Glen Eira City Council Permit Guide

Tree Removal Permits
in Glen Eira City Council

When you need a permit, what the application involves, and what the arborist report must contain — verified against Glen Eira City Council's own trees information page on 2026-09-28. We prepare permit-ready arborist reports in-house to AS 4970:2025 and AS 4373-2007.

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Verified2026-09-28
AQF L5Arborist Reports
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AS 4970 & AS 4373 Reports
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Permit-Ready Documentation

Source & verification. Every threshold on this page is quoted from the City of Glen Eira's own permit information: https://www.gleneira.vic.gov.au/services/planning-and-building/trees. Verified 2026-09-28. Council thresholds change — the date on this page reflects when we last checked. If you're planning a job in the next few weeks, call us or check the source link before committing.

Overlays & Controls in Force

Which Tree Controls
Apply in Glen Eira?

The City of Glen Eira layers four separate controls over private trees: the statewide Clause 52.37 canopy tree rule (planning scheme), the Council's own Canopy Tree Protection Local Law, the Classified Tree Register, and the Heritage Overlay tree control (limited number of properties). Each operates independently — a single tree can trigger more than one.

  • Clause 52.37 — Canopy Trees (statewide, residential zones)
  • Canopy Tree Protection Local Law — 140cm circumference / 5m height threshold
  • Classified Tree Register — separate permit required for any classified tree
  • Heritage Overlay tree controls (limited number of properties, identified in the Heritage Overlay schedule)
Clause 52.37 (Canopy Trees)

Victoria-Wide Canopy Tree Rule

Since 15 September 2025, Clause 52.37 (Amendment VC289) applies state-wide to all residential zones — including throughout the City of Glen Eira.

A canopy tree under Clause 52.37 is a tree with all three characteristics: a height of more than 5 metres above ground level; a trunk circumference of more than 0.5 metres, measured at 1.4 metres above ground level; and a canopy diameter of at least 4 metres. Within Glen Eira, Clause 52.37 applies to residentially zoned land. A permit is required for a canopy tree located within 6 metres of a street frontage or 4.5 metres of the rear boundary.

Glen Eira-Specific Rules

Glen Eira Council's Own
Additional Requirements

On top of Clause 52.37, Glen Eira enforces its own Canopy Tree Protection Local Law — with lower thresholds than the statewide rule, so many trees that fall outside Clause 52.37 still need a Local Law permit here.

Under the Canopy Tree Protection Local Law, a permit is required for private-land trees meeting any one of these definitions:

  • A palm tree taller than 8 metres
  • A tree with a stump circumference of 140 centimetres or more
  • A tree taller than 5 metres
  • A tree with a trunk circumference of 140 centimetres or more, measured at a point 140 centimetres above ground level

Separately, a permit is required for any pruning, removal, or works within the Tree Protection Zone of a Classified Tree — regardless of the tree's size. Classified Trees are recorded in the Council's Classified Tree Register. Heritage Overlay tree controls apply to a limited number of properties, identified in the schedule to the Heritage Overlay.

Exemptions

When You Don't Need a Permit

Genuine exemptions listed by the City of Glen Eira. If your situation is unclear, we recommend confirming with Council or with us before removing anything — retrospective enforcement can be expensive.

  • Pruning of a tree by up to one third of the foliage without a permit is allowed under the Local Law — but this exemption does not apply to Classified Trees.
  • Minor pruning of a tree once a year without a permit, provided that no more than 10 per cent of the canopy is removed.
  • Immediate risk of personal injury or damage to property qualifies for exemption — Council must be notified. Document the risk (photos + arborist assessment) before you act.
Application Fee

What the Permit
Actually Costs

Glen Eira has not published Local Law tree permit fees on the primary tree information page — call Council on (03) 9524 3333 for the current fee schedule. Clause 52.37 planning permit fees are set by the Victorian state fee schedule and vary with application complexity. Both fees are payable to Council and are separate to our arborist report and tree works quotes.

Arborist Report Requirements

What the Report Must Contain

Glen Eira Council accepts an arborist assessment of the tree's health and condition as part of Local Law and planning permit applications. Reports must be prepared by a suitably qualified arborist — AQF Level 5 is the qualification level Victorian councils recognise for arboricultural advice on planning matters. TLC's reports are written in-house by AQF Level 5 arborists to AS 4970:2025 and AS 4373-2007 — no third-party consultant, no scheduling gap between the site visit and report delivery.

More on our arborist reports →
Local Context

What Else to Know
About Glen Eira

The City of Glen Eira covers Caulfield (North, South, and East), Carnegie, Elsternwick, Bentleigh, Bentleigh East, Ormond, McKinnon, Murrumbeena, Gardenvale and Glen Huntly. Because the Local Law threshold is 140cm trunk circumference or 5 metres tall — lower than the statewide Clause 52.37 threshold — a significant proportion of established Glen Eira backyard trees need a permit before any pruning or removal beyond the 10%-per-year minor pruning exemption. Send us the address and we'll check Local Law, Clause 52.37, Classified Tree Register, and Heritage Overlay status for your specific tree in a single free assessment.

Local Arborist Services

Suburbs We Service in the City of Glen Eira

Dedicated arborist landing pages for our priority suburbs — same permit framework as covered above, plus local tree species and street knowledge for each area.

Arborist Glen Huntly

Local arborist services in Glen Huntly (City of Glen Eira). Same permit framework as covered above applies. Glen Huntly is a TLC fastest-response area.

See our Glen Huntly page →
Get In Touch

Glen Eira Permit
Support & Quotes

Send us your address and what you want to do. The TLC Team will confirm the overlay status on your property, quote the works, and prepare the arborist report the City of Glen Eira needs — all in-house, same business day for a written response.

— TLC Team · same-business-day response

Common Questions

Glen Eira Permit FAQs

Answers to what the City of Glen Eira property owners ask us most often.

When do I need a permit to remove a tree in the City of Glen Eira?

Four separate rules can apply. Under statewide Clause 52.37, a planning permit is required for a canopy tree (over 5 metres tall, over 0.5 metre trunk circumference at 1.4 metres, and at least 4 metres canopy diameter) within 6 metres of a street frontage or 4.5 metres of the rear boundary. Under Glen Eira's Canopy Tree Protection Local Law, a permit is required for any tree taller than 5 metres, any tree with a trunk circumference of 140 centimetres or more at 140 centimetres above ground, any tree with a stump circumference of 140 centimetres or more, or any palm taller than 8 metres. Any pruning or removal of a Classified Tree requires a permit regardless of size. Heritage Overlay tree controls apply to specific properties listed in the Heritage Overlay schedule.

How much does a Glen Eira tree removal permit cost?

Glen Eira has not published Local Law tree permit fees on the primary tree information page — call Council on (03) 9524 3333 for the current fee schedule. Clause 52.37 planning permit fees are set by the Victorian state fee schedule and vary with application complexity. Both are payable to Council and are separate to our arborist report and tree works quotes.

Can I prune my tree without a permit?

Yes, subject to two limits set by Glen Eira's Local Law. You may prune up to one third of the foliage without a permit (this exemption does not apply to Classified Trees). You may also do minor pruning once a year without a permit, provided no more than 10 per cent of the canopy is removed. Anything beyond those limits — a full crown reduction, a significant reshape, dropping a large limb — needs a permit.

What if my tree falls after a storm or is an immediate hazard?

Immediate risk of personal injury or damage to property qualifies for exemption from the permit requirement, and Council must be notified. Document the risk with photos and an arborist assessment before acting where you can — some hazard removals are challenged retrospectively if the risk isn't well-evidenced. Our emergency team can attend after-hours for genuine storm-damage jobs and prepare the documentation Council needs.

How do I check if my tree is a Classified Tree?

The Classified Tree Register is maintained by Glen Eira Council. Not many trees are on it — but for those that are, a permit is required for any pruning, removal, or works within the Tree Protection Zone regardless of size. If we're preparing your quote, we check the register for your address at no charge as part of the assessment.

Can TLC apply for the permit on my behalf?

We prepare the arborist report Glen Eira Council requires and can advise on the application, but the property owner or their agent lodges the permit with Council. Local Law permit applications are lodged through Council's "Lodge my request" system; planning permit applications go through Council's Statutory Planning process. We coordinate with your planning consultant, builder, or facilities manager if the tree work is part of a larger application.

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