Tree Retention Policy

Trees and other vegetation in urban areas provide significant social, economic, and environmental benefits to the community. The greatest environmental, aesthetic and cooling benefits of trees are provided by large, mature trees which typically have the largest canopy cover.

This policy outlines that the City recognises the increasing importance of retaining trees and ensures that retention and enhancement of the City’s tree canopy cover is considered at all stages of development.

Read the Local Planning Policy 2.26

This policy applies to all lots within a Development Area, on land zoned ‘Industrial’ and on land zoned Residential (with an R-Code density of R30 and below) within the City’s Local Planning Scheme No. 4 area, including in the circumstances described below:

• development applications;
• subdivision applications;
• other strategic planning proposals including scheme amendments and structure plans; and
• any tree-damaging activity to a regulated tree where no other development or subdivision is proposed.

Search your property address for further information on your property zoning details.

All regulated trees in the locations specified above are covered by this policy. A regulated tree is one that meets any of these dimensions:

• is 8m or more in height; and/or
• has an average canopy diameter of at least 6m; and/or
• has a trunk circumference of at least 1.5m, measured 1.4m above the ground; and
• is of a species that is not included on the State or local area weed register.

These are usually mature canopy trees contributing most to canopy and environment.

This policy does not apply to trees within the verge. For any pruning or removal of trees in the verge, please contact the City’s Parks and Landscape team on 1300 MYFREO.

Development approval (also known as ‘planning’ approval) is required for any ‘tree damaging activity’ to a regulated tree.

Tree-damaging activity means –

• the killing or destruction of a tree; and/or
• the removal of a tree; and/or
• the severing of branches, limbs, stems or trunk of a tree; and/or
• the ringbarking, topping or lopping of a tree;
• any other substantial damage to a tree.

Where tree-damaging activity is proposed to a regulated tree, the following aspects will be considered in the assessment of the application:

• health, maturity, species, and location of the tree;
• ecological, biodiversity, and environmental values of the tree;
• contribution of the tree to the streetscape;
• the preservation of any other regulated tree on the subject site;
• the location of the tree within the development site and capacity for a modified building design or subdivision to maximise tree retention with particular regard for retaining regulated trees within setback areas, private open space, and common property areas;
• any existing development on the site; design and location of proposed crossovers; topography and the potential impact from excavation/fill;
• possible safety risks due to tree limb failure and infrastructure, and / or structural damage associated with the retaining the tree;
• tree protection zone(s) per Australian Standard 4970 – Protection of Trees on Development Sites;
• tree replacement and/or planting proposed;
• recommendations of an arborist’s report;
• the objectives of this policy.

Further information on whether your tree is of a type of weed

A report from a suitably qualified and experienced arboriculturist with a minimum qualification of Diploma of Horticulture (Arboriculture) Australian Qualification Framework (AQF 5) or equivalent, and with demonstrated experience in high level tree assessment and diagnosis, is required to provide evidence against the relevant points above.

The following justifications for tree damaging activity to a regulated tree will not be considered:

• impact on views;
• the tree is disliked;
• to reduce presence of birds or other fauna;
• the tree causes nuisance by way of leaf, fruit, or bark shedding or the like;
• or the tree impacts private gardens, solar installations, swimming pools, etc.

Yes. Development approval is not required when the works to a regulated tree is:

• located on private land outside of the policy area;
• the tree does not satisfy the definition of a regulated tree;
• on a tree that doesn’t meet the regulated size criteria;
• routine maintenance pruning that doesn’t harm the tree’s health;
• to a regulated tree that is listed as a Weed of National Significance, or is declared by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development or other relevant government agency to be a harmful plant or pest under the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007;
• when works are part of development already approved;
• carried out by the local government on a City owned or managed tree;
• emergency works needed for safety or essential services (evidence must be provided to the City prior to works occurring);
• tree removal undertaken by another Government authority (e.g. State agency).

Notwithstanding the above, action can be taken to make a tree safe in the event a tree imposes an immediate threat to safety (i.e., due to a partially fallen branch). Once the tree has been made safe, further advice from the City of Fremantle shall be sought and evidence provided before proceeding with any further works to the regulated tree(s).

Not necessarily. The City wants to keep existing trees wherever possible because they play an important role in keeping our neighbourhoods green and healthy. When planning a new home or extension, you should carefully consider how your design can work around the trees already on your property as much as possible. If you’re hoping to remove a tree, you’ll need to show why the tree can’t reasonably be kept or how keeping it would create significant challenges for your plans, and how you’ve attempted to consider the tree in your design.

The City will generally not support removing trees from a lot for subdivision land clearing purposes or on vacant land where there is no other development proposed.

Yes. To compensate for the loss a mature tree brings to the local ecosystem, two replacement trees of a 30-litre minimum pot size and capable of achieving recognition as a regulated tree when mature must be planted.

You may prune overhanging branches without development approval as part of routine maintenance pruning that doesn’t harm the health of the tree.

Removal of the tree or significant branches, or works likely to lead to the tree’s death will require development approval.

In either case, you should start by discussing the issues with your neighbour.  The Citizen’s Advice Bureau may provide further assistance.

Information required to accompany a development application view Information Required for Planning Applications

You can find out more about lodging an application by calling a Duty Planner on 1300 MYFREO.

You can find out more about lodging an application by visiting Planning and building applications or by calling a Duty Planner on 1300 MYFREO.