Spelthorne Borough Council visited a property on The Avenue in September following concerns from a member of the public.
Franco Lumba was advised that the tree was subject to a preservation order and work should stop.
Despite agreeing, the council visited later the same month to find that the roots of the tree had been significantly damaged by further work.
Lumba pleaded guilty for failing to comply with the Town and Country Planning Regulations 2012.
The court imposed a fine of £250, a victim surcharge of £100 and ordered the defendant to pay the Council’s costs of £2,392.
