Clearing trees in Ipswich — do you need approval?
Ipswich City Council's planning scheme — the Ipswich City Plan 2025 — decides whether tree clearing needs a development application, and the answer depends on the zone your property is in. Below is what its table of assessment says for each zone; or check your own address.
In a low density residential zone
Accepted if you meet the requirements. Clearing vegetation is accepted under the local scheme unless it is mapped in a biodiversity or waterway overlay, and separate state vegetation laws may also apply.
I don't know my zone — choose my council instead
The zone is on your rates notice, or a Landbrief site report will find it for you.
Zone by zone
Operational work (vegetation clearing). Residential zones first.
| Zone | What the table says | Conditions | What you'll need |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low Density Residential Zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.7.2 | unless vegetation is mapped on the Biodiversity or Waterway Corridors and Wetlands OverlayIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Low-Medium Density Residential Zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.7.2 | unless vegetation is mapped on the Biodiversity or Waterway Corridors and Wetlands OverlayIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Medium Density Residential Zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.7.2 / 5.3.2(3) | unless vegetation is mapped on the Biodiversity Overlay or Waterway Corridors and Wetlands Overlay, then code assessableIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | State vegetation check (not the council)Assessed against: Biodiversity Overlay Code, Waterway Corridors and Wetlands Overlay Code |
| High Density Residential Zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.7.2 / 5.3.2(3) | unless vegetation is mapped on the Biodiversity Overlay or Waterway Corridors and Wetlands Overlay, then code assessableIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | State vegetation check (not the council)Assessed against: Biodiversity Overlay Code, Waterway Corridors and Wetlands Overlay Code |
| Character Residential Zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.7.2 / 5.3.2(3) | unless vegetation is mapped on the Biodiversity Overlay or Waterway Corridors and Wetlands Overlay, then code assessableIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | State vegetation check (not the council)Assessed against: Biodiversity Overlay Code, Waterway Corridors and Wetlands Overlay Code |
| Township Zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.7.2 / 5.3.2(3) | unless vegetation is mapped on the Biodiversity Overlay or Waterway Corridors and Wetlands Overlay, then code assessableIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | State vegetation check (not the council)Assessed against: Biodiversity Overlay Code, Waterway Corridors and Wetlands Overlay Code |
| Emerging Community Zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.7.2 | Unless native vegetation is mapped on the Biodiversity or Waterway Corridors and Wetlands OverlayIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Community Facilities Zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.7.2 | unless vegetation is mapped on the Biodiversity or Waterway Corridors and Wetlands OverlayIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Conservation Zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.7.2 | unless vegetation is identified on the Biodiversity Overlay or Waterway Corridors and Wetlands OverlayIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | State vegetation check (not the council)Assessed against: Biodiversity Overlay Code, Waterway Corridors and Wetlands Overlay Code |
| District Centre Zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.7.2 | unless vegetation is mapped on the Biodiversity or Waterway Corridors and Wetlands OverlayIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Environmental Management Zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.7.2 | unless vegetation is identified on the Biodiversity Overlay or Waterway Corridors and Wetlands OverlayIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | State vegetation check (not the council)Assessed against: Biodiversity Overlay Code, Waterway Corridors and Wetlands Overlay Code |
| Industry Investigation Zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.7.2 | unless vegetation is mapped on the Biodiversity or Waterway Corridors and Wetlands OverlayIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Limited Development Zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.7.2 | not identified on the Biodiversity or Waterway Corridors and Wetlands OverlayIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Local Centre Zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.7.2 | unless vegetation is mapped on the Biodiversity or Waterway Corridors and Wetlands OverlayIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Low Impact Industry Zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.7.2 | Unless native vegetation is mapped on the Biodiversity or Waterway Corridors and Wetlands OverlayIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Major Centre Zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.7.2 | unless vegetation is mapped on the Biodiversity or Waterway Corridors and Wetlands OverlayIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Medium Impact Industry Zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.7.2 | Unless native vegetation is mapped on the Biodiversity or Waterway Corridors and Wetlands OverlayIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Neighbourhood Centre Zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.7.2 | unless vegetation is mapped on the Biodiversity or Waterway Corridors and Wetlands OverlayIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Principal Centre Zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.7.2 | unless vegetation is mapped on the Biodiversity or Waterway Corridors and Wetlands OverlayIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Recreation and Open Space Zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.7.2 | unless vegetation is identified on the Biodiversity Overlay or Waterway Corridors and Wetlands OverlayIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | State vegetation check (not the council)Assessed against: Biodiversity Overlay Code, Waterway Corridors and Wetlands Overlay Code |
| Rural Zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.7.2 | Unless native vegetation is mapped on the Biodiversity or Waterway Corridors and Wetlands OverlayIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Special Purpose Zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.7.2 | unless vegetation is identified on the Biodiversity Overlay or Waterway Corridors and Wetlands OverlayIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | State vegetation check (not the council)Assessed against: Biodiversity Overlay Code, Waterway Corridors and Wetlands Overlay Code |
| Specialised Centre Zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.7.2 | unless vegetation is mapped on the Biodiversity or Waterway Corridors and Wetlands OverlayIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Tourism Zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.7.2 | unless vegetation is mapped on the Biodiversity or Waterway Corridors and Wetlands OverlayIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Tourist Accommodation Zone | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.7.2 | unless vegetation is mapped on the Biodiversity or Waterway Corridors and Wetlands OverlayIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | State vegetation check (not the council) |
Overlays that change the answer
- Biodiversity Overlay (Matters of Environmental Significance). A dwelling house or dual occupancy in a residential zone on a lot under 1,000m² (or wholly within an approved development envelope, or exempt clearing) stays accepted; otherwise, where works damage or remove native vegetation/wildlife habitat in a Matter of Environmental Significance, the development becomes code assessable (needs a development application). Building work on an existing building stays accepted. All reconfiguring a lot is code assessable. Clearing native vegetation in a MES area is code assessable against the Biodiversity Overlay Code. (Table 5.9.1)
- Waterway Corridors and Wetlands Overlay. Development wholly within an approved development envelope (or a home-based business for MCU) stays accepted; otherwise building work and material change of use are accepted subject to requirements, becoming code assessable if the overlay code's required outcomes are not met. All reconfiguring a lot is code assessable. Clearing native vegetation in a waterway corridor/wetland is assessable against the overlay code. (Table 5.9.2)
Worth knowing in Ipswich
This is a first-pass summary; per-project per-zone rules follow in the second pass. Lot sizes: the Tables of Assessment do not state fixed minimum lot sizes — minimum areas, frontages and special characteristics are set in the Reconfiguring a Lot Code (Tables 9.4.1.3.4 to 9.4.1.3.9, by lot type: Large, Established Suburban, New Suburban, Built to Boundary, Rural, Industrial) and the Building Height and Density Overlay (OV6) identifies optimal densities/lot sizes that are a requirement of subdivision. Precinct notes: several centre zones split answers by Core vs Frame precinct (e.g. Agricultural supplies store, Showroom, Outdoor sales, Parking station are ADSR in the Frame but code assessable in the Core). Height: where accommodation uses exceed OV6 Building Height and Density limits the level of assessment becomes impact assessable. Reconfiguring a lot is code assessable under Table 5.6.1 unless it meets Schedule 6 of the Planning Regulation 2017; subdividing one lot into two in residential/industry zones is code assessable under Schedule 10/12 of the Regulation. Under s5.3.2 any use not listed for a zone is impact assessable (MCU), building work is accepted unless a table or overlay says otherwise, and operational work is accepted unless a table says otherwise. Under s5.3.2(8) the highest category applies where a zone and overlay differ. A building development approval under the Building Act 1975 is still required for assessable building work even where the planning scheme treats it as accepted — this tool notes that separately. State Vegetation Management Act 1999 and koala habitat (Schedule 10 Regulation — prohibited in Koala Priority + Koala Habitat Areas) rules are separate from this local scheme position. Springfield Structure Plan may override these categories in that area.
What else you'll need
- State vegetation check (not the council)
More about Ipswich
- What can you build in Ipswich? Council overview and development applications
- Every Queensland zone explained, with what each council allows and the planning overlays that change the answer
- What Ipswich City Council charges for a development application, compared with other councils
- A Landbrief site report for your Ipswich address — every planning layer that applies to the lot
- Development applications in Redbank Plains
- Development applications in Bundamba
- Development applications in Walloon
- Development applications in Ripley
- Development applications in Ipswich
- Development applications in Brassall
- Development applications in Redbank
- Development applications in Bellbird Park
Other projects in Ipswich
Granny flatDual occupancySubdivideShed or carportExtensionPoolFence or wallHome businessTownhousesShop, café or officeDemolish
The statewide position on this project: Clear trees in Queensland.
Read from the Ipswich City Plan 2025 tables of assessment. General information, not advice. The council's planning scheme and the Planning Act 2016 decide — confirm with the council or a town planner before you build.