You can undertake specified clearing to prepare for, or respond to, emergencies and natural disasters without notifying us or applying for a permit. The information on this page explains more about disaster and emergency situations (like severe weather events) and the types of clearing you may be able to undertake on your property.
Clearing native vegetation can be regulated by local, state and the federal governments. Before you start clearing, check with your local council to understand any local laws that may apply to your land, as they are unique to each local council and are in addition to the regulations found here. This page outlines the Queensland Government native vegetation clearing regulations found in the Vegetation Management Act 1999 and Planning Act 2016.
Current disaster situation declaration areas and advice
To assist with the impacts of the severe flooding event in North Queensland, the Queensland Government is providing tree clearing exemptions to support clean up and recovery. This applies for 1 year following the disaster declaration made on 1 February 2025.
If you live in any area local government area where a disaster declaration has been made you won't need to get approval or notify us if the clearing is necessary to prevent or minimise any of the following:
loss of human life
property loss or damage
damage to the environment.
On freehold and leasehold land, you can also undertake clearing without a permit or notification:
to maintain existing infrastructure including buildings, fences, roads, stockyards and vehicular tracks – this includes removing fallen trees and woody debris
to create a necessary road or vehicular track up to a maximum 10 metres wide in a 'least concern' regional ecosystem (you can check the ecosystem of your property by requesting a vegetation management map).
Vegetation along and within watercourses in Great Barrier Reef catchments is generally regulated under the vegetation management framework and plays an important role in the protection of the health of the reef. Where any clearing in or near a watercourse is necessary, the extent of those works should be minimised. The Veg Hub team is available on 135 Veg (13 58 34) or by email vegetation@nrmmrrd.qld.gov.au to support landholders needing to undertake clearing.
To assist with the impacts of the cyclone event in South East Queensland, the Queensland Government is providing tree clearing exemptions to support clean up and recovery. This applies for 1 year following the disaster declaration made on 6 - 10 March 2025.
If you live in any area local government area where a disaster declaration has been made you won't need to get approval or notify us if the clearing is necessary to prevent or minimise any of the following:
loss of human life
property loss or damage
damage to the environment.
On freehold and leasehold land, you can also undertake clearing without a permit or notification:
to maintain existing infrastructure including buildings, fences, roads, stockyards and vehicular tracks – this includes removing fallen trees and woody debris
to create a necessary road or vehicular track up to a maximum 10 metres wide in a 'least concern' regional ecosystem (you can check the ecosystem of your property by requesting a vegetation management map).
If you have any questions about clearing, please contact Veg Hub on 135 VEG (13 58 34) or email vegetation@nrmmrrd.qld.gov.au.
You should also contact your local council for further information on other requirements in your local area.
To assist with the impacts of the severe flooding event in South West Queensland, the Queensland Government is providing tree clearing exemptions to support clean up and recovery. This applies for 1 year following the disaster declarations made on 28 and 29 March 2025.
If you live in any local government area where a disaster declaration has been made you won't need to get approval or notify us if the clearing is necessary to prevent or minimise any of the following:
loss of human life
property loss or damage
damage to the environment.
On freehold and leasehold land, you can also undertake clearing without a permit or notification:
to maintain existing infrastructure including buildings, fences, roads, stockyards and vehicular tracks – this includes removing fallen trees and woody debris
to create a necessary road or vehicular track up to a maximum 10 metres wide in a 'least concern' regional ecosystem (you can check the ecosystem of your property by requesting a vegetation management map).
The Veg Hub team is available on 135 Veg (13 58 34) or by email vegetation@nrmmrrd.qld.gov.au to support landholders needing to undertake clearing.
Further information on other requirements in your local area may also be available from:
If the government has formally declared your district a disaster situation area under the Disaster Management Act 2003, you don’t need to get our approval or to notify us if the clearing is necessary to prevent or minimise any of the following:
loss of human life, or illness or injury
property loss or damage
damage to the environment.
This applies for 1 year following the disaster declaration.
You can also remove fallen woody debris from existing tracks, roads, fire management lines and firebreaks.
Clearing exemption dates in disaster declared areas
Severe flooding event in North Queensland—January and February 2025
Local government area
Date declared
Exemption valid to
Townsville and Innisfail districts Burdekin Shire Council, Charters Towers Regional Council, Flinders Shire Council, Hinchinbrook Shire Council, Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council, Richmond Shire Council, Townsville City Council, Cassowary Coast Regional Council
1 February 2025
1 February 2026
Cyclone Alfred in South East Queensland—March 2025
Local government area
Date declared
Exemption valid to
Brisbane District Brisbane City Council, Redland City Council
6 March 2025
6 March 2026
Gold Coast District Gold Coast City Council
6 March 2025
6 March 2026
Logan District Logan City Council, Scenic Rim Regional Council
6 March 2025
6 March 2026
Moreton District Moreton Bay Regional Council
6 March 2025
6 March 2026
Sunshine Coast District Noosa Shire Council, Sunshine Coast Regional Council
6 March 2025
6 March 2026
Ipswich District Ipswich City Council, Lockyer Valley Regional Council, Somerset Regional Council
10 March 2025
10 March 2026
Toowoomba District Toowoomba Regional Council, Western Downs Regional Council
10 March 2025
10 March 2026
Severe flooding event in South West Queensland—March and April 2025
Local government area
Date declared
Exemption valid to
Charleville District Bulloo Shire Council, Murweh Shire Council, Paroo Shire Council, and Quilpie Shire Council.
28 March 2025
28 March 2026
Longreach District Barcaldine Regional Council, Barcoo Shire Council, Blackall-Tambo Regional Council, Longreach Regional Council, Winton Shire Council
29 March 2025
29 March 2026
Cleaning-up after emergencies (e.g. severe weather events)
You are able to clear some vegetation and fallen trees on your property to support severe weather event clean-up and recovery.
You also do not need to notify us or seek approval for:
clearing that is necessary to remove or reduce the imminent risk that vegetation poses to serious personal injury
clearing that is necessary to remove or reduce damage and imminent risk to infrastructure.
On freehold and leasehold land, you can also undertake clearing:
to maintain existing infrastructure including buildings, fences, roads, stockyards and vehicular tracks – this includes removing fallen trees and woody debris
to create a necessary road or vehicular track up to a maximum 10 metres wide in a 'least concern' regional ecosystem (you can check the ecosystem of your property by requesting a vegetation management map).
Other clearing under a code or development approval
You may be able to undertake other clearing to mitigate the impact of natural disasters using an accepted development vegetation clearing code.
These codes are self-assessable. You must notify us before starting to clear, and make sure you follow the requirements listed in the code. The codes in the following table have relevant provisions.
For any clearing beyond this scope, you’ll need to apply for a development approval.
Clearing for natural disasters using a clearing code
