Learn about identifying significant trees, how to manage roots interfering with your property, and your responsibilities.
If a tree on your property is covered by our significant tree local law, you will require a permit to prune, lop or remove it.
Residential disputes involving private trees are a civil matter between neighbours and outside of our regulatory responsibilities.
Tree roots interfering with your property
Our street trees are often growing in confined spaces within road and footpath cut outs and close to properties.
The majority of our estimated 35,000 street trees do not cause damage, though on occasion there can be conflict with surrounding infrastructure and private properties.
We complete a 2 year inspection of all roadways and footpaths and all root pruning and management works are performed between April and October to minimise any effect on the tree.
Structural damage to private property is not always tree related and can be caused by any or many of the following:
- Inadequate or poor quality footings
- Poor drainage or inadequate storm water discharge
- Damaged, leaking water or sewage pipes
- Nearby construction disturbance
- Alterations to the property
- Service pits such as gas or Telstra
Home owners' responsibilities
As a property owner it is your responsibility to ensure that all pipes on your land are completely sealed to prevent roots entering. You also need to make sure there are no leaking pipes encouraging root growth close to pipes.
For these reasons we require the property owner to provide evidence that the damage to their property has been caused by a Yarra City Council tree by providing a GEO technical (soil engineer) report on the site.
If a Yarra City Council tree is proven to be causing damage to private property, our arborist will review measures to prevent the damage continuing and ultimately retain the tree. As a last resort the tree may be removed.
If you suspect your property is damaged by a Yarra City Council tree roots, please report an issue with us below.