Trees and vegetation

Yes, regulated and significant trees are protected by State Government legislation.

If the subject tree(s) is identified as regulated and/or significant tree(s), then yes. The lodgement of a development application on PlanSA is required for the proposed removal.

Refer to our Regulated and significant trees page or PlanSA’s own page to learn more about the rules and processes.

Trees and vegetation | Regulated and significant trees

PlanSA | Significant and regulated trees

An arborist report is required to assess the health and status of the subject tree(s) before a decision is made during assessment period.

Note: delay to provide an arborist report will put the development application on hold until provided. Legislative prosecutions apply if non-compliant actions against subject tree(s) is found to have been done.

Trees and vegetation | Regulated and significant trees

PlanSA | Significant and regulated trees

Under the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016, unapproved activity is known as ‘tree-damaging activity’ and is defined as:

• Killing or destruction;
• Removal;
• Severing branches, limbs, stems or the trunk of a tree;
• Ring barking, topping or lopping; and
• Any other substantial damage.

Approved applications for tree pruning of regulated and significant trees states to be no more than 30% of the crown of the tree every 5 years.

Excessive pruning (more than 30% of trees’ crown) meets the definition of ‘tree-damaging activity’.

Yes, a site plan is a mandatory document for any and all development applications. Learn more about site plans on our How to prepare a site plan page and browse different site documentation examples, including tree pruning and/or removal.

No council does not offer financial assistance for costs associated with tree removals, pruning and/or arborist reports.

The Urban Tree Canopy Off-set Scheme actively facilitates the planting and enhancement of tree canopy within metropolitan Adelaide. This scheme is only applicable to proposed dwellings located in specific zones outlined in the

Code for metropolitan areas. These include:

• Housing Diversity Neighbourhood Zone
• Urban Renewal Neighbourhood Zone
• City Living Zone; or
• an area with a ‘Designated Soil Type’.

In the rare circumstances where planting a tree is not feasible, the scheme enables contribution into a fund which can be used to plant trees in parks, reserves and nature strips, or to create new parks.

Where replacement trees are not viable for subject site (i.e. not enough space between dwelling and property boundary), a legislative fee for each replacement tree is to be made into the Urban Tree Fund.

As of May 2024, the rates payable are:

For further information, make sure to visit PlanSA:

• PlanSA | Urban tree canopy off-set scheme
• PlanSA | Urban Tree Canopy Off-set Scheme Fact Sheet
• State Planning Commission | Preserving our Green Infrastructure
• Report by the Minister for Planning and Local Government

The SACFS (SA Country Fire Service) have prepared a position statement document that outlines what managing mature/large tree on residential properties entails.

Read the full statement here

Additionally, if you’re interested to know more about the SACFS’ development assessment process as the referral Fire Authority, click on the link below to be redirected to their development assessment page for an informative insight.

Learn more on their website here

As of June 2024, Planning and Land Use Services (Department for Housing and Urban Development) have prepared an informative brochure that details:

• What is Tree Damaging Activity?
• May 2024 Changes to Tree Legislation
• Species on the Ministers’ Declared Exempt List
• Transitional provisions and Scenarios
• Removal of Regulated and Significant Trees
• Urban Tree Canopy Offset Scheme
• Further Investigations by the State Planning Commission and ERD Committee

Read the full brochure here

Following the release of the Tree Reform Brochure, PlanSA collated a Tree Reform FAQ document that addresses the reforms.

Read the full document here