Do you need a permit in Moreton Bay?
Protection is driven by a combination of trunk size thresholds, mapped environmental overlays, and listings on Council’s significant tree register.
A permit is required for
- Removing a tree that meets or exceeds the 400mm trunk diameter threshold
- Clearing native vegetation inside an environmental area overlay
- Work on any tree listed on the significant tree register
- Work on trees over 3 metres in height outside an approved building envelope in overlay-affected land
Generally exempt
- Trees on land not affected by the environmental area overlay and outside the mapped protected zones
- Vegetation not listed as a significant tree and not a habitat tree
- Dead vegetation and declared pest species
- Work required for genuine emergency access or immediate safety
Where people get caught out
- The 400mm threshold is measured at 1 metre above ground, not at the base and not at 1.4 metres — measuring in the wrong place is the most common error
- A tree can fall under the threshold and still be protected because of the overlay it sits in
- Habitat trees attract protection independent of size
What is protected in Moreton Bay
- Trees with a trunk diameter of 400mm or greater, measured 1 metre above ground
- Native vegetation within mapped protected zones and environmental overlays
- Any tree listed on Council’s significant tree register
- Habitat trees
- Vegetation within riparian, wetland and water supply buffer areas
Other instruments that can apply
- Environmental area overlay
- Riparian and wetland setbacks overlay
- Infrastructure buffers overlay — water supply buffer
- Caboolture West local plan — green network precinct
- Vegetation Management Act 1999 (Qld)
When an arborist report is required
Not every application needs one. These are the situations where Moreton Bay either requires a report or will ask for one:
- Development applications affecting protected vegetation
- Vegetation management plans supporting a clearing application
- Where Council requests third-party arboricultural evidence to support your application
- Significant tree register listings
How to apply
- 01
Measure the trunk correctly
Diameter at 1 metre above ground level. If it is 400mm or more, assume protection applies until confirmed otherwise.
- 02
Check the overlay mapping for your property
Environmental area, riparian and wetland setbacks, and infrastructure buffer overlays all trigger protection independently of tree size.
- 03
Check the significant tree register
A listing overrides the size thresholds entirely.
- 04
Lodge the application with supporting evidence
An AQF Level 5 arborist report addressing health, structure and risk is what substantiates a removal request.
Penalties
Removing a protected tree without approval attracts substantial penalties — reported at upwards of $4,000 per tree for residential breaches, and considerably more in a commercial context.
Moreton Bay tree removal — questions
Do I need council approval to remove a tree in Moreton Bay?
You need approval if the trunk diameter is 400mm or more measured 1 metre above ground, if the tree sits within an environmental area overlay or other mapped protected zone, if it is a habitat tree, or if it appears on Council’s significant tree register. Outside those triggers, many trees on ordinary residential land can be removed without a permit.
How do I measure trunk diameter for the Moreton Bay threshold?
Measure the diameter of the trunk at 1 metre above ground level. Measure the circumference with a tape and divide by 3.14 if that is easier. Getting the height wrong is the single most common mistake — it is 1 metre in Moreton Bay, not the 1.4 metre breast height used in other contexts.
What is a habitat tree in Moreton Bay?
A tree providing habitat value — typically hollows used for nesting or shelter by native fauna. Habitat trees are protected regardless of trunk size, so a smaller tree with hollows can be protected where a larger tree beside it is not.
What is the fine for removing a protected tree in Moreton Bay?
Penalties have been reported at upwards of $4,000 per tree for residential breaches, with significantly higher exposure for commercial clearing. Council may also require replacement planting.
Official Moreton Bay sources
Always confirm current requirements directly with council before undertaking tree work.
Information reviewed 28 August 2026. Council rules change — this is general information, not legal advice.