Land Clearing In Albury For House Sites, Fence Lines And Acreage
Local Tree Removal Albury clears trees, scrub and regrowth for house sites, sheds, driveways and fence lines around Albury. The first thing that shapes a clearing job is the zoning, not the machinery. On residential land, clearing goes through AlburyCity. On rural land zoned RU1, RU2 or RU4, it is regulated by Local Land Services instead.
Get that wrong and a straightforward job can turn into a stop-work order. This page sets out who approves what, the size limits that bring in extra assessment, and how to plan the clearing so the site is ready for whoever builds on it.
Who Approves The Clearing?
| Your land and purpose | Who decides |
|---|---|
| Clearing for a new house, shed, pool or extension | AlburyCity, as part of the development application |
| Residential block, clearing not tied to building work | AlburyCity Vegetation Removal Permit for trees over the size threshold (see the Albury tree permit rules) |
| Native vegetation in zones R5, RU5, RE1, RE2, C2, C3, C4, SP1, SP2 or W2 | AlburyCity permit, including vegetation below the usual tree size threshold |
| Rural zones RU1, RU2 and RU4 | Local Land Services (1300 795 299) |
| Wodonga and the Victorian side | Victorian planning rules, where removing native vegetation generally needs a permit. See our Wodonga tree removal page. |
Zoning is shown on the NSW Planning Portal spatial viewer. On R5 large-lot blocks around the edge of town, check before assuming the rules are the same as a suburban backyard. They are not.
The Biodiversity Offsets Scheme Threshold
When a development clears native vegetation, NSW sets an area limit based on the minimum lot size for the land. Go over it and the Biodiversity Offsets Scheme applies. That means a formal biodiversity assessment report with the development application, and possibly offsets.
| Minimum lot size for the land | Native vegetation clearing that triggers the scheme |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 ha | 0.25 ha (2,500 m²) or more |
| 1 ha to less than 40 ha | 0.5 ha or more |
| 40 ha to less than 1,000 ha | 1 ha or more |
| 1,000 ha or more | 2 ha or more |
It all adds up: the area counts every bit of native vegetation cleared for the proposal, including the driveway, fence lines and the house pad. The threshold uses the minimum lot size on the planning map, not the size of the block you own. Land shown on the Biodiversity Values Map triggers the scheme regardless of area.
Working out the clearing footprint before the plans are finalised is worth the effort. Moving a shed or a driveway can make a real difference to the total.
Fence Lines And Farm Infrastructure On Rural Land
On rural land, clearing to build or maintain rural infrastructure is an “allowable activity” that doesn’t need Local Land Services approval. It must still be kept to the minimum needed, and the maximum widths depend on the property:
| Property type | Maximum clearing distance |
|---|---|
| Central allowable activity zone | 30 m |
| Coastal allowable activity zone | 15 m |
| Small holdings in any zone (under 10 ha outside the Western Division) | 12 m |
| Category 2 vulnerable or sensitive regulated land | 6 m |
On small holdings, the infrastructure covered is limited to permanent boundary and internal fences, roads and tracks, pipelines and stockyards. “Rural land” here means RU1, RU2, RU3, RU4 and RU6 zones. RU5 village land doesn’t count. Check your land category on the NSW Native Vegetation Regulatory Map, and remember council approval can still be needed under other laws.
Planning The Clearing Itself
A cleared block is only useful if it suits the next stage, and that is usually the builder, the fencer or the landscaper.
Decide what stays before the machines arrive
Mark any trees you are keeping and fence off their root zones first. Under AS 4970:2025, a tree’s protection zone has a radius of 12 times its trunk diameter, which is often bigger than people expect. Old gums are also worth checking for hollows before they are marked to go. Our arborist page covers both.
Stumps: grind or pull out
Where a lawn, garden or paving is going in, grinding the stump below ground level is usually enough. Under a slab or footings, your builder or engineer will specify how much root and organic material has to come out. Grinding is covered on our stump grinding page.
Check for services
Stump removal and root ripping disturb the ground. Lodge a free Before You Dig Australia enquiry before any excavation so buried power, water, gas and telecommunications lines are known before work starts.
Leave the soil protected
AlburyCity weighs the role vegetation plays in holding soil and keeping sediment out of waterways. Bare ground on a sloping block can wash into drains with the first heavy storm. If building won’t start for months, it is often better to clear in stages, or to leave groundcover in place until work begins.
Common Questions
We want to clear for bushfire protection. Is that handled differently?
Yes. Local Land Services lists several pathways for bushfire-related clearing, including the Rural Fire Service’s Rural Boundary Clearing Code and 10/50 Vegetation Clearing Code, along with hazard reduction work. AlburyCity also exempts clearing authorised under the 10/50 rules. Check eligibility with the RFS online tool before you rely on either code.
The block is overrun with willows and other weeds. Do they need approval?
Priority weeds on AlburyCity’s list, including willows, Tree of Heaven, Rhus and Castor Oil Plant, don’t need a Vegetation Removal Permit. Zoning, heritage or Murray River controls can still apply, so check if the block sits near the river.
Talk To Us About Your Block
Call 0419 136 537 or use the form. Let us know where the land is, roughly how much needs clearing, what is going in afterwards, and whether you already have council or Local Land Services approval. You can also reach us through the contact page.