City of Monash Permit Guide

Tree Removal Permits
in City of Monash

When you need a permit, what the application involves, and what the arborist report must contain — verified against City of Monash's own planning scheme on 2026-09-17. We prepare permit-ready arborist reports in-house to AS 4970:2025 and AS 4373-2007.

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Verified2026-09-17
AQF L5Arborist Reports
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AS 4970 & AS 4373 Reports
In-House AQF Level 5
Permit-Ready Documentation

Source & verification. Every threshold on this page is quoted from City of Monash's own permit information: https://www.monash.vic.gov.au/Planning-Development/Planning/Vegetation-Protection-Overlay. Verified 2026-09-17. 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 in Force

Which Planning Controls
Apply in Monash?

City of Monash uses several layered controls to protect trees on private property. Which one applies to your specific tree depends on the overlay mapped over your property and the tree's own dimensions.

  • Vegetation Protection Overlay (VPO) — Monash's primary tree-protection overlay, in force since 2005
  • Significant Landscape Overlay (SLO) — applies specifically to properties along the Gardiners Creek corridor (Ashwood and Burwood parts of Monash)
  • Clause 52.37 (Canopy Trees) applies site-wide in residential zones from 15 September 2025
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 City of Monash.

Under Clause 52.37, a canopy tree is a tree with all three characteristics: height above ground level of more than 5 metres; trunk circumference of more than 0.5 metres measured at 1.4 metres; and canopy diameter of at least 4 metres. A planning permit is required to remove, destroy or lop a canopy tree within 6 metres of the narrowest street frontage or 4.5 metres of the rear boundary of an existing dwelling, or anywhere on a vacant lot.

Monash-Specific Rules

City of Monash's Own
Additional Requirements

On top of Clause 52.37, City of Monash adds its own overlay-based controls — often stricter than the state minimum.

Under Monash's VPO, a planning permit is required to remove, destroy or lop a tree that is BOTH higher than 10 metres AND has a trunk circumference greater than 50 centimetres (16 centimetres diameter) measured at 120 centimetres above ground level. Both criteria must be met for the VPO trigger to apply. Note: this is the VPO threshold — it is DIFFERENT from and stricter than the Clause 52.37 canopy tree threshold. Where both apply, the more restrictive rule governs.

Exemptions

When You Don't Need a Permit

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

  • The tree is dead.
  • The tree is one of the listed exempt species: all types of willows, radiata (Monterey) pines, evergreen alders, sweet pittosporums, and desert ash.
  • The tree presents an immediate risk of personal injury or damage to property — however only the part of the tree that presents the immediate risk may be removed under this exemption.
Application Fee

What the Permit
Actually Costs

Fee not published on the VPO information page — call Monash Council on 9518 3555 for the current fee schedule.

Arborist Report Requirements

What the Report Must Contain

Monash requires arborist support for VPO permit applications. Reports prepared in-house by our AQF Level 5 arborists to AS 4970:2025 (protection of trees on development sites) and AS 4373-2007 (pruning specifications) are accepted with Monash permit applications.

More on our arborist reports →
Local Context

What Else to Know
About Monash

Monash Council has adopted a target to increase urban canopy cover to 30% (referenced in Council's March 2024 meeting agenda). This informs Council's approach to canopy tree removal permit assessments — replacement-planting commitments significantly improve permit outcomes. The SLO covering Gardiners Creek properties (in the Ashwood and Burwood parts of Monash) adds a further layer of protection on top of the VPO.

Local Arborist Services

Suburbs We Service in City of Monash

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

Arborist Glen Waverley

Local arborist services in Glen Waverley, all under City of Monash. Same permit framework covered by this page applies.

See our Glen Waverley page →

Arborist Mount Waverley

Local arborist services in Mount Waverley, all under City of Monash. Same permit framework covered by this page applies.

See our Mount Waverley page →
Get In Touch

Monash 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 Monash Council needs — all in-house, same business day for a written response.

The TLC Team will respond the same business day with next steps.

Common Questions

Monash Permit FAQs

Answers to what Monash property owners ask us most often.

When do I need a permit to remove a tree in Monash?

Under Clause 52.37, a canopy tree is a tree with all three characteristics: height above ground level of more than 5 metres; trunk circumference of more than 0.5 metres measured at 1.4 metres; and canopy diameter of at least 4 metres. A planning permit is required to remove, destroy or lop a canopy tree within 6 metres of the narrowest street frontage or 4.5 metres of the rear boundary of an existing dwelling, or anywhere on a vacant lot. Under Monash's VPO, a planning permit is required to remove, destroy or lop a tree that is BOTH higher than 10 metres AND has a trunk circumference greater than 50 centimetres (16 centimetres diameter) measured at 120 centimetres above ground level. Both criteria must be met for the VPO trigger to apply. Note: this is the VPO threshold — it is DIFFERENT from and stricter than the Clause 52.37 canopy tree threshold. Where both apply, the more restrictive rule governs.

Are dead trees exempt from permit requirements in Monash?

The tree is dead. The tree is one of the listed exempt species: all types of willows, radiata (Monterey) pines, evergreen alders, sweet pittosporums, and desert ash. The tree presents an immediate risk of personal injury or damage to property — however only the part of the tree that presents the immediate risk may be removed under this exemption.

What does the arborist report need to contain for a Monash permit?

Monash requires arborist support for VPO permit applications. Reports prepared in-house by our AQF Level 5 arborists to AS 4970:2025 (protection of trees on development sites) and AS 4373-2007 (pruning specifications) are accepted with Monash permit applications. We prepare these in-house with our AQF Level 5 arborists — no third-party consultant, no scheduling gap between the site visit and the report delivery.

How much does a Monash tree removal permit cost?

Fee not published on the VPO information page — call Monash Council on 9518 3555 for the current fee schedule. Our arborist-report fee is separate and quoted on the specific job; we send you a fixed written quote after seeing the site or the drawings.

Can TLC apply for the permit on my behalf?

We prepare the arborist report Monash Council requires and can advise on the application, but the property owner or their agent lodges the permit with Council. We coordinate with your planning consultant, builder, or facilities manager if the tree work is part of a larger application.

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