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Asking the Bezirksamt to prune a tree?
Right in front of the apartment where I have been living for the past two years there is a street tree. Every summer, the tree grows leave… Hi everyone, I have a question about tree pruning in Berlin.
Right in front of the apartment where I have been living for the past two years there is a street tree. Every summer, the tree grows leaves (duh), covering the sunlight and making my apartment a bit dark. However, this summer this has become a problem for us since the tree has grown so big that now my house is extremely dark the whole day (I need to live with the lights on during summer). This is something that could be fixed by pruning a bit the tree so... here goes my question. Is it possible to ask my Bezirksamt to prune a tree based on this grounds? If so, who should I contact and how should I state my case so that is solid enought for them to considering doing it?
If anyone has been on a similar situation before and/or has advice regarding this, it would be very welcome. Thank you!
You can submit a formal request through the Ordnungsamt's online form or send an email to your local Bezirksamt's Grünflächenamt. I'd mention that the lack of light is affecting your living conditions, but be aware they usually prioritize safety hazards like dead branches over light blockage. In my experience, they might trim it back a bit if you're persistent, but don't expect a major cutback since street trees are protected under Berlin's Baumschutzverordnung. You could also check if your Mieterschutzbund has any leverage they can apply on your behalf.
yeah i've been through this exact thing near frankfurter tor a few years ago. the grünflächenamt is the right place but honestly they almost never approve pruning just for light issues unless there's a safety risk or structural damage. what worked for me was framing it as the branches hitting the wall during wind storms, which is actually a valid concern for the building's facade. if you can get your hausverwaltung to back you up with a written statement about potential damage, the bezirksamt takes it way more seriously. otherwise they'll just tell you to get a glare-reducing film or blinds, which is what they told my neighbor
honestly, your best bet is to go through the Grünflächenamt in your Bezirk, not the Ordnungsamt. each Bezirk has its own form for "Baumkontrolle" or "Baumbeschwerde" online. i had a similar issue near Warschauer Str. and they sent someone out within two weeks, but only because the branches were touching my window. they won't do it for light alone, so maybe mention the branches are getting close to your building or blocking your balcony if that's true. also, if you're renting, your landlord can sometimes request it too, and they might have more luck since it's a property issue.
i'd say skip the big names and look at studiowest in prenzlauer berg, they do amazing japanese style but the waitlist is like 6 months. if u want something quicker, the artists at bitterlich tattoo in mitte are super underrated, especially for fine line. and honestly, walk past the instagram hype, go to a shop in person and ask to see their portfolio book, that's where the real stuff is.
The Berlin tattoo scene is pretty spread out, so it depends on what style you're after. For fine line and minimalist work, I'd look at A Fine Line in Kreuzberg, they're booked out weeks in advance for a reason. If you want bold traditional, check out Die Wilde Ecke in Neukölln, they've been around forever and the artists there are solid. Honestly, your best bet is to scroll through Instagram and find someone whose healed work you like, not just the fresh photos, because that's where the real skill shows.
One thing nobody's mentioned yet is the tattoo convention at Arena Berlin, usually in early summer. It's a good way to see a bunch of styles in one afternoon and talk to artists face to face without committing to a shop. I found my guy there three years ago, he works out of a tiny studio near Boxhagener Platz and does amazing neo-traditional, but he rarely posts on Instagram so you'd never discover him otherwise. Bring cash if you go, a lot of the booths only take that on the day.