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There are 3 situations where you will need a permit to remove or prune a tree and/or vegetation on your property.
Trees or vegetation may be protected by a planning permit if you live in, or own, a flat, unit, apartment, dual occupancy, or if the property is under 500m2.
To find out whether your property is protected by a heritage overlay or a significant landscape overlay, use the planning maps online website.
To check whether there is a planning permit on your property, or more information on the planning application process contact our planning department on (03) 9599 4666.
There is an area which is protected by the Vegetation Protection Overlay (VPO3) shown in the map below. This region has been identified as an area of environmental significance.
A planning permit is required to remove, destroy or lop any native tree or plant (including ferns and palms) which is:
Pruning a native tree or native plant protected by the VPO is allowed without a permit in the VPO3 area. Works must be in accordance with AS4373 Pruning of Amenity Trees to be considered pruning.
No permit is required to remove, destroy or lop vegetation to the minimum extent necessary if the vegetation presents an immediate risk of personal injury or damage to property. Only the part of vegetation which presents the immediate risk can be removed, destroyed or lopped.
You can talk to your arborist or tree cutter about the species type. Alternatively if you have received a quote for the work, the species type might be on the quote.
You can also take a clipping to your local nursery.
You can submit a VicSmart application.
You can submit a planning permit application form.
You may need to apply for a Local Law permit if the tree doesn't fall into the above situations and:
Image above showing to measure 1m above ground level, if single or combined trunks are greater than 155cm.
Please note that palms, ferns and non-woody plants do not meet the definition of 'tree' in Council's Local Law and do not need a Local Law permit to remove.
You can view all the trees, by suburb, on our significant trees register page.
To find out whether a tree is planted in accordance with a replacement planting condition of a Local Law permit please call (03) 9599 4444.
A permit is not required to prune a tree protected by the Local Law in special circumstances, these are:
If you would like to apply for a permit in person or by mail, please call us on (03) 9599 4444 to request a hard copy form.
Applications can be made in person at our Corporate Centre, 76 Royal Ave, Sandringham VIC 3191. Mail applications will require a cheque to be enclosed in the envelope. Please note that hard copy applications will take longer to process.