Trees and Development in Brisbane: What You Need to Know

Building or subdividing near significant trees triggers specific planning requirements. Here's the process.

When trees affect your development

Brisbane City Council requires that development applications consider significant vegetation on or near the site. If significant trees are present, the DA typically requires an Arboricultural Impact Assessment (AIA) prepared by a qualified arborist.

What an AIA involves

An AIA maps the root protection zone of each significant tree, assesses the impact of the proposed works, identifies trees that can be retained, and recommends protection measures during construction. It's typically submitted as part of the DA package.

Tree retention conditions

DA approvals frequently include conditions requiring specific trees to be retained and protected during construction. These conditions are binding. Failing to comply — whether through direct removal or construction damage — can result in enforcement action and may require remediation.

Removing a tree subject to a DA condition

If you want to remove a tree that was retained under a DA condition, you need a separate approval — either a variation to the DA or a standalone permit application with supporting documentation. This is a separate process from the original DA.

Planning the project correctly

Get the arborist assessment done before finalising the design. Finding out a significant tree can't be removed after you've submitted a design that relies on that space is expensive. Early assessment identifies what's possible and what needs to be designed around.