Apply for street tree lighting
Follow our step-by-step guide to apply for street tree lighting. Download fact sheets on installing and maintaining your lights.
About street tree lights
Street trees in Brisbane’s business centres may be decorated with bud lights to create exciting and attractive night-time streetscapes. Bud lights, also known as fairy lights, are small lights strung together.
Council street trees are protected under the Natural Assets Local Law (NALL). You need a permit to install bud lighting.
Bud lights must be extra-low voltage - not exceeding 50V AC or 120 V ripple free DC. They can be solar or mains-powered. Colour changes are allowed for events such as Christmas, St Patrick’s Day, Easter and Australia Day. Strobing or flashing lighting is not allowed.
Application process
1. Understand the eligibility criteria
Eligible applicants
Eligible locations
Bud lighting in street trees is permitted in various commercial zones and precincts as defined by Brisbane City Plan 2014. They include:
- Principal Centre - City centre (PC1)
- Principal Centre - Regional centre (PC2)
- Major Centre (MC)
- District Centre – District (DC1)
- District Centre – Corridor (DC2)
- Mixed Use - Inner city (MU1)
- Mixed Use - Centre frame (MU2)
- Mixed Use - Corridor (MU3).
Use the online interactive map to check if your business is in an eligible zone or zone precinct.
2. Prepare your documents
Required information
You must provide:
- a site plan - a simple layout plan showing the location of the trees, footpaths, traffic signals or signage, adjacent buildings, awnings and bud lighting wiring (if power is sourced from mains transformed extra-low voltage)
- a photo of the tree(s) you want to be lit
- Certificate of Currency for Public Liability Insurance to the value of $20 million.
When applying as a group, you also need to provide consent letters from all property owners and occupiers in the proposed permit area.
Application checklist
Download the fact sheet for information about applying for and complying with a bud lighting permit.
3. Submit an application
To apply for a free street tree lighting permit, complete the online form.
Permit approval
We’ll assess your application and get in touch within 4 weeks.
Permits are valid for up to 5 years. If your permit is approved, you need to:
- maintain the bud lighting and comply with all the permit conditions
- take care with small scale installations to avoid creating a hazard to people using the footpath
- have the lighting inspected by an electrician and submit a Declaration of Compliance within 10 working days
- submit a Declaration of Compliance and public liability insurance certificate every year for the permit’s duration.
Download the fact sheet to find out how to correctly install and maintain bud lighting.
Requesting a decision review
You can ask for a review of a decision if Council:
- refuses your application
- adds, varies or revokes a condition
- revokes your permit.
You can request a review if you believe:
- procedures that were required by law to make the decision were not observed
- there was no evidence or other material to justify the making of the decision
- the making of the decision was an improper exercise of the power conferred by the Natural Assets Local Law (NALL).
If your decision is eligible for review, you must submit your application in writing within 21 days of receiving the decision.
Your application must state why you're challenging the original decision and include the facts and circumstances that support the review.
Permit exemptions
You don’t need a permit to install:
-
solar-powered bud lights in shrubs and trees up to 2 metres tall
-
bud lights in trees on private property, unless the trees are protected by NALL or other legislation.
More information
For more information about street tree lighting permits, call our Business Hotline on 133 263.
Helpful links
Frequently asked questions
You can’t make requests about the types of lights you want to install on street trees. Bud lights used must:
- emit a warm, white light (colour changes are allowed for calendar events and holidays)
- be extra-low voltage and not exceed 50V AC or 120 V ripple free DC
- be free from flashing or strobing.
This helps maintain consistency, protect the trees and keep visitors safe.
Yes, you can collaborate with other businesses to apply for a street tree lighting permit. This is a great way to ensure consistency across your local area or precinct. Find out what information you need to provide, how to apply and more about the application process.
You can apply for a permit to install street tree lights all year round. If planning for an event, keep in mind that it will take 4 weeks to process your application.
The street tree lighting permit holder is responsible for the ongoing maintenance and care of the lights. This includes regularly checking for faulty bud lights and making necessary repairs. You must also complete an annual Declaration of Compliance to confirm you’re following the conditions of the street tree lighting permit. For more information, including a maintenance checklist, see our installation and maintenance fact sheet.
You must follow specific regulations and guidelines when installing bud lighting on street trees. This helps to protect the trees and keep the people around them safe.
Find out how to install and maintain bud lighting in street trees.