Vegetation Protection Orders
Learn how VPOs protect significant trees and plants. Find out how to nominate vegetation.
What is a Vegetation Protection Order?
A Vegetation Protection Order (VPO) is a legal document issued by Council under the Natural Assets Local Law 2003 (the Local Law).
The law aims to prevent indiscriminate clearing and protect vegetation of significant value.
All vegetation on Council-owned or managed land is automatically protected.
Nominate vegetation for protection
You can nominate vegetation on any private property in the Brisbane local government area for a VPO.
Your nomination can be for an individual tree, group of trees or an area of vegetation.
You can find out if the vegetation you are nominating is already protected using the Protected Vegetation Enquiry online form.
We can help you to determine the status of protected vegetation on any valid address within the Brisbane local government area.
The system will email you a map and a report of the extent of the protected vegetation.
You need to include:
- your contact details
- the address of the vegetation and its location on site
- a description and approximate dimensions of trees
- a map and/or photos of the vegetation
- its importance, such as its aesthetic value, role as a habitat, or cultural and historical significance to the landscape and
- how these values relate to one or more of the objects of the Local Law
- reasons why you are nominating the vegetation for protection at this time, including any possible threats to the trees.
You can submit a VPO nomination using the online vegetation protection nomination form.
How we assess nominations
Your nomination is assessed against the objects of the Local Law.
To be eligible for a VPO, the vegetation must meet one or more of the following objects:
- protecting the biodiversity values of the city including, but not limited to, the habitat and ecological requirements of native flora and fauna
- preserving natural landforms such as waterways, wetlands, bushlands, ridgelines and steep slopes
- facilitating the retention of the landscape character of the city
- facilitating the retention of the historical and cultural values of the city by restricting indiscriminate clearing of vegetation.
