We want to make it as easy as possible for residents to apply for the required permit to plant on their nature strip. That’s why we’re changing the permit application to an automated online form. This change also makes it easier for officers to monitor.

We’ve provided clearer guidance on how far you need to keep plants, mulch, toppings and pavers away from assets including street trees, footpaths and kerbs. This change is to protect these assets. Clearance zones are summarised below:

• Vegetation must be maintained no more than 50cm high (to ensure pedestrian and driver 'line of sight').
• Keep plants at least 50cm away from the base of street trees. Mulch is permitted within the clearance zone.
• Keep plants at least 60cm away from the kerb to allow for easy opening of car doors. Mulch, granitic sand or groundcover is permitted within the clearance zone.
• You can use 1 or 2 non-slip pavers to guide foot traffic through a planted nature strip. Keep pavers at least 2 metres from the base of street trees.
• Soil, plants and mulch must not cover or impede access to assets, service infrastructure and street furniture. Maintain a clear zone of only mulch, ground covers or grasses within 1m of fire hydrants and manholes, and 50 cm of power poles.

Mulch and toppings can be used in your nature strip garden, but you must plant groundcover and/or low growing shrubs too. This is to preserve neighbourhood character and enhance biodiversity, which is the intention of these guidelines.

Arterial roads are owned and managed by the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP). If you live on an arterial road and would like to renovate your nature strip, DTP require you to apply for a permit through them. Use their interactive map to see if you live on an arterial road. To apply for a permit through DTP, please contact metro_workswithinroadreserve@roads.vic.gov.au