QLD Land Clearing Laws

Clearing trees or vegetation in Queensland is regulated, and the rules catch a lot of people out — particularly on acreage, and particularly when land changes hands. Clearing without the right approval can carry serious penalties, and "I didn't know" is not a defence.

This is a plain-English overview to help you work out which rules apply to your block. It isn't legal advice, and it doesn't replace checking with the relevant authority before you start.

There are two different rule sets, and people mix them up

The single most common source of confusion is that two separate systems can apply to the same property, depending on what you're clearing and where you are.

State law — the Vegetation Management Act 1999. This governs clearing of regulated native vegetation, and it's the one that matters most on rural and acreage properties. Vegetation is classified using a system of "regional ecosystems", and your obligations depend on how the vegetation on your particular block is mapped.

Local council law — for trees in towns and suburbs. Most urban clearing is governed by your council instead. In Brisbane, that's the Natural Assets Local Law 2003, which protects certain vegetation regardless of whether it's on private land.

A block on the urban fringe can fall under both. If you're unsure which applies to you, that's the thing worth resolving first — everything else follows from it.

State vegetation management law

Controls that had been removed in 2013 were reinstated in 2018, and they have stayed in place since. The effect has been substantial: clearing of regulated vegetation across Queensland fell by around 64% between 2018–19 and 2021–22. The accepted development clearing codes were further updated in 2020 and 2023, including additional measures to protect koala habitat.

Importantly, the law does not prohibit everything. Many routine and lower-risk activities are permitted under accepted development vegetation clearing codes, without a separate approval — provided you stay inside the conditions of the relevant code. Depending on circumstances, these can cover things like managing encroachment, establishing property infrastructure, weed control and preparing for natural disasters.

The catch is that whether a code covers your situation depends on how your land is mapped, so the general rule is worth stating plainly: check the map before you clear, not after.

Council rules for suburban trees

In Brisbane, protected vegetation under the Natural Assets Local Law includes trees in bushland, wetlands and waterway corridors, plus protected vegetation in urban and rural areas. Interfering with protected vegetation without permission is an offence even when the tree is on your own property.

There are exemptions. As a general guide, a permit may not be required where the whole trunk sits within 3 metres of an existing, lawfully built and occupied dwelling on a property of 4,000m² or less — or within 6 metres on a property larger than that. This exemption does not extend to significant landscape trees.

Emergencies are treated differently. Where a tree poses an immediate danger, you can act to make it safe. This is the situation our emergency storm damage crews deal with regularly.

Rules vary between councils, so Brisbane's approach is a guide rather than a rule for Ipswich, Logan, Redlands or Moreton Bay. Check the one that covers your address.

How to check your property before clearing

• Request a free vegetation and property map from the Queensland Government for your lot. This tells you how the vegetation on your land is classified, which determines everything else.
• Check your local council's vegetation protection rules and whether any vegetation protection order or overlay applies.
• Check the title for any vegetation-related notices or covenants.
• Keep records of maps, approvals and correspondence. If a question is ever raised, contemporaneous records are what resolve it.

Where we fit in

We've been clearing land across South East Queensland since 1990, so we see these situations constantly. When we come out to quote a land clearing job, we'll talk through whether approval looks likely to be needed before any work is scheduled.

To be clear about responsibility: obtaining and holding any required approval rests with the landowner. We're not able to give legal advice or make the determination on your behalf — but we would much rather raise the question early than have you find out afterwards.

Official sources: the Queensland Government's vegetation management pages cover the state framework, including how to request a property map. For urban trees, Brisbane City Council's protected vegetation permits page is the starting point.

Last reviewed September 2026. Legislation and council rules change — always confirm current requirements with the relevant authority before clearing.