Native Vegetation Removal

If you want to remove native vegetation, including trees, shrubs and grasses, you may need a permit from council. Penalties apply for removing native vegetation without a permit. Make sure you know if a permit is needed before you start removing any native vegetation.

There are special controls in Victoria which ensure removing native vegetation doesn’t have a negative effect on biodiversity.

These controls aim to:

avoid removal of native vegetation which makes a significant contribution to biodiversity

minimise the impact on Victoria’s biodiversity

ensure an offset is provided ie planting native vegetation equal to that which was removed.

You may not need a planning permit if:

you are removing dead vegetation with a trunk diameter of 40cm or less at a height of 1.3m above ground level.

you are doing certain building works while constructing a home

you are removing the native vegetation to enable:

– the operation or maintenance of an existing fence

– the construction of a boundary fence between properties in different ownership.

Please note:The clearing along both sides of the fence when combined must not exceed 4 metres in width, except where land
has already been cleared 4 metres or more along one side of the fence, then up to 1 metre can be cleared along the
other side of the fence.

you are implementing fire protection measures

the vegetation is on land less than 0.4 hectares in contiguous ownership.

A more detailed and thorough description of all of the exemptions from requiring a permit to remove native vegetation can be found at the State Governments Exemptions from Requiring a Planning Permit web page.

We strongly recommend you contact the Planning Unit to clarify if a permit is required on 5348 1577.

Biodiversity Assessment Report

If you need a planning permit to remove native vegetation, you must include a Biodiversity Assessment Report in your permit application. Find out how to obtain this report by visiting https://nvim.delwp.vic.gov.au/

Permit application checklist

If you want a permit to remove, destroy or lop native vegetation, you must submit the following information with your application:

Native Vegetation Information Management (NVIM) – Biodiversity Assessment Report

recent dated photographs of the native vegetation to be removed

topographic information

a copy of any property vegetation plan that applies to the site

where the removal, destruction or lopping of vegetation is to create defendable space, a statement explaining why it is required, when other available bushfire risk mitigation measures have been considered.

details of any other native vegetation permitted to be removed.

To find out more about state-wide rules regarding the removal of vegetation click on this link and it will direct you to the State Governments web page that provides detailed information about Victorian native vegetation.