Trees - when you need development approval

The Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 and Regulations provide that any ‘tree damaging activity’ to a regulated or significant tree is ‘development’ and therefore requires development approval. For more information, refer to: PlanSA fact sheet  Identifying and Managing Regulated and Significant Trees 

Specifically, approval is required for the following works:

  • Removal
  • Killing or destruction
  • Branch or limb lopping
  • Ringbarking or topping
  • Any other substantial damage to a regulated or significant tree, including to its root system, other than maintenance pruning. For example, some types of landscaping involving the importation of fill or removal of soil within the tree protection zone of a regulated tree requires approval.

Please note that development approval is not required in some instances. Refer to: PlanSA FAQ - Protecting Regulated and Significant Trees for more information.

Measuring trees

Learn how to measure trees to find out if they are regulated or not.