Cardinia Shire Tree Removal Services

Cardinia’s Tree Removal Experts

Milone’s Tree Solutions works across Pakenham, Officer, Beaconsfield, Emerald, Cockatoo and Koo Wee Rup, from growth-area homes to rural properties and ranges foothills. Our qualified arborists bring more than 20 years’ experience to council-aware tree work.

We provide safe tree removal, scheduled tree trimming and effective stump grinding. If a tree problem needs prompt attention, our emergency tree services can help assess a safe course of action. Read our overview of local council regulations and tree lopping to understand the questions to resolve before works.

Understanding Cardinia Shire Tree Protection Requirements

Cardinia provides a self-check for private-property vegetation removal. A planning permit is likely if native vegetation is affected on a lot of 4,000 m² or more, an overlay applies, or a retention requirement applies. Start with Council’s vegetation removal information and check the controls for your address.

When You Need a Permit

A planning permit is likely required if:

• the property is 4,000 m² or larger and native vegetation is to be removed under Clause 52.17;
• the property is affected by an Environmental Significance Overlay, Vegetation Protection Overlay, Design and Development Overlay, Heritage Overlay, Significant Landscape Overlay or Erosion Management Overlay;
• vegetation is required to be retained under a planning permit condition, landscape or offset plan, restrictive covenant or Section 173 agreement;
• the tree is a canopy tree over 5 m high, with a trunk circumference over 0.5 m at 1.4 m and a canopy diameter of at least 4 m;
• Clause 52.37 applies in a residential zone other than Low Density Residential; or
• works are proposed to trees or vegetation on Council land, roads, road reserves, footpaths or nature strips, where written consent is required.

When a Permit May Not Be Required

There are limited situations where a permit may not be needed:

• If none of Cardinia’s stated planning-permit triggers apply, Council advises that no planning permit is required to remove the vegetation.
• The 10/30 rule may allow clearing near an eligible accommodation building in a designated Bushfire Prone Area, subject to its conditions.
• The 10/50 rule applies only in areas of greatest bushfire hazard identified by the Bushfire Management Overlay.
• Planning scheme exemptions may allow some native vegetation removal for a boundary fence, subject to conditions.
• In rural and regional areas, CFA guidance notes that you may not need a permit to clear vegetation around a home, but you should check with Council.

However, we always recommend contacting Cardinia Shire Council or consulting with our professional arborists to confirm whether a permit is required for your specific situation.

Cardinia Shire Permit Application Process

Cardinia’s 2025–26 statutory schedule lists the following fees:

• VicSmart applications are $226.90 where the estimated cost of development is $10,000 or less, $487.50 where it is more than $10,000, and $226.90 for other VicSmart applications.
• Single-dwelling fee classes that include vegetation removal associated with a single dwelling are $226.90 up to $10,000, $714.40 from $10,001 to $100,000, and $1,462.50 from $100,001 to $500,000.

How to Apply

Lodge through Council’s Planning permits page and ePlanning portal. Cardinia does not publish a vegetation-specific document checklist, so follow portal requirements and seek planning advice before lodging. Provide clear tree species, measurements, a site plan, the reason for removal or pruning and photographs, plus an arborist report where it is needed to explain the proposal. Milone’s Tree Solutions can prepare a comprehensive arborist report to support your application, and our tree removal permit advice service can guide you through the process.

Official Cardinia Shire Resources

• Removing vegetation from your property
• Planning permits
• Planning permit and subdivision fees 2025–26

Sources last checked: 7 August 2026.

The information provided on this page is intended as general guidance only. Permit requirements for tree pruning, removal, and any works vary between local councils and may change without notice. If in doubt, or for the avoidance of doubt, Milone’s Tree Solutions strongly advises all customers to conduct their own due diligence and contact their local council directly to confirm whether permits, consents or approvals are required before proceeding with any tree works. Milone’s Tree Solutions accepts no responsibility or liability for any loss, penalty, or action resulting from reliance on the information contained herein or from failure to obtain the necessary permits prior to works being undertaken.

Common Trees Across Cardinia Shire

Cardinia’s hills townships have documented notable trees in Cockatoo, Emerald and Gembrook. Identify mature specimens before work on a large or established tree.

• Messmate Stringybark (Eucalyptus obliqua): recorded in Cardinia’s significant tree study for the hills townships.
• English Oak, Red Oak and Hybrid Oak (Quercus species): named in the study’s records of notable trees.
• Pin Oak (Quercus palustris): a species documented in the significant tree study.
• Dutch Elm (Ulmus × hollandica): listed among the study’s recorded trees.
• Lawson’s Cypress and Hinoki Cypress (Chamaecyparis species): both are included in the Cardinia study.
• European Beech (Fagus sylvatica): another species recorded in the hills-township study.