If you’re planting trees or doing any landscaping as part of your development, you may need consultation and approval.
Exempt landscaping
Some landscaping works can be undertaken without the need for development approval, this includes for general maintenance and structures that are generally less than 0.4m from natural ground level.
Please refer to the exemption self-check tools to help determine whether your landscaping works are exempt.
Landscape plan
For works that require a development application (DA), a landscape plan may be required. Things to consider when you're preparing a landscape plan as part of your DA:
- type of development
- surface treatments for hard stand areas that are water resistant
- other surfaces like mulches and dryland or irrigated grass
- outdoor plants like trees, shrubs, climbers and ground covers, and
- water efficiency measures.
You can find the requirements of a Tree Management Plan in the minimum documentation requirements for DAs.
If you need help with your landscape plan you can contact a landscape architect through the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects.
Existing trees
It’s important to identify regulated or registered trees on your block. You'll need to think about:
- the impacts on existing plants or existing trees
- work to existing trees over a certain size
- a report and tree survey by a qualified arborist, and
- a Tree Management Plan.
If you're planning work on existing regulated or protected trees, you may need to submit a development application (DA).
To get a report and tree survey, you can contact a qualified arborist.
If you need more information on registered and protected trees, contact Transport Canberra and City Services (TCSS).
Nature strips
A nature strip is the strip of land between a property boundary and the adjacent road and includes rain gardens. It provides a safe public walking area that complements your neighbourhood's natural settings. The nature strip or roadside verge is public land and isn't part of your lease from the ACT Government.
You're responsible for maintaining the nature strips next to your property. This includes taking care of all grass and plantings and pruning to hedges. This doesn't include:
- works to street trees, like tree surgery or chemical spraying and
- repair and maintenance of pathways.
Find information about nature strips on the TCCS website.
For more information, call 13 22 81 or email TCCS.DCDevelopmentCoordination@act.gov.au.
