In Spain, you almost always need prior permission from your local town hall (Ayuntamiento) to remove a tree, even if it is located on your own private property.
Key Rules and Regulations

• Public Interest Priority: Spanish law prioritizes ecological public interest and environmental protection over private ownership, meaning mature, established, or specific native species are heavily regulated.

• Local Town Hall Authority: Rules, protected species lists, and application processes vary strictly by municipality. You must contact the environment department (Medio Ambiente) or the parks and gardens department (Parques y Jardines) at your local Ayuntamiento before taking action.

• Protected Species: Certain trees—such as pine trees in regions like Mijas or Alicante—are tightly protected, and removal requests are only approved under strict conditions (such as roots causing structural damage to foundations or infrastructure).

• Pruning vs. Removal: Severe pruning, pollarding, or topping can be legally classified as partial removal in many municipalities and may also require authorization. Routine trimming of standard hedges, yuccas, and palm trees often does not need a permit, but removing a palm tree entirely still usually does