Infringement of the rules may result in a penalty of up to €700 per tree for individuals and up to €1400 for legal persons.
Riga City Construction Board spokesman Edgars Butāns said that in order to control compliance with the rules, the Construction Board will perform enhanced inspections not only in the city center but also in remote neighborhoods during the ban period.
“This restriction is intended to protect the vegetation in urban areas at the beginning of their growing season, as well as to protect birds breeding in trees,” explained Butāns.
“There are also a number of exceptions at the same time when tree felling can be carried out during the ban. Namely, the ban does not apply to felling of fruit trees, trees with a stump of no more than 20 centimeters in diameter. And the ban also does not apply to the dangerous trees for which the municipality has issued a felling permit,” said Butāns.