City of Port Phillip

Canopy and Significant tree checker

About this form

This form is a preliminary tool to help you determine:

1. Whether your tree (or trees) meet the definition of a canopy tree, boundary canopy tree or significant tree

2. The potential permit or approval requirements you may need to remove, destroy or prune the tree(s)

The response provided by this form should be treated as a guide only. It does not constitute formal confirmation from Council that any permit or other type of approval is needed.

Before you start

Please check the zone of your property by visiting the Vicplan website. You can use this checker If your address zoning is any of these:

• Mixed Use Zone

• Residential Growth Zone

• General Residential Zone

• Neighbourhood Residential Zone

• Housing Choice Zone

• Transport Zone

Based on your answers above, your tree is not a canopy tree. You do not need a planning permit. You may still require a Significant Tree permit. Please answer the question below to determine if your tree qualifies as a significant tree.

A significant tree permit is likely required to prune or remove your tree. For more information, and to apply, go to the Significant Tree page on our website.

You are unlikely to need a Significant Tree or a Planning permit to prune or remove your tree. To confirm, please log a request with our City Permits team. Please note you are responsible for obtaining all necessary permits and approvals in accordance with relevant legislation and Council requirements.

You can close this form now, or start over if you need to check another tree.

You answered yes to all of the above. This means your tree meets the definition of a Canopy Tree.

The next questions will determine if your tree is also a boundary canopy tree.

Based on you all your answers for far, your tree meets the definition of a boundary canopy tree.

As your tree meets the definition of a boundary canopy tree, and you propose to remove it, you must get a planning permit.

You can use VicSmart to apply for tree removal, pruning and lopping. These applications are generally determined in ten business days upon receipt of a complete application.

If your proposal includes other works, you may need a standard planning permit application.

If you’re still not sure whether you need a permit, you can ask for a Planning Confirmation Request. Your application must include all items as appropriate listed under 52.37-6 of the Port Phillip Planning Scheme.

You can close this form now, or start over if you need to check another tree.

Based on your answers, your tree is a boundary canopy tree. A boundary canopy tree requires a planning permit to remove, lop or destroy.

If you have another question about your tree, please send our Planning team a request with the details of your question(s).

Your canopy tree is not a boundary canopy tree. 

The situations described below are exceptions to planning permit requirements to remove, destroy or lop a canopy tree. Please read each carefully and provide your answer based on your situation to help determine the permits you need.

Are you proposing to remove, destroy or lop a canopy tree that is dead?

Are you lopping or pruning the canopy tree for maintenance?

An exemption applies for maintenance only, provided no more than 1/3 of the foliage of the tree is lopped or pruned.This exemption does not apply to: 

• the pruning or lopping of the trunk of a canopy tree

• pruning or lopping that would reduce the height of the tree to fewer than 5 metres or the canopy diameter of the tree to fewer than 4 metres
  

Are you lopping, removing or destroying a canopy tree due to an emergency situation?

• by, or on behalf of, a public authority or Council to create emergency access or enable emergency works.

• where it presents an immediate risk of personal injury or damage to property

Only that part of the canopy tree that presents the immediate risk may be removed, destroyed or lopped under this exemption.

Are you removing, destroying or lopping the canopy tree due to noxious and environmental weeds

A canopy tree that is identified as a noxious weed in:

• a declaration under section 58 or section 58A of the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994.

• a Planning Scheme

This exemption does not apply to Australian Dodder (Cuscuta australis).

You will likely be exempt from needing a planning permit. You may still require a Significant Tree permit. Please answer the question below to determine if your tree qualifies as a significant tree.

A significant tree permit is required to prune or remove your tree. For more information, and to apply, go to the Significant Tree page on our website.

You likely do not need a Significant Tree permit to prune or remove your tree. We recommend you complete a planning confirmation request to confirm that you don't need a planning permit. Please note you are responsible for obtaining all necessary permits and approvals in accordance with relevant legislation and Council requirements.

You can close this form now, or start over if you need to check another tree.

We recommend you complete a planning confirmation request to confirm that you don't need a planning permit.

You need a planning permit to remove, destroy or lop a canopy tree on vacant land when no development is proposed.

You can use VicSmart to apply for tree removal, pruning and lopping. These applications are generally determined in ten business days upon receipt of a complete application.

If your proposal includes other works, you may need a standard planning permit application.

If you’re still not sure whether you need a permit, you can ask for a Planning Confirmation Request. Your application must include all items as appropriate listed under 52.37-6 of the Port Phillip Planning Scheme.

You can close this form now, or start over if you need to check another tree.

You need a planning permit to remove, destroy or lop a canopy tree on vacant land and a new single dwelling is proposed and only a building permit is required.

You can use VicSmart to apply for tree removal, pruning and lopping. These applications are generally determined in ten business days upon receipt of a complete application.

If your proposal includes other works, you may need a standard planning permit application.

If you’re still not sure whether you need a permit, you can ask for a Planning Confirmation Request. Your application must include all items as appropriate listed under 52.37-6 of the Port Phillip Planning Scheme.

You can close this form now, or start over if you need to check another tree.

You do not require a separate planning permit. You must wait until you receive an outcome for your application and your permit is issued to remove, destroy or lop the canopy tree.

Based on your answers so far, you've said:

• You have a canopy tree on your land.

• Your land is vacant.

• There is not a proposal for a new single dwelling, or an application for a new dwelling or dwellings currently being assessed.

If you have another question about what you can do with your tree, please send our Planning team a request with the details of your question(s).

You need a planning permit to remove, destroy or lop a canopy tree on land where there is an existing dwelling(s) and no  development is proposed.

You can use VicSmart to apply for tree removal, pruning and lopping. These applications are generally determined in ten business days upon receipt of a complete application.

If your proposal includes other works, you may need a standard planning permit application.

If you’re still not sure whether you need a permit, you can ask for a Planning Confirmation Request. Your application must include all items as appropriate listed under 52.37-6 of the Port Phillip Planning Scheme.

You can close this form now, or start over if you need to check another tree.

Based on your answers so far, you've said:

• You have a canopy tree on your land.

• Your land has an existing dwelling(s) and no development is proposed.

• You do not propose to remove, destroy or lop the canopy tree.

If you have another question about what you can do with your tree, please send our Planning team a request with the details of your question(s).

Based on your answers your property:

• Has an existing dwelling

• There is an extension proposed

• There is a canopy tree you wish to remove, destroy or lop

If this is correct, you do not need a planning permit.

Please answer the following question to determine if your tree qualifies as a significant tree. If it does, you will need to apply for a Significant Tree permit.

A significant tree permit is required to prune or remove your tree. For more information, and to apply, go to the Significant Tree page on our website.

You likely do not need a Significant Tree or a Planning permit to prune or remove your tree. You can seek independent advice or request confirmation from Council that you don't need a permit. You can get that confirmation by logging a request online. Please note you are responsible for obtaining all necessary permits and approvals in accordance with relevant legislation and Council requirements.

You can close this form now, or start over if you need to check another tree.

Based on your answers your property:

• Has an existing dwelling

• There is a development proposed

• The development is for any one of:

  • Two or more dwellings on a lot and Residential Buildings
    

  • Two or more dwellings on a lot and Residential Buildings of four storeys

  • Apartment development

If this is correct, you do not need a planning permit to remove, destroy or lop a canopy tree.

Please answer the following question to determine if your tree qualifies as a significant tree. If it does, you will need to apply for a Significant Tree permit.

Based on your answers so far, you've said:

• You have a canopy tree on your land.

• Your land is not vacant.

• You are not proposing an extension or any other development on your land.

• You have not stated an intention to remove, destroy or lop the canopy tree.

If you have another question about what you can do with your tree, please send our Planning team a request with the details of your question(s).

Based on your answers so far, you've said:

• You have a canopy tree on your land.

• Your land is not vacant.

• Your land contains a dwelling and a development is proposed.

• The development is not:

  • an extension

  • a conversion into 2 or more dwellings and residential buildings

  • a conversion into 2 or more dwellings and residential buildings of 4 stories (or higher)

  • new apartments.

We're sorry our checker has not identified the right scenario for you. If you have another question about what you can do with your tree, please send our Planning team a request with the details of your question(s).

A significant tree permit is required to prune or remove your tree. For more information, and to apply, go to the Significant Tree page on our website.

You likely do not need a Significant Tree or a Planning permit to prune or remove your tree. You can seek independent advice or request confirmation from Council that you don't need a permit. Please note you are responsible for obtaining all necessary permits and approvals in accordance with relevant legislation and Council requirements. To confirm, please log a request with our City Permits team.

You can close this form now, or start over if you need to check another tree.