Tree permits

Protection of Trees on Private Property

Trees on private property may be protected by:

• Encumbrances attached to the property Title (please refer to the Victorian Titles Office)
• A Planning permit (usually properties under 500m2 or dual/multiple occupancy)
• The Bayside Planning Scheme Vegetation Protection Overlay, Schedule 3
• Heritage overlay
• Local Law

For queries regarding planning permits, heritage overlay or the Vegetation Protection Overlay please contact Council’s Planning Department on 9599 4444.

Trees protected by Local Law 2 – Neighbourhood Amenity, Clause 36

Under Clause 36 of Council’s Local Law No. 2, a person must not, without a Permit  “destroy, damage or remove or allow to be destroyed, damaged or removed; cut, trim, lop or prune or allow to be cut, trimmed, lopped or pruned” any Significant Tree or any other protected tree on private property.

A protected tree is:

• a tree with a single or combined* trunk circumference greater than 155 centimetres measured at one metre above ground level.
   *the four largest trunk circumferences should be used to reach the combined circumference
• a tree listed on Council’s Register of Significant Trees
• a tree planted in accordance with the replacement planting condition of a Local Law permit

Exemptions to the requirement for a permit

• A permit is not required to prune a tree if the work is to be carried out by an arborist trained to AQF Level 3 in Arboriculture, or above, or equivalent recognised and relevant experience that enables them to perform the tasks required by Australian Standard No. 4373, 2007 Pruning of Amenity Trees
  The contractor must certify his work, including photographs before and after work.
• In an emergency, any tree that is an immediate threat to life and or property may be removed without a permit
• Trees listed on the Department of Primary Industry noxious weed list.
  

Apply for a Local Law tree permit

To apply for a tree removal or pruning permit, complete a  Pruning/Removal Application Form (PDF, 32KB). 

For more information, view the  Pruning/Removal information sheet (PDF, 245KB).

Application fee

Payment of the Local Law permit application fee is required prior to Council processing an application.

• Pruning: $69 for the first two trees and $14 for each additional tree.
• Removal: $139 for the first two trees and $34 for each additional tree

A 50 per cent discount is available on production of any of the following pension cards in the name of the owner of the property on which the tree is located:

• Pensioner Concession Card issued by Centrelink or the Department of Veterans Affairs
• A Gold Card specifying War Widow or TPI issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs

Page last updated: 03 May 2012