Do I need a permit to prune or remove a tree in Bayside?

What is protected in Bayside

Under Bayside's Local Law, a tree on private property is protected once its trunk circumference is greater than 155 cm measured 1 m above ground level. Where a tree has several trunks, the four largest are measured at that height and added together. Trees planted as a replacement condition of an earlier permit and trees on Bayside's Significant Tree Register are protected regardless of size.

A Vegetation Protection Overlay sits over Beaumaris, Black Rock, Cheltenham south of Park Road and Sandringham south of Edward Street. In those areas a planning permit is needed to remove, destroy or lop any vegetation native to Australia that is 2 m or taller with a trunk circumference over 0.5 m at 1 m above the ground. A Significant Landscape Overlay covers the Coral Avenue and Point Avenue area of Beaumaris, and some heritage overlays carry tree controls as well.

Since September 2025 the Victorian planning scheme has added a further layer across residential zones: a planning permit is required to remove a canopy tree (over 5 m tall, trunk circumference over 0.5 m at 1.4 m, canopy at least 4 m across) that stands within 6 m of the front boundary or 4.5 m of the rear boundary. Bayside is reviewing how this control and its Local Law fit together, and has flagged that Local Law decisions may take longer while it does.

Rules and fees change. Check Bayside's current page before relying on any figure here.

What you can do without a permit

Pruning does not need a Local Law permit when it is carried out by an arborist holding at least AQF Level 3 in Arboriculture (Level 4 for root pruning), to Australian Standard AS 4373 Pruning of Amenity Trees, with before and after photographs kept. Council's guidance frames this around pruning that removes less than 10 per cent of the canopy, and it does not extend to trees on the Significant Tree Register.

In the Vegetation Protection Overlay, native trees can be pruned to AS 4373 without a planning permit, and branches overhanging or within 2 m of an existing dwelling can be pruned back. Vegetation under 2 m tall or under 0.5 m trunk circumference at 1 m is outside the overlay control altogether.

Where part of a tree presents an immediate risk of injury or damage to property, that part can be removed without a permit, to the minimum extent necessary. Declared noxious weeds are also exempt from the Local Law permit.

What an application needs

Local Law applications go through Bayside's online form, with a maximum of three trees per application and a diagram showing where each numbered tree sits relative to the house, garage and driveway. Application fees for 2026/27 are $135 for the first tree and $39 for each additional tree for pruning, and $466 for the first tree and $76 for each additional tree for removal. The fee is not refundable and Council allows up to 60 days for a decision.

A removal application needs a report from a qualified arborist that includes a risk assessment using a recognised methodology, the reason for removal (tree health, tree risk, damage to property, building works, a medical condition or social criteria) with supporting evidence, and a list of proposed replacement trees by botanical and common name. If you are not the property owner, a signed owner consent form goes in as well. Planning permit applications in the overlay areas are a separate process through Council's planning unit, with single-tree VPO applications eligible for the faster VicSmart stream.

Where the council asks for an arborist report, LumberJord writes them: arborist reports for council permits.

What Jordan does about it

Jordan measures the trunk at the right height during the quote and tells you whether the Local Law, the overlay, or neither applies to your tree. Where a permit is needed he explains what the application will ask for and can prepare the arborist report, including the risk assessment, so the application is complete the first time.

Pruning that fits the qualified-arborist exemption can go ahead without a permit, and Jordan documents it with photographs as the exemption requires. Any removal or larger works that need approval are scheduled only once the permit is in hand.