Before land clearing starts in Perth
First, ask what's protected: native vegetation needs a permit or an exemption, and some sites, such as Bush Forever areas, need advice first. Second, find what's buried, with a Before You Dig enquiry at byda.com.au. Third, keep the machines clean, because Phytophthora dieback spreads in moved soil and the shot-hole borer travels in wood. Mulchers and stump grinders throw debris, so nobody stands near one that's running.
Land clearing permits in Perth
There are usually two layers. The state layer is the native vegetation clearing law, run by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation. It's an offence to clear native vegetation in WA without a clearing permit or an exemption, and the exemptions written into the regulations don't apply in environmentally sensitive areas.
The council layer sits on top. Some Perth councils now have tree retention policies for large trees on private land, others keep significant tree registers, and hills and fringe councils send firebreak notices every year. Our WA tree removal permits page covers both layers, and land clearing explains the job itself.
Land clearing in Perth: what's local
Firebreak notices in the hills
Under section 33 of the Bush Fires Act 1954, councils can order firebreaks and hazard reduction. Kalamunda's 2026/2027 notice asks for a fuel-reduced asset protection zone 20 metres out from each building, with fuel no more than 2 tonnes per hectare, and the work done by 1 November.
Asking first, even for fire work
Kalamunda's notice also says to check with the relevant agencies before clearing any part of a property. Bush Forever sites and Aboriginal heritage sites are named in particular. A fire notice is a reason to clear, but it doesn't settle what else applies.
Tuart woodlands
Tuart Woodlands and Forests of the Swan Coastal Plain are listed as Critically Endangered under the federal EPBC Act. If your block on the coastal plain has old tuarts, raise them with the council and DWER before anything is cut.
Mulch and the borer quarantine
Clearing produces a lot of wood. In the borer's Management Zone, untreated wood can't leave unless it's chipped to 2.5 cm or smaller, and green waste should go to an approved facility with the whole load covered.
Bushfire prone mapping
WA's Map of Bush Fire Prone Areas, current from 13 December 2025, shows whether your block is in a designated area. It affects building on the block later, so it's worth checking before you decide what to clear.
How land clearing works in Perth
Map what's there
Walk the block and photograph the trees, bushland and any old tuarts, jarrah or marri. Note any areas that look like natural bush rather than garden.
Ask the council and DWER
Ask the council whether a tree policy, register or local planning rule covers the block, and check the native vegetation clearing rules with DWER before deciding what goes.
Read your fire notice
If the council has sent a firebreak or hazard reduction notice, note the widths, deadlines and pruning heights it asks for.
Lodge the BYDA enquiry
Do it early. Asset owners are asked to respond within 2 business days, and BYDA plans won't show private services inside your boundary.
Get a written quote
The quote should name what stays and what goes, how the wood and mulch are handled, and how the machines are cleaned between sites.
Land clearing in Perth: what you can do yourself
You can
- Rake up leaf litter and fallen bark around the house
- Pull small weeds and seedlings by hand
- Keep gutters, roofs and walls clear of flammable material
- Collect your fire notice and any council letters in one place for the quote
Leave to an arborist
- Felling or mulching trees of any size
- Under-pruning tall trees to the height a fire notice sets
- Machine work near fences, sheds, slopes or services
- Clearing anywhere near power lines
Hiring an arborist for land clearing in Perth
Don't let the fire notice deadline rush you into clearing what you don't need to. We'd read the notice, ask the council and DWER what's protected, and then get an arborist or clearing crew to quote only the clearing the notice and your plans actually need. Keeping the big old trees you're allowed to keep is usually the better result.