Clearing trees in Scenic Rim — do you need approval?
Scenic Rim Regional Council's planning scheme — the Scenic Rim Planning Scheme 2020 — 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
No planning approval needed. Clearing native vegetation is not regulated by the local scheme in this zone unless an overlay applies, so no local approval is required (state vegetation laws may still 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 | No planning approval needed Table 5.8.1 | Clearing native vegetation is not regulated by the local scheme in this zone unless an overlay applies, so no local approval is required (state vegetation laws may still apply). | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Low-medium Density Residential Zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.8.1 | Clearing native vegetation is not regulated by the local scheme in this zone unless an overlay applies, so no local approval is required (state vegetation laws may still apply). | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Emerging Community Zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.8.1 | Any other operational work not listed in the table | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Rural Residential Zone - (Where no precinct applies) | No planning approval needed Table 5.8.1 | Clearing vegetation is accepted operational work under the local scheme unless an overlay applies, but separate State vegetation laws may still apply. | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Rural Residential Zone - Rural Residential A Precinct | No planning approval needed Table 5.8.1 | Clearing vegetation is accepted under the local scheme unless an overlay applies, but separate State vegetation laws may still require approval. | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Township Zone - (Where no precinct applies) | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.8.1 | if not triggered by an overlayIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Township Zone - Township Residential Precinct | No planning approval needed Table 5.8.1 | any other operational work not listed | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Community Facilities Zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.8.1 | Any other operational work not listed in the table | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Conservation Zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.8.1 | Any other operational work not listed in the table | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| District Centre Zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.8.1 | Any other operational work not listed in the table | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Industry Zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.8.1 | any operational work not otherwise listed | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Limited Development Zone - (Where no precinct applies) | No planning approval needed Table 5.8.1 | any operational work not otherwise listed | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Limited Development Zone - Flood Land Precinct | No planning approval needed Table 5.8.1 | any operational work not otherwise listed | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Limited Development Zone - Historical Subdivision Precinct | No planning approval needed Table 5.8.1 | any operational work not otherwise listed | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Local Centre Zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.8.1 | Clearing native vegetation is not regulated by the local scheme in this zone unless an overlay applies, so no local approval is required (state vegetation laws may still apply). | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Major Centre Zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.8.1 | Clearing native vegetation is not regulated by the local scheme in this zone unless an overlay applies, so no local approval is required (state vegetation laws may still apply). | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Major Tourism Zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.8.1 | any other operational work not listed | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Minor Tourism Zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.8.1 | any other operational work not listed | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Mixed Use Zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.8.1 | any other operational work not listed | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Mixed Use Zone - Commercial Industry Precinct | No planning approval needed Table 5.8.1 | any other operational work not listed | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Neighbourhood Centre Zone | No planning approval needed Table 5.8.1 | Clearing vegetation is accepted operational work under the local scheme unless an overlay applies, but separate State vegetation laws may still apply. | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Recreation and Open Space Zone - (Where no precinct applies) | No planning approval needed Table 5.8.1 | Clearing vegetation is accepted operational work under the local scheme unless an overlay applies, but separate State vegetation laws may still apply. | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Recreation and Open Space Zone - Passive Recreation Precinct | No planning approval needed Table 5.8.1 | Clearing vegetation is accepted operational work under the local scheme unless an overlay applies, but separate State vegetation laws may still apply. | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Rural Zone - (Where no precinct applies) | No planning approval needed Table 5.8.1 | Clearing vegetation is accepted under the local scheme unless an overlay applies, but separate State vegetation laws may still require approval. | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Rural Zone - Rural Escarpment Protection Precinct | No planning approval needed Table 5.8.1 | Clearing vegetation is accepted under the local scheme unless an overlay applies, but separate State vegetation laws may still require approval. | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Rural Zone - Tamborine Mountain Rural Precinct | No planning approval needed Table 5.8.1 | Clearing vegetation is accepted under the local scheme unless an overlay applies, but separate State vegetation laws may still require approval. | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Special Purpose Zone - (Where no precinct applies) | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.8.1 | if not triggered by an overlayIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Special Purpose Zone - Bromelton State Development Area Precinct | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.8.1 | if not triggered by an overlayIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | State vegetation check (not the council) |
| Special Purpose Zone - Bulk Water Storage Facilities Precinct | Accepted if you meet the requirements Table 5.8.1 | if not triggered by an overlayIf not met: a development application with code assessment. | State vegetation check (not the council) |
Overlays that change the answer
- Environmental Significance Overlay - Biodiversity (OM-04-A). Material change of use and operational work (clearing) that is not exempt clearing in regulated vegetation or protected areas becomes code assessable against the Environmental Significance Overlay Code. Reconfiguring a lot in these areas is code assessable. (5.10 Environmental Significance Overlay Map - Biodiversity OM-04-A)
- Environmental Significance Overlay - Local Biodiversity (OM-04-B). Non-exempt clearing / MCU in a core corridor, node corridor, stepping stone or critical linkage becomes code assessable. Reconfiguring a lot in these areas is code assessable. (5.10 Environmental Significance Overlay Map - Local Biodiversity OM-04-B)
- Environmental Significance Overlay - Priority Species (OM-04-C). Non-exempt clearing / MCU in State Significant Species areas becomes code assessable. Reconfiguring a lot is code assessable. (5.10 Environmental Significance Overlay Map - Priority Species OM-04-C)
- Environmental Significance Overlay - Wetlands and Waterways (OM-04-D). A dwelling house (and animal husbandry, cropping, home based business in an existing building) stays accepted; other MCU in Matters of State Environmental Significance waterways/wetlands becomes code assessable. Operational work above 10m³ or in high-value waters is code assessable. Reconfiguring a lot is code assessable. (5.10 Environmental Significance Overlay Map - Wetlands and Waterways OM-04-D)
- Environmental Significance Overlay - Local Watercourses (OM-04-E). A dwelling house (and animal husbandry, cropping, home based business in an existing building) stays accepted in watercourse buffer areas; other MCU and non-exempt operational work become code assessable. Reconfiguring a lot is code assessable. (5.10 Environmental Significance Overlay Map - Local Watercourses OM-04-E)
- Environmental Significance Overlay - Vegetation Management Area (OM-04-F). Non-exempt clearing / MCU in the Vegetation Management Area becomes code assessable against the Environmental Significance Overlay Code. Reconfiguring a lot is code assessable. (5.10 Environmental Significance Overlay Map - Vegetation Management Area OM-04-F)
- Flood Hazard Overlay (OM-06-A). Only animal husbandry, cropping or roadside stall not involving building work stay accepted; any other use in a Flood Hazard Area (including a dwelling house) becomes code assessable against the Flood Hazard Overlay Code. Filling/excavation above the thresholds and non-exempt clearing are code assessable. Reconfiguring a lot is code assessable. (5.10 Flood Hazard Overlay Map - Hazard Area OM-06-A)
- Landslide Hazard and Steep Slope Overlay - Steep Slope (OM-07-A). Domestic outbuildings stay accepted; a dwelling house, dual occupancy or home based business (not B&B/childcare) in a 15.1-25% slope area becomes Accepted subject to requirements, and any other use becomes code assessable against the Landslide Hazard and Steep Slope Overlay Code. Filling/excavation and vegetation clearing above thresholds are code assessable. Reconfiguring a lot is code assessable. (5.10 Landslide Hazard and Steep Slope Overlay Map - Steep Slope OM-07-A)
- Landslide Hazard and Steep Slope Overlay - Landslide Hazard Area (OM-07-B). Animal husbandry, animal keeping and cropping not involving building work stay accepted; any other use in a Landslide Hazard Area becomes code assessable. Filling/excavation and vegetation clearing above thresholds are code assessable. Reconfiguring a lot is code assessable. (5.10 Landslide Hazard and Steep Slope Overlay Map - Landslide Hazard Area OM-07-B)
- Water Resource Catchments Overlay (OM-10-A). A dwelling house, dual occupancy and home based business stay accepted in a water supply buffer/catchment area; most other uses become Accepted subject to requirements and listed higher-impact uses become code assessable against the Water Resource Catchments Overlay Code. Clearing of native vegetation (non-exempt) is Accepted subject to requirements, and reconfiguring a lot creating additional lots is code assessable. (5.10 Water Resource Catchments Overlay Map - Catchment Areas OM-10-A)
Worth knowing in Scenic Rim
Section 5.7 states there is no building work regulated by the planning scheme, so sheds/carports, extensions, pools, fences and demolition are not assessable development under the scheme in the base case (a Building Act approval from a building certifier is still required) — EXCEPT where an overlay changes this (e.g. Airport Environs, Local Heritage, Flood, Landslide/Steep Slope overlays can make building work Accepted subject to requirements or code assessable). Local utility uses are Accepted in every zone and under every overlay. For subdivision, the 'minimum lot size' noted is the threshold at which ROL is code assessable rather than impact assessable; Low Density and Low-medium Density Residential zones rely on the minimum average lot size in Table 9.4.6.3.2 (not reproduced here) and Rural Residential/Rural thresholds depend on identification on Minimum Lot Size Overlay Map OM-13. Dual occupancy lot-size thresholds differ by precinct and by reticulated sewerage connection (e.g. Township Zone 2000m² sewered / 8000m² unsewered accepted-subject-to-requirements). Precincts are treated as separate zone rows where the scheme publishes a separate table of assessment. Transport Noise Corridor (OM-12), Minimum Lot Size (OM-13), Higher Order Road (OM-14), Road Hierarchy (OM-15), Flood Category Area (OM-6-B) and Streams and Dams (OM-10-B) overlays are information/administrative only and do not change the category of assessment.
What else you'll need
- State vegetation check (not the council)
More about Scenic Rim
- What can you build in Scenic Rim? Council overview and development applications
- Every Queensland zone explained, with what each council allows and the planning overlays that change the answer
- What Scenic Rim Regional Council charges for a development application, compared with other councils
- A Landbrief site report for your Scenic Rim address — every planning layer that applies to the lot
- Development applications in Beaudesert
- Development applications in Tamborine Mountain
- Development applications in Gleneagle
- Development applications in Kalbar
- Development applications in Tamborine
- Development applications in Benobble
- Development applications in Boonah
- Development applications in Canungra
Other projects in Scenic Rim
Granny flatDual occupancySubdivideShed or carportExtensionPoolFence or wallHome businessTownhousesShop, café or officeDemolish
The statewide position on this project: Clear trees in Queensland.
Read from the Scenic Rim Planning Scheme 2020 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.