Council Tree Permits: Do You Need One? Brisbane, Redland, Logan, Moreton Bay and Gold Coast

Why council tree rules matter before you cut

The first question we get asked about any big tree is "do I need a permit?" The answer is "maybe", and it depends on where you live, what the tree is, and where it stands on the block. South-east Queensland has no single set of rules. Brisbane, Redland, Logan, Moreton Bay, Ipswich and Gold Coast councils each protect vegetation differently, and state koala laws sit on top.

At the state level, the Vegetation Management Act 1999 generally treats suburban freehold land in urban areas as Category X, meaning the state clearing rules do not usually apply. But that is only the first layer. Council local laws and planning scheme overlays apply in addition, and they are what catch most homeowners out.

Removing or heavily pruning a protected tree without approval can land you in trouble with council, and it is not worth the risk. This guide runs through the main rules for each council in our service area. For a quick first check, use our council tree permit checker, then let us confirm it on site as part of a free tree removal quote. We look at the tree and the maps before we give you a price.

Brisbane City Council: Natural Assets Local Law

Brisbane City Council protects vegetation under the Natural Assets Local Law 2003, or NALL. You need a permit to prune, remove or interfere with protected vegetation, which includes bushland, wetlands, waterway corridors, significant native and urban vegetation, and trees covered by a Vegetation Protection Order. This applies on private land too. Applications are free.

Council's "Do I need a permit?" fact sheet lists the main exemptions:

• The whole trunk is within 3m of a lawfully built, occupied dwelling on lots up to 4,000m² (6m on larger lots).
• Garden maintenance removal of trees with a trunk diameter under 30cm measured at 1.4m above ground.
• Fence-line trees under 20cm at 1.4m.
• Pruning no more than 20% of live foliage in any 12 months.
• Dead trees.
• Trees with an obvious immediate hazard, such as a split trunk or leaning with soil upheaval, provided you send photos to council within 10 business days.
• Declared pest vegetation, such as umbrella tree.
• Genuine emergencies and firebreaks on Fire Warden or QFES direction.

None of the exemptions apply to "significant landscape trees". If in doubt, call council on 07 3403 8888 or ask us when we quote in Carindale, Mount Gravatt or anywhere on the southside.

Redland City Council: overlays and Local Law No. 6

Our home council. Redland City protects trees on private land two ways: through environmental overlays in the Redland City Plan, and through Local Law No. 6 (Protection of Vegetation).

The council fact sheet lists the overlays that can trigger approval: Environmental significance, Waterway corridors and wetlands, Vegetation Protection Orders, and Tree Protection Areas. In urban zones, clearing up to 500m² can be done without approval, though that does not override an overlay or a VPO.

In November 2025 council confirmed that routine trimming along fence lines and near buildings is not regulated under the City Plan. A proposed overlay amendment covering lots over 1,000m² was postponed at the same time, so the rules for acreage blocks in Sheldon, Mount Cotton and Thornlands are worth re-checking each year.

Koalas add another layer across the Redlands. Council's Koala Conservation Action Plan 2022 to 2027 commits to no net loss of native vegetation, and koala food trees get extra scrutiny. We cover that in our Redlands koala trees guide. Redland jobs from Capalaba to Redland Bay are our bread and butter, so we know what the overlay maps look like.

Logan City Council: Biodiversity Areas Overlay

Logan works off the Logan Planning Scheme 2015. Clearing inside the Biodiversity Areas overlay or the Waterway Corridors and Wetlands overlay needs approval unless an exemption applies, according to council's vegetation management fact sheet.

The exemption criteria are more generous than Brisbane's in some ways:

• Lots under 5,000m² outside restricted areas.
• In bushfire zones, clearing within 10m of a dwelling plus a further 10m outer zone, and 5m around sheds.
• Garden maintenance.
• Removal of Cadaghi and umbrella trees.

The catch is that these exemptions do not apply inside koala corridors or waterway areas. A lot of Logan's acreage, in suburbs like Cornubia, Logan Village and Jimboomba, sits in or near those mapped areas.

Logan has an online vegetation clearing decision tool that walks you through the questions. It is the best starting point for any tree in Logan, from Eagleby to Springwood. Council's number is (07) 3412 3412 if the tool does not give a clear answer.

Moreton Bay, Gold Coast and Ipswich

City of Moreton Bay. Approval may be needed to clear native vegetation, and council says koala habitat and priority areas generally cannot be cleared or lopped without approval. Council's native vegetation clearing page is the reference for North Lakes, Petrie and Caboolture.

Gold Coast. The City of Gold Coast uses a simple size test. Vegetation is assessable if the tree is taller than 4m or has a trunk circumference over 40cm measured at 1.3m, per council's tree removal on private land page. That catches most established trees in Coomera, Ormeau and Pimpama, so assume a check is needed on the northern Gold Coast.

Ipswich. Tree clearing is managed under the Ipswich City Plan 2025. Check council's earthworks and tree clearing page for Springfield Lakes and Ipswich jobs.

State koala rules. On top of all of this, the Planning Regulation 2017 requires approval to interfere with koala habitat trees in mapped koala priority and habitat areas, unless an exemption applies such as a once-off 500m² clearing, an emergency, or a firebreak.

How we handle permits when we quote

We are arborists, not town planners, but we deal with these rules every week. When we quote a removal we look at the tree, the block and the council maps, and tell you whether a permit may apply. If it does, we explain what council will want, which is usually photos, a site plan and sometimes an arborist report ($300 to $500 guide).

A few rules of thumb that apply across every council:

• Pruning is treated more lightly than removal, but heavy pruning can still count as "interfering". Brisbane's 20% of live foliage in 12 months is the clearest line. See lopping vs pruning.
• Dead trees and trees that are an obvious immediate hazard are exempt in most schemes, but photograph them before anything is cut.
• Declared weeds such as camphor laurel, Chinese elm and umbrella tree are generally easier. See our weed tree guide.
• Native trees on acreage, near creeks or in koala areas are the ones to be careful with.

We will not cut a tree we think is protected without the paperwork, and we will not tell you it is fine just to win the job. Start with the permit checker, then book a free quote.

Sources

• Brisbane City Council: protected vegetation permits
• Brisbane City Council: Do I need a permit? fact sheet
• Redland City Council: trees and vegetation protection
• Redland City Council: vegetation clearing fact sheet
• Logan City Council: vegetation management fact sheet
• Logan City Council: vegetation clearing exemption criteria
• City of Gold Coast: tree and vegetation removal on private land
• City of Moreton Bay: clearing native vegetation