Regulated and significant trees
Trees, particularly mature trees, have significant benefits for the area, including shade, cooling, biodiversity, habitat, air quality and natural beauty.
Legal protections exist for large trees that are considered regulated or significant. These protections apply to trees on both public and private land.
What is a regulated or significant tree?
A Significant Tree is a tree that has:
- A single trunk with a circumference of two (2) metres or more when measured at one metre above natural ground level.
- A multiple trunk with a total trunk circumference of two (2) metres or more and an average circumference of 625mm or more when measured one metre above natural ground level.
A Regulated Tree is a tree that has:
- A single trunk with a circumference of one (1) metre or more when measured at one metre above natural ground level
- A multiple trunk with a total circumference of one (1) metre or more and an average circumference of 625mm or more when measured one metre above natural ground level.
Some exemptions apply, for example dead trees and particular exotic tree species.
What protections exist?
Rules exist to protect regulated and significant trees from:
- removal
- killing or destruction
- branch or limb lopping
- ringbarking or topping
- damaging to the root system.
Approval is required to undertake any of the above activities on a regulated or significant tree. Penalties of up to $120,000 apply for illegal works.
Gaining approval for tree removal or maintenance
Applications for works to regulated or significant trees can be lodged online through the PlanSA.
You will need to provide the following information when lodging your application:
- details of the tree, including species and tree circumference at 1 metre above ground level
- a site plan showing the location of the tree
- a number of photos clearly showing the tree
- an arborist report will often be required to support and provide sound reasons to support the removal of the tree.
Tree Assistance Grant Program
Council have limited grants available to assist residents with maintaining significant and regulated trees on private property.
Visit our Tree Assistance Grants page to find out more.
Further information
For more information, refer to PlanSA’s fact sheets: