Frankston City Council Tree Removal Services

Frankston’s Tree Removal Experts

Milone’s Tree Solutions works across Frankston, Frankston South, Langwarrin, Carrum Downs and Seaford. Our qualified arborists have more than 20 years’ experience and plan work around Council planning and local-law requirements.

For tree removal, tree trimming or stump grinding, we assess the tree and its surroundings before recommending a solution. If a failure creates an urgent safety concern, our emergency tree services can help with a practical response. See our local council regulations and tree lopping information before work begins.

Understanding Frankston City Council Tree Protection Requirements

Frankston requires either a planning permit or a local-law permit to remove, destroy, lop or prune a tree on private land, depending on the property and proposed work. Planning controls, a retained-tree condition and the Tree Protection Local Law 2016 can all be relevant. Check Council’s tree and vegetation planning guidance before arranging work.

When You Need a Permit

A planning permit may be required when:

• the property is affected by a Significant Landscape Overlay, Environmental Significance Overlay, Heritage Overlay protecting a tree or Erosion Management Overlay;
• native remnant or remnant-regrowth vegetation is affected on land over 4,000 m²;
• vegetation is retained by a Section 173 agreement, covenant or planning permit, or the tree was retained or planted under a planning permit;
• the tree meets the Clause 52.37 canopy-tree trigger in the applicable residential or mixed-use zone;
• a canopy tree is over 5 m high, has a trunk circumference over 0.5 m at 1.4 m and a canopy diameter of at least 4 m in the defined areas; or
• where no planning controls apply, works affect a tree with a base trunk circumference of at least 110 cm, remove more than one-third of the outer canopy edge or occur in more than 10% of its Tree Protection Zone.

When a Permit May Not Be Required

Limited exemptions can apply:

• Only the part of vegetation presenting an immediate risk of injury or property damage may be removed, and the owner must be able to demonstrate the risk with evidence.
• Minor pruning may not need a local-law permit where no planning control applies and the one-third canopy trigger is not reached.
• A bushfire exemption may apply in a designated Bushfire Prone Area, subject to its requirements.
• The 10/30 rule has specific building requirements, while the 10/50 rule applies only in areas identified by the Bushfire Management Overlay.
• Most dead trees still require a permit, so a tree being dead is not an automatic exemption.

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

Frankston City Council Permit Application Process

No tree-specific local-law fee is published on Council’s permit page, and Council advises the relevant fee in writing after approval. The 2025–26 statutory planning schedule includes these VicSmart fees:

• $226.90 where the cost of development is $10,000 or less.
• $487.50 where the cost of development is more than $10,000.
• $226.90 for other Class 10 VicSmart applications.

How to Apply

For local-law work, first request free written planning advice, then use Council’s Request Local Law permit for pruning or removal of a private tree page to apply online, by email or by post. Applications need owner consent where relevant, a site plan or sketch, tree location and details including the trunk circumference, species and reason for the work. Planning-permit applications also require an arborist report and a site plan showing location and species. Include photographs and measurements. 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 Frankston City Council Resources

• Tree and vegetation planning guidance
• Request Local Law permit for pruning or removal of a private tree
• Statutory Planning Fee Schedule 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 Frankston City Council

Council recommends indigenous species for local yards. It reported about 62,000 street trees, more than 450 species and 17% canopy cover in 2020, with a target of 20% by 2040.

• Coast Banksia (Banksia integrifolia): a Council-recommended indigenous species that can reach 10–15 m.
• River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis): a Council-recommended indigenous tree recorded at 12–25 m.
• Coast Manna-gum (Eucalyptus viminalis subsp. pryoriana): included in Council’s indigenous species recommendations.
• Swamp Gum (Eucalyptus ovata): a local indigenous species identified in the Urban Forest Action Plan.
• Narrow-leaf Peppermint (Eucalyptus radiata): another Council-recommended indigenous tree for local yards.
• Coast Tea-tree (Gaudium laevigatum): listed by Council as an indigenous species for the municipality.