What is the street tree request form template?
Tree teams hear from residents who want a new tree outside their home, others whose window is blocked by branches, and some who are worried a tree might fall. This form handles all of these, asking what's wanted and why, and where the tree is.
The questions change with the request. Pruning, removal and inspection requests ask what the problem is, from blocked pavements and streetlights to dead wood, lifted paving, leaning trunks, disease and overhanging branches, and roughly how tall the tree is. Planting requests ask why a tree would work there and whether the resident would help water it. Storm damage shows a note telling residents to call the emergency services if a road or power line is affected.
A note explains that the council can only work on trees it looks after. Each request is saved as a PDF in FileIt with the photos attached.
- Best for
- Councils, cities, urban forestry and parks teams
- Filled in by
- Residents and local businesses
- Time to complete
- About 4 minutes
- Includes
- Request type, problems, reasons for planting, watering offer, description, street, landmark, position, species, height, photos, contact, connection to the tree, updates
Who uses a street tree request form?
- A resident asking for a tree in an empty tree pit
- Branches blocking a streetlight
- Roots lifting the pavement outside a home
- A tree that looks dead after a dry summer
- A large branch brought down in a storm
Questions on this street tree request form
18 questions over 3 pages · includes file upload, conditional questions, multiple pages.
1 Your request
- What would you like us to do?* Plant a new tree · Prune a tree · Remove a tree · Inspect a tree I'm worried about · Deal with storm damage or a fallen tree
- What's the problem?* asked only when it applies Branches blocking the pavement or road · Branches touching a building · Blocking a streetlight or sign · Dead or dying · Roots lifting the pavement · Leaning or unstable · Disease or pests · Overhanging my property
- Why would a tree work well here?* asked only when it applies
- Would you help water it through its first summers? asked only when it applies
- Tell us more*
2 The tree's location
- Street*
- Nearest house number or landmark*
- Town or neighbourhood
- Postcode or ZIP
- Where is it?* In the pavement or grass verge · In a park or open space · In a front garden next to the street · Not sure who owns it
- Type of tree, if you know it
- How tall is it? asked only when it applies Shorter than a house · About as tall as a house · Taller than a house · Not sure
- Photos
3 Your details
- Your name*
- Email*
- Phone
- Your connection to the tree* It's outside my home · I live nearby · I run a business nearby · I pass by it
- Would you like updates on this request?
The street tree request form, page by page
1 Your request
"What would you like us to do?": plant a new tree, prune one, remove one, inspect one, or deal with storm damage or a fallen tree. All but planting ask "What's the problem?". Planting asks "Why would a tree work well here?" and "Would you help water it through its first summers?". Storm damage shows the emergency note. Everyone adds "Tell us more".
2 The tree's location
Street, nearest house number or landmark, town and postcode, "Where is it?" (pavement or verge, park, front garden next to the street, or not sure who owns it), a note on council-owned trees, the type of tree if known, "How tall is it?" compared with a house, and up to five photos.
3 Your details
Name, email, phone, "Your connection to the tree" and whether they'd like updates.
Make the template yours
- Add your emergency phone number to the storm damage note
- Add a list of approved species for planting requests
- Put your planting season and any waiting list in the cover text
- Notify your arboriculture team or contractor directly
- Make photos required for removal requests
Tips for a better street tree request form
- Inspect before deciding on removal; the resident's concern may be about something else
- Group planting requests by street for each planting season
- Tell residents if a tree turns out to be on private land
- Reply to residents who asked for updates when work is scheduled
- Keep requests with the arborist's site assessment for each tree
Every response becomes a PDF in your vault
Each request is saved as a PDF in the folder you choose, with photos attached, and the tree team is emailed.
The Responses table lists requests by street and type. Export to CSV to plan inspections and planting.
- Start from this template. It opens in the FileIt Forms designer — change any question, add pages, set the rules for when questions appear.
- Share it. Turn on a public link, or send it to people by email, each with their own link. They don’t need a FileIt account.
- Get the answers as PDFs. Each response is saved as a PDF in the vault folder you choose, with uploaded files attached — and listed in a Responses table you can export to CSV.
Street tree request form: frequently asked questions
Is this street tree template free?
Yes. It's one of the starter templates in the Forms app, included on every FileIt account, and you can edit any question.
Can residents request a tree on their own land?
The form is for trees the council looks after. It tells residents the council will let them know if a tree is on private land.
Does the form decide whether a tree is removed?
No. It collects the request. Your arborists inspect and decide.
Do residents need a FileIt account?
No. Residents open your link, answer the questions and submit. No account is needed.
Should residents use this for a fallen tree blocking a road?
They can report it, but the form tells them to call the emergency services or your emergency line first if a road or power line is affected.