The tree to be planted must have a trunk circumference of at least 18-20 cm at a height of 1 m
The grant amounts to a maximum of €1,000 per tree (up to 100% of the costs, including planting by specialist companies)
A maximum of five trees per property are subsidized
Preservation of old buildings:
If you are faced with the decision to cut down a very old tree because the costs of tree care are no longer affordable for private individuals, the tree promotion guideline offers support. It promotes the care of (indigenous) trees that are in the ageing phase (in accordance with FLL tree control guidelines) and provides relief in particular if the costs of maintenance would be disproportionately high for private individuals. Maintenance measures on trees that are still too young, maintenance measures that are mandatory due to legal requirements and maintenance measures that do not serve the purpose of preservation are not funded.
Funding is available for
Measures for maintenance, establishing traffic safety or hazard prevention (e.g. the installation of crown protection) that serve the purpose of conservation
Funding depends on the number of measures:
75% of the costs for the 1st measure
50 % for the 2nd and 3rd measure
25 % for all further measures
Maximum € 2,000 per tree within five years
4 Which measures are excluded from funding?
The guideline excludes the following, among others:
Legally prescribed plantings (e.g. from development plans, parking space statutes or replacement plantings according to green protection statutes)
Measures outside the urban areas (e.g. in allotment gardens)
Personal contributions (e.g. transportation, time expenditure)
Expert opinion costs
Work in commercial gardens (e.g. tree nurseries)
Projects with an eligible sum of less than € 150 (de minimis limit)
5 What other requirements must be met?
The measure must be assessed by the Office for Environment and Climate as sensible in terms of nature conservation
Space requirement: Each new tree planting requires at least 12 m³ of rootable soil to ensure that it can develop in the long term
Professional implementation: Measures must be carried out by qualified specialist companies or professionally on your own.
Maintenance obligation: Subsidized new plantings must be maintained for at least 30 years
6. may I have several trees promoted?
Yes, up to 5 trees per plot can be subsidized.
7. what must be included in the brief report to be submitted for the maintenance of old trees?
The report must be prepared by a qualified specialist company that can provide evidence of its expertise.
The brief report must answer the following questions:
Does the measure serve to maintain the tree, establish road safety or prevent hazards and does it serve to preserve the tree (and to what extent does the measure serve to preserve the tree)?
Does the tree have a positive prognosis for the future (vitality assessment)?
In addition, the report must answer the following points, of which the tree must fulfill at least 2:
Is the tree in the ageing phase (according to FLL tree control guidelines)?
Is it a native tree species?
Does the tree have natural habitat structures (e.g. tree cavities)?
Definition of old tree: A tree in its last phase of life or development. The tree is barely growing. Biological damage often occurs which can impair road safety. For a precise definition, see the FLL tree inspection guidelines.
8 How do I apply for funding?
The application must be submitted before the measures begin. This is how you proceed:
Offer from a tree nursery/specialist gardening company
Site plan (e.g. a marker on an Openstreetmaps, Google Maps map) with marking of the planned tree location
For old tree preservation:
Site plan (e.g. a marker on an Openstreetmaps, Google Maps map) with identification of the tree location
Photos of the tree
After submitting the application form, you will receive an initial assessment from the Office for the Environment and Climate as to whether funding for the preservation of old trees is possible.
You will then require further documents:
Brief tree expertise (this should answer the necessary funding conditions)
Offer from a specialist company
Send the documents by:
E-mail:umweltfoerderungoffenbachde or to the postal address: Office for Environment and Climate, Kaiserstraße 39, 63065 Offenbach
9 What happens after the application is submitted?
After your application has been reviewed, you will receive a notification of approval or rejection (whether or not you will receive funding). Only then can you start with the measures. The implementation of the new planting should take place in the next planting period (spring or fall).
10. how long does it take to process the application?
If the documents have been submitted in full, a processing period of 4-6 weeks can be expected.
11. how is the funding paid out?
Payment is made after the measures have been implemented. If we have approved the funding, payment will be made after submission of a proof of use, which must include the following:
Photos of the implemented measures
Invoices and proof of payment
A site plan with identification of the tree location
The Environment Agency will check the documents and transfer the grant to the specified current account.
12 What happens if a subsidized new plantation is lost?
In the event of force majeure (e.g. storm), no refund is required. In other cases, the tree must be replaced at your own expense. A tree needs a few years of care after planting, especially in summer, to ensure that it grows well. You should therefore water the tree regularly and protect the trunk (e.g. with lime paint).
13. is there a deadline for the implementation of the measures?
Yes, the measures must be completed within the following periods:
New plantings: 12 months (extension of 6 months possible)
Maintenance of old trees: 12 months
14 Who can I contact if I have any questions?
The Office for the Environment and Climate will be happy to help you and can be reached using the contact details below.
Office for Environment and Climate
Stadt Offenbach am Main - Kaiserpalais Kaiserstraße 39 63065 Offenbach
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