Clearing codes Guide
Queensland’s vegetation management laws allow you to carry out many routine and low-risk clearing activities without requiring a development approval under an accepted development vegetation clearing code.
First, consider whether your proposed clearing qualifies as exempt clearing work. If not, your activities may be eligible to be carried out without a development approval if the proposed clearing can be done in accordance with one of the following codes:
- managing encroachment
- clearing for an extractive industry
- managing fodder harvesting
- clearing to improve agricultural efficiency
- managing regulated regrowth vegetation
- managing a native forest practice
- necessary environmental clearing
- clearing for infrastructure
- managing weeds.
This General guide to the vegetation clearing codes 3.4 MB) provides information that applies to all codes, including the requirement to notify us of your intended vegetation clearing activities before you start any clearing.
If your proposed clearing doesn’t fall into the above categories, consider other options for clearing native vegetation.
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Step 1 – Choose the right code
Request a property report and vegetation map
Before you start any clearing activities, we recommend you request a free property report and vegetation maps to help you identify which vegetation you are allowed to clear on your property.
Once you have your property report, scan the list below for a code that matches your clearing purpose. Click on the code title to show details and download the code.
If you're not sure of which code matches your clearing purpose or activity, refer to the overview beneath each code and the supporting documents.
Once you have determined which code to use, make sure you read the code carefully and understand all the requirements. You should also read the General guide to the vegetation clearing codes 3.4 MB) and any guide specific to the code you plan to use. You can also view ‘how to’ videos at the bottom of the page.
Note: Clearing Category X areas on freehold, Indigenous and leasehold land is exempt clearing work under the vegetation management framework. This means you don’t need to use one of the following codes to clear this land.
Download your code
Update to contact details
The Commonwealth Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water has changed their phone number. The new number is 1800 920 528. The number listed in the Accepted Development Vegetation Clearing Codes is no longer in operation.
Video resources
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Step 2 – Secure exchange areas for vegetation clearing
Request a property report and vegetation maps
Before you start any clearing activities, we recommend you request a free property report and vegetation maps to help you identify which vegetation you are allowed to clear on your property.
The following accepted development vegetation clearing codes require you to legally secure an exchange area before clearing Category C and Category R vegetation above specified limits or in sensitive areas:
- clearing for an extractive industry
- clearing for infrastructure
- managing fodder harvesting
- managing regulated regrowth
- necessary environmental clearing.
If you are not using one of the codes listed above, go to step 3.
If you need to secure an exchange area for your proposed activity, a declared area may be a suitable way to secure the area on title. Read the code for requirements and fill in the application form. The guide has information on legally securing an exchange area.
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Step 3 – Notify us before clearing
Request a property report and vegetation maps
Before you start any clearing activities, we recommend you request a free property report and vegetation maps to help you identify which vegetation you are allowed to clear on your property.
You must notify us before you start to clear under an accepted development vegetation clearing code. You can notify us online or using a hard-copy form.
Do not start any clearing until you’ve received an email or letter from us confirming your notification.
Who can submit a notification
If you’re a landholder undertaking your own work, you can notify us yourself or have someone notify us on your behalf (with your written consent to do so).
If you are making a notification to clear over someone else’s land, you need the landholder’s consent to enter, access and undertake clearing on their land.
Information required for your notification
When you notify us, you’ll need to provide the following information:
- lot on plan of the land (from a rates notice, or the address checker)
- tenure of the property (i.e. freehold, leasehold or other)
- area to be cleared
- for online notifications, you can draw the area using the online mapping tool, attach a scan of a map, or provide GPS coordinates
- for hard-copy notifications, attach a map or provide GPS coordinates
- the area (in hectares) to be cleared (the online mapping tool will measure area for you)
- regional ecosystem(s) in which the clearing is proposed (from the property report).
How to submit your notification
You can notify us by either completing the online notification form or downloading a hard-copy version of the form and lodging it at one of our business centres.
Online notification form
Note: Not all clearing activities can be notified online. You will need to submit a hard-copy notification if you are clearing on a road or in a boundary watercourse under the codes for managing weeds, clearing for infrastructure, clearing for an extractive industry or necessary environmental clearing.
If you have any questions about completing the online notification form, you can watch our video below or contact us.
Printable notification forms
To submit a hard-copy notification form, download and print the relevant form below. You can lodge the completed notification form in person or by mail to any of our business centres. You can also email the completed form to vegetation@nrmmrrd.qld.gov.au. There is no lodgement fee.
- Clearing for an extractive industry
Notification of intention to clear under the Clearing for an extractive industry accepted development vegetation clearing code 886.9 KB) - Clearing for infrastructure
Notification of intention to clear under the Clearing for infrastructure accepted development vegetation clearing code 821.7 KB) - Clearing to improve agricultural efficiency
Notification of intention to clear under the Clearing to improve agricultural efficiency accepted development vegetation clearing code 887.6 KB) - Managing encroachment
Notification of intention to clear under the Managing encroachment accepted development vegetation clearing code 878.1 KB) - Managing fodder harvesting
Notification of intention to harvest under the Managing fodder harvesting accepted development vegetation clearing code 839.5 KB) - Managing a native forest practice
Notification of intention to harvest under the Managing a native forest practice accepted development vegetation clearing code 1.2 MB) - Managing necessary environmental clearing
Notification of intention to clear under the Managing necessary environmental works accepted development vegetation clearing code 1.2 MB) - Managing regulated regrowth vegetation (agriculture)
Notification of intention to clear for agriculture under the Managing regulated regrowth vegetation accepted development vegetation clearing code 824.1 KB) - Managing regulated regrowth vegetation (coordinated projects)
Notification of intention to clear for coordinated projects under the Managing regulated regrowth vegetation accepted development vegetation clearing code 1.3 MB) - Managing regulated regrowth vegetation (managing regrowth density)
Notification of intention to clear for managing regrowth density under the Managing regulated regrowth vegetation accepted development vegetation clearing code 1 MB) - Managing regulated regrowth vegetation (public safety)
Notification of intention to clear for public safety under the Managing regulated regrowth vegetation accepted development vegetation clearing code 1 MB) - Managing weeds
Notification of intention to clear under the Managing weeds accepted development vegetation clearing code 768.3 KB)
Wait for confirmation
If you’ve notified us online, you should receive confirmation by email shortly after. If you completed a hard-copy form, we will confirm receipt by email or post.
Do not start any clearing until you’ve received confirmation of your notification.
If you don’t receive a confirmation, please contact us.
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Step 4 – Code compliance and recordkeeping
Request a property report and vegetation maps
Before you start any clearing activities, we recommend you request a free property report and vegetation maps to help you identify which vegetation you are allowed to clear on your property.
You must ensure clearing is within the scope of the relevant accepted development vegetation clearing code and follow the requirements specified in the code. We may audit your property to monitor compliance with the code.
If you don’t comply with the code, you could be committing an offence under the Planning Act 2016 (section 163).
If another person is undertaking clearing on your behalf, you should:
- ensure they see the notification confirmation before starting to clear
- document and retain the instructions you give them
- supervise their clearing activities to ensure they comply with the code
- keep a record of their contact details.
Recordkeeping requirements
The clearing codes detail any additional recordkeeping requirements. You don’t need to submit these records, but you must retain them and make them available to us on request.
We strongly recommend that you keep copies of any invoices provided by agents – for example, clearing contractors.
Self-auditing
To help monitor your compliance with the codes, we recommend that you (or the person clearing on your behalf) undertake a self-audit after clearing a small portion of the total area that you propose to clear.
Some codes require that you complete a self-audit before lodging a subsequent notification. You don’t need to submit these with your notification, but you need to keep the results and make them available if we request them.
Check your selected clearing code to access a self-audit form and other resources to help you comply with the code.
Clearing codes, 09 Apr 2026, [https://www.qldgovau.staging-services.qld.gov.au/environment/land/management/vegetation/clearing-approvals/codes]
This document is uncontrolled when printed. Before using the information in this document you should verify the current content on https://www.qldgovau.staging-services.qld.gov.au/environment/land/management/vegetation/clearing-approvals/codes.