A planning permit is required to remove a tree from private property, except where exempt. Please contact our Planning department on 1300 368 333 for advice.
The state government’s 10/30 right allows you to clear vegetation around your home for bushfire protection without a planning permit only if your property is located in a Bushfire Prone area.
All trees within 10 metres of your house and vegetation within 30 metres of your house can be removed so long as:
- Your house was built before 10 September 2009, or;
- A permit for its construction was issued before 10 September 2009
Check if you are in a Bushfire Prone Area
To check if your property is in a Bushfire Prone Area, visit our online mapping and follow these steps:
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On the left under modules click Planning
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At the bottom under the map click search and type in the address and then click the search box
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You will notice on the right under property details it will show your property Zone. Under “Within Designated Bushfire Prone Area” if it shows ‘YES’ then your property is in a Bushfire Prone area.
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To see what parts of your property are “within the Bushfire Prone area”, click the + next to Planning controls, under Layers on the left of the screen, then tick on the Bushfire Prone Area (pink), make sure the ‘Overlays’ is not ticked or the map will not show you the pink Bushfire Zone. You can now see in dark pink the Bushfire Prone Area.
Visit our online mapping to find if you are in a Bushfire Prone Area.
A planning permit may be required to remove a completely dead tree. Please contact our Planning department on 1300 368 333 for advice.
You do not need a permit or an inspection to remove weed species. View the Yarra Ranges List of Environmental Weeds.(PDF, 41KB)
If you are concerned about a tree on a neighbour’s property, speak to your neighbour first before taking action.
Any tree on private property which potentially poses a risk to another private property remains a civil matter to be managed between the property owners. You should speak to your neighbour about getting the tree assessed by a qualified arborist.
More information on your rights and responsibilities regarding trees on private property is available from the Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria.
You have the right to prune an overhanging tree to the boundary fence line. You do not have the right to enter their property without permission.
If the tree on your neighbour’s property potentially poses a risk to Council land, you can lodge a request with Council to have the tree assessed by filling in this form.
If we can confirm that the tree poses a risk to Council land we will have the tree inspected, and will send the arborist report to you and/or your neighbour. Any action required after the inspection will be enforced by Council.
The state government allows you to clear vegetation along an existing boundary fence for bushfire protection without a planning permit only if your property is located in a Bushfire Prone Area.
If your property is located in a Bushfire Prone Area you can clear any vegetation for a maximum combined width of four metres either side of an existing fence on a boundary between properties in different ownership. The maximum width of 4 metres can be divided in any manner that the two landowners agree to (eg 1 metre one side, 3 metres the other).
Note: Up to 1 metre can be cleared along one side of the fence when land has already been cleared 4 metres or more along the other side of the fence.
This does not apply if:
- The fence was constructed after 10 September 2009
- The land is not in a Bushfire prone area.
Before removing any vegetation along a boundary fence, each landowner should seek agreement from their neighbours on how much can be removed.
Check if you are in a Bushfire Prone Area
To check if your property is in a Bushfire Prone Area, visit our online mapping and follow the steps below:
- On the left under modules click Planning
- At the bottom under the map click search type in the address and then click the search box
- You will notice on the right under property details will show your property Zone, under that will way “Within Designated Bushfire Prone Area” if it shows ‘YES’ then your property is in a Bushfire Prone area
- To see what parts of your property are “within the Bushfire Prone area”, click the + next to Planning controls, under Layers on the left of the screen, then tick on the Bushfire Prone Area (pink), make sure the ‘Overlays’ is not ticked or the map will not show you the pink Bushfire Zone. You can now see in dark pink the Bushfire Prone Area.