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Protected vegetation permits

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Get a permit to work on protected vegetation. Understand the different permit types and exemptions.

Landholder and Council officer on a Wildlife Conservation Partnership program site.

Local law

Protected vegetation is identified under Council’s Natural Assets Local Law 2003 (NALL). It includes plants and trees in bushland areas, wetlands, waterway corridors and urban or rural areas.

Penalties apply for working on or removing protected vegetation without permission. Penalties range from infringement notices to prosecution for serious offences.

It's an offence to interfere with vegetation protected under NALL without permission, even if the vegetation is on your property. 

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Unlawful clearing

Have you seen any vegetation unlawfully cleared or damaged? Report it to Council.

If you are witnessing someone clearing or interfering with protected vegetation, phone Council on 07 3403 8888.

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Check if you need a permit

Some work is allowed on protected vegetation without a permit. 

Exemptions only apply to:

  • protected vegetation within your property boundaries.

Exemptions don’t apply to:

  • pruning trees or vegetation on Council land
  • work on a property you don’t own
  • installing bud lights on street trees
  • pruning, removing or building within the root zone of a significant landscape tree
  • carrying out construction works next to or underneath the canopy of protected vegetation
  • vegetation protected by legislation other than NALL. This includes heritage trees, tidal vegetation, development approvals, statutory covenants or regional ecosystems.

To check if your work qualifies for an exemption, see our fact sheet.

If you’re unsure if you need a permit, phone Council on 07 3403 8888.

Fire management

You may need a permit to clear vegetation for fire management. Vegetation that is exempt under the Planning Regulation 2017 is still subject to NALL.

Download our fact sheet to find out about permit exemptions relating to bushfire management.

Apply for a permit 

You can apply for 3 types of permits. All permit applications are free.

Short-term work

For one-off tasks such as one-off pruning or removing a tree.

Long-term work

For work involving ongoing maintenance or hazard management of vegetation. Long-term permits are valid for up to 10 years.

Council street trees

For minor pruning on Council street trees. This includes removing small branches overhanging your front fence, driveway, verge or footpath.

How to apply

1 Prepare your documents

To support your application, you need to supply information such as:

  • the type of trees you plan to work on or remove
  • the number of trees or area of vegetation being cleared
  • photos of trees you plan to work on or remove, showing health, structural or nuisance issues
  • maps showing the location of the proposed works
  • signed approval from the property owner or a body corporate seal (if you don’t own the property)
  • Protected Vegetation Management Plans (for long-term permits)
  • building and/or development plans (if the work is to accommodate new buildings or other development)
  • an AQF Level 5 arborist report to support works relating to a significant landscape tree
  • a Forestry Management Plan (if the work is for agriculture and/or forestry)
  • a Fire Management Plan (if the work is required for fire management)
  • an Arboricultural Impact Assessment (if the work is for construction that may impact the root zone of protected vegetation).

For examples of supporting information, download the permit application fact sheet.

2 Submit your application

Complete the online form to apply for a permit to work on protected vegetation.

Apply for a permit

You can also submit your application with your supporting documents by:

  • email to CARS-NALL@brisbane.qld.gov.au
  • mail to:
    Brisbane City Council - Compliance and Regulatory Services
    Environmental Management Team
    GPO Box 1434
    Brisbane Qld 4001.
     

Download the application you need:

Wait times

You’ll receive a permit immediately if you applied to carry out minor street tree pruning.

If you applied to carry out other works on protected vegetation, we will contact you within 20 business days. 

3 Complete the Declaration of Compliance

If your permit is approved, you must complete a Declaration of Compliance for Approved Works to Protected Vegetation.

You need to confirm:

  • your Council reference number for the approved works

  • whether the works are complete

  • whether you have completed the works according to the standards and conditions of your permit

  • details of any replacement planting, including a map or sketch of the location and photos

  • relevant supporting documents.

You must submit the declaration by the due date stated on your permit.

You can also submit a hard copy with supporting documents by:

  • email to CARS-NALL@brisbane.qld.gov.au
  • mail to:
    Brisbane City Council - Compliance and Regulatory Services
    Environmental Management Team
    GPO Box 1434
    Brisbane Qld 4001.

Additional reports you might need

When you apply for a permit to work on protected vegetation, you may need to provide:

  • a tree risk assessment report
  • an arborist report.
Learn more

Frequently asked questions

You can clear weeds from an area containing protected vegetation without permission, if they’re declared pest plants under the Biosecurity Act 2014 or Council’s Biosecurity Plan.

You need to make sure:

  • there’s no damage to the protected vegetation
  • there's no damage to soil profiles 
  • you do not create erosion potential.

Note: Some declared pest plant trees are protected by:

You will need Council permission to clear pest plant trees that are protected.

For more information, phone Council on 07 3403 8888 or use our weed identification tool.

No, the notice specifically addresses the removal of weeds and does not grant permission to clear other protected vegetation. For guidance on effective weed control methods, contact Council on 07 3403 8888.

You need permission to work on protected vegetation, unless it's subject to an exemption. You can apply for permits for one-off tasks or ongoing maintenance of protected vegetation.

Learn more about when you need a permit to work on protected vegetation.

Lodging an application does not guarantee you’ll receive a permit for your proposed works. 

We assess your application against the Natural Assets Local Law 2003.

You must get permission to trim a tree that’s not on your property. If the tree or vegetation is:

Disputes over protected vegetation can often be resolved by regularly maintaining and pruning the vegetation. To carry out these works, apply for a permit to work on protected vegetation.

If you're unable to resolve issues directly, you can contact the South Queensland Dispute Resolution Centre for free advice and mediation services. The Queensland Government established the centre as an alternative to settling disputes through the court system. Trained mediators work with both parties in order to reach an agreement.