Yerevan City Law on Protecting Trees during Construction

Yerevan City Council Resolution No. 405-N from 16.03.2012 establishes a comprehensive set of mandatory "additional conditions" for construction projects within the city, supplementing national building codes to prioritize public safety, environmental hygiene, and proper site organization alongside its strict greenery protection measures.

For Kanach Yerevan, this document is the definitive checklist for monitoring active construction sites. Because it incorporates strict tree protection amendments (such as mandatory fencing and root zone protection), it transforms tree care from a voluntary good deed into a binding legal obligation.

Key takeaways related to trees

If you see a construction site which violates these regulations, they are not just being nigligent, they break a city law. Please report the violation to the Ministry of Ecology using this instruction.

[1] Transparency and planning. Before construction begins, the developer must ensure transparency regarding the greenery on site by including a detailed survey in the site organization plan that marks every individual tree and bush located on public land within the construction zone (7.3). Additionally, the developer is required to install a visible information board at the site entrance that displays a color rendering of the final landscaping (7.5.ա) and explicitly lists the number and types of trees existing before construction versus those planned for the future (7.5.ժա).

[2] Physical protection of plants. Once the site is set up, the developer must implement rigid physical barriers to prevent mechanical damage to plants (7.11). This includes fencing off entire green zones with rigid materials at least 1.5 meters high (7.11.ա) and "boxing in" individual trees with wooden planks or rigid fencing that stands at least 1.5 meters high and is placed at least 0.5 meters away from the tree trunk (7.11.բ).

[3] The "no-go" zone. The law establishes a strict protective buffer zone extending 1.5 meters from a tree's canopy (branches), inside which it is forbidden to store construction materials, park heavy machinery, or mix concrete and asphalt (7.11.գ). If mixing concrete near this zone is unavoidable, the ground must be covered with a thick waterproof tarp to prevent chemical runoff from seeping into the soil and damaging the root systems (7.11.գ).

[4] Soil and root protection. To ensure the long-term health of the trees, heavy machinery that causes soil compaction is prohibited within 1.5 meters of the canopy (7.11.գ). Furthermore, developers are banned from adding soil fill or scraping away soil near the roots, with a specific protected radius defined as 2 meters from the trunk for trees with a diameter up to 15cm, and 3 meters for trees larger than 15cm (7.11.ե).

[5] Mandatory maintenance. During the active growing and hot season from May through September, the developer is legally obligated to water the trees and bushes at least once every 3 days (7.11.գ). If the construction process generates significant dust, the greenery must also be washed via sprinkling at least once every 7 days (7.11.գ), and upon completion, all fences and equipment must be removed carefully to avoid damaging the plants (7.11.է).