Land clearing permits in Nowra
| Non-rural zones | Rural zones RU1 to RU4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Who decides | Shoalhaven City Council, under DCP Chapter G4 | Local Land Services |
| The framework | Chapter 2 of the NSW biodiversity SEPP | The NSW Land Management Framework, under the Local Land Services Act 2013 |
| How you ask | A private tree permit through the NSW Planning Portal, or inside a development application | Ring Local Land Services |
| Large native clearing | Above the Biodiversity Offsets Scheme thresholds, the Native Vegetation Panel decides | Depends on the Native Vegetation Regulatory map, released 31 August 2026 |
Land clearing in Nowra: good to know
If the clearing is part of building something, it's assessed with the development application, not as a separate tree job. NSW Planning says a DA is needed where clearing is part of wider development, affects a heritage item or sits in a heritage area.
Check early whether the block is bush fire prone. Councils prepare the bush fire prone land maps and the RFS Commissioner signs them off, and you can check yours with the RFS online tool, by asking council, or on the property's Section 10.7 planning certificate.
The 10/50 rule is narrower than people expect. Inside an entitlement area it covers trees within 10 metres of a home and shrubs, not trees, within 50 metres. It excludes land within 10 metres of a lake or river at least 2 metres wide, slopes over 18 degrees without a geotechnical report, and any clearing around powerlines. The RFS says to check its tool on the day you clear and keep a copy.
Land clearing in Nowra: what's local
Hollows and nests
If an approved tree has hollows or a nest, Shoalhaven City Council says an animal handler must be present to remove any native animal living there. Plan for that before the machines are booked.
Level 3 for removals
Council says all tree removal works must be done by an arborist with level three qualifications, which is the Certificate III in Arboriculture.
No poisoning
Council says poisoning a tree is not an accepted alternative to removal. NSW Planning made dead and dying protected trees part of the permit system in 2026 partly to stop exactly that.
More than one law
Council's tree page cites the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 and the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 too, and heritage, scenic protection or biodiversity values can add restrictions. Ask Environmental Services if any apply.
Endeavour Energy's lines
Shoalhaven is in Endeavour Energy's area. Endeavour says vegetation within three metres of its network must be pruned by qualified, authorised contractors, and fallen lines go to Endeavour.
Before land clearing starts in Nowra
Lodge a Before You Dig Australia enquiry, and remember private pipes and cables won't be on the plans. Keep every machine and every tree well clear of overhead lines: Endeavour Energy says pruning near lines should never be done by an unqualified landowner, and a tree that falls into a line is the network's job. If a line comes down, stay 8 metres away.
Questions to ask about land clearing in Nowra
- Which approval covers the work: a council permit, a DA consent or Local Land Services advice
- Which trees stay, especially hollow-bearing trees and anything near a creek
- How machines get in, where they turn and what ground protection is used
- What happens to the stumps: ground out or pulled
- Where the timber and mulch go
- Who arranges the animal handler if hollows or nests are found
- Erosion control and tidy-up at the end, plus proof of insurance
Hiring an arborist for land clearing in Nowra
We'd get the zoning off the planning certificate first, because it decides whether council or Local Land Services has the say. Then check the bush fire prone map and walk the block for hollows before anyone quotes. Clearing that's tied to a build belongs in the DA, and it's far easier to ask than to fix it after the fact.