Clearing trees in Sunshine Coast — do you need approval?
Sunshine Coast Council's planning scheme — the Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme 2014 (Amendment 27) — 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
Needs a development application (code assessment). Clearing vegetation in the low density residential zone needs a code assessable development application unless it is exempt vegetation clearing under the scheme.
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 | Needs a development application (code assessment) Table 5.8.1 | if not exempt vegetation clearing (exempt clearing is accepted development)If not met: no planning approval needed. | State vegetation check (not the council)Assessed against: Vegetation management code |
| Medium density residential zone | Needs a development application (code assessment) Table 5.8.1 | if not exempt vegetation clearing (exempt clearing is accepted development)If not met: no planning approval needed. | State vegetation check (not the council)Assessed against: Vegetation management code |
| High density residential zone | Needs a development application (code assessment) Table 5.8.1 | if not exempt vegetation clearing (exempt clearing is accepted development)If not met: no planning approval needed. | State vegetation check (not the council)Assessed against: Vegetation management code |
| Tourist accommodation zone | Needs a development application (code assessment) Table 5.8.1 | if not exempt vegetation clearing (exempt clearing is accepted development)If not met: no planning approval needed. | State vegetation check (not the council)Assessed against: Vegetation management code |
| Rural residential zone | Needs a development application (code assessment) Table 5.8.1 | if not exempt vegetation clearing (exempt clearing is accepted development)If not met: no planning approval needed. | State vegetation check (not the council)Assessed against: Vegetation management code |
| Emerging community zone | Needs a development application (code assessment) Table 5.8.1 | if not exempt vegetation clearing (exempt clearing is accepted development)If not met: no planning approval needed. | State vegetation check (not the council)Assessed against: Vegetation management code |
| Community facilities zone | Needs a development application (code assessment) Table 5.8.1 | if not exempt vegetation clearing (exempt clearing is accepted development)If not met: no planning approval needed. | State vegetation check (not the council)Assessed against: Vegetation management code |
| District centre zone | Needs a development application (code assessment) Table 5.8.1 | if not exempt vegetation clearing (exempt clearing is accepted development)If not met: no planning approval needed. | State vegetation check (not the council)Assessed against: Vegetation management code |
| Environmental management and conservation zone | Needs a development application (code assessment) Table 5.8.1 | if not exempt vegetation clearing (exempt clearing is accepted development)If not met: no planning approval needed. | State vegetation check (not the council)Assessed against: Vegetation management code |
| High impact industry zone | Needs a development application (code assessment) Table 5.8.1 | if not exempt vegetation clearing (exempt clearing is accepted development)If not met: no planning approval needed. | State vegetation check (not the council)Assessed against: Vegetation management code |
| Limited development (landscape residential) zone | Needs a development application (code assessment) Table 5.8.1 | if not exempt vegetation clearing (exempt clearing is accepted development)If not met: no planning approval needed. | State vegetation check (not the council)Assessed against: Vegetation management code |
| Local centre zone | Needs a development application (code assessment) Table 5.8.1 | if not exempt vegetation clearing (exempt clearing is accepted development)If not met: no planning approval needed. | State vegetation check (not the council)Assessed against: Vegetation management code |
| Low impact industry zone | Needs a development application (code assessment) Table 5.8.1 | if not exempt vegetation clearing (exempt clearing is accepted development)If not met: no planning approval needed. | State vegetation check (not the council)Assessed against: Vegetation management code |
| Major centre zone | Needs a development application (code assessment) Table 5.8.1 | if not exempt vegetation clearing (exempt clearing is accepted development)If not met: no planning approval needed. | State vegetation check (not the council)Assessed against: Vegetation management code |
| Medium impact industry zone | Needs a development application (code assessment) Table 5.8.1 | if not exempt vegetation clearing (exempt clearing is accepted development)If not met: no planning approval needed. | State vegetation check (not the council)Assessed against: Vegetation management code |
| Open space zone | Needs a development application (code assessment) Table 5.8.1 | if not exempt vegetation clearing (exempt clearing is accepted development)If not met: no planning approval needed. | State vegetation check (not the council)Assessed against: Vegetation management code |
| Principal centre zone | Needs a development application (code assessment) Table 5.8.1 | if not exempt vegetation clearing (exempt clearing is accepted development)If not met: no planning approval needed. | State vegetation check (not the council)Assessed against: Vegetation management code |
| Rural zone | Needs a development application (code assessment) Table 5.8.1 | if not exempt vegetation clearing (exempt clearing is accepted development)If not met: no planning approval needed. | State vegetation check (not the council)Assessed against: Vegetation management code |
| Specialised centre zone | Needs a development application (code assessment) Table 5.8.1 | if not exempt vegetation clearing (exempt clearing is accepted development)If not met: no planning approval needed. | State vegetation check (not the council)Assessed against: Vegetation management code |
| Sport and recreation zone | Needs a development application (code assessment) Table 5.8.1 | if not exempt vegetation clearing (exempt clearing is accepted development)If not met: no planning approval needed. | State vegetation check (not the council)Assessed against: Vegetation management code |
| Tourism zone | Needs a development application (code assessment) Table 5.8.1 | if not exempt vegetation clearing (exempt clearing is accepted development)If not met: no planning approval needed. | State vegetation check (not the council)Assessed against: Vegetation management code |
| Waterfront and marine industry zone | Needs a development application (code assessment) Table 5.8.1 | if not exempt vegetation clearing (exempt clearing is accepted development)If not met: no planning approval needed. | State vegetation check (not the council)Assessed against: Vegetation management code |
Overlays that change the answer
The table above is the base case, before any overlay. Flood, bushfire, landslide, heritage and character overlays are the usual reasons a normally-accepted project becomes a development application — add your address above and the tool flags the ones that apply to your lot.
Worth knowing in Sunshine Coast
Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme 2014 (Amendment 27), Part 5, converted from the council PDF. A material change of use is impact assessable unless the table says otherwise or the use isn't listed; reconfiguring a lot is code assessable unless Table 5.6.1 says otherwise; building work and operational work are accepted unless the tables say otherwise (section 5.3.2). The scheme writes 'Accepted development' with a code in the requirements column; under section 5.3.3 that is accepted development subject to requirements, and failing an acceptable outcome makes it code assessable — mapped here as accepted_subject_to_requirements. A dwelling house (including a secondary dwelling) is listed only in the Low, Medium and High density residential, Tourist accommodation, Emerging community, Limited development (landscape residential), Rural and Rural residential zones; elsewhere the 'all other uses' impact row applies. Schedules 6, 7 and 10 of the Planning Regulation 2017 override the scheme (5.3.2(10)). Building work (Table 5.7.1, not involving a change of use) is accepted if minor building work or tied to an accepted use, accepted subject to the applicable use code where it has accepted-development outcomes, and otherwise code assessable — the Building Act building approval is separate. Demolition isn't singled out in Table 5.7.1; only the Heritage and character areas overlay makes it impact assessable. Vegetation clearing that isn't exempt vegetation clearing is code assessable against the Vegetation management code in every zone (Table 5.8.1); filling or excavation over 50 m³ is code assessable except on Rural/Rural residential lots over 5,000 m² (up to 150 m³). Minimum lot sizes sit in Table 9.4.4.3.2 of the Reconfiguring a lot code, not Part 5. Precincts and local plans: Precinct LDR1 (Protected Housing Area) makes a dual occupancy impact assessable in the Low density residential zone; Buderim BUD LPP-1 and Caloundra West CAW LPP-1 make any extra lot impact assessable; the Town of Seaside precinct (Maroochy North Shore MNS LPP-2) accepts any use or building work in accordance with its subdivision permit, otherwise impact; the Palmview declared master planned area follows its Structure Plan; the Emerging community and Tourism zones expect a master plan/approved plan of development that may vary categories; the airport and aerodrome precincts, Kawana, Nambour, Sippy Downs, Mooloolaba and Maroochydore local plans vary business uses (section 5.9). Where premises are in more than one zone, local plan or overlay the highest category applies; an overlay category overrides a zone or local plan category (5.3.2(8)). Many overlays (bushfire, flood, coastal protection, landslide, scenic amenity, regional infrastructure, water resource catchments) bring 'no change' of category but add their overlay code as a benchmark when the development is already assessable.
What else you'll need
- State vegetation check (not the council)
More about Sunshine Coast
- What can you build in Sunshine Coast? Council overview and development applications
- Every Queensland zone explained, with what each council allows and the planning overlays that change the answer
- What Sunshine Coast Council charges for a development application, compared with other councils
- A Landbrief site report for your Sunshine Coast address — every planning layer that applies to the lot
- Development applications in Maroochydore
- Development applications in Coolum Beach
- Development applications in Buderim
- Development applications in Yandina
- Development applications in Mooloolaba
- Development applications in Caloundra
- Development applications in Palmview
- Development applications in Beerwah
Other projects in Sunshine Coast
Granny flatDual occupancySubdivideShed or carportExtensionPoolFence or wallHome businessTownhousesShop, café or officeDemolish
The statewide position on this project: Clear trees in Queensland.
Read from the Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme 2014 (Amendment 27) 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.