These changes will apply to any block approved under an Estate Development Plan or issued an original Crown lease before the 1^st of January of 2020. Whilst they do not currently apply to blocks approved after this date, the ACT Government has flagged the release of a new Territory Plan in 2023, which will then have these provisions applied to all single dwelling blocks in the ACT.

Means an outdoor area within a block useable for outdoor living activities, and may include balconies, terraces or decks but does not include any area required to be provided for the parking of motor vehicles and any common driveways and common vehicle manoeuvring areas.  Up to 25 per cent of any part of private open space may be roofed over, except that a balcony may be entirely roofed over.

Means an area of land within a block that is available for landscape planting and that is not covered by buildings, structures, vehicle parking and manoeuvring areas or any other form of impermeable element that impacts permeability of the ground surface (i.e. terraces, pergolas, patios, decks or pools).  

Means the proportion of actual site covered by buildings, including roofed terraces, pergolas, patios, decks and balconies but excluding any part of awnings, eaves and the like.

A Large Block is a block with an area greater than 500sqm.

A Mid-Sized Block is a block with an area greater than 250sqm but less than or equal to 500sqm.

A Compact Block is a block with an area of 250sqm or less.

The relevant rules concerning the number of trees is as follows:

• For a compact blocks, at least one small tree 
• For mid-sized blocks, at least two small trees 
• for large blocks less than or equal to 800sqm, one small tree and one medium tree
• for large blocks more than 800sqm, at least: 
  • one medium tree and one large tree, and 
  • one additional large tree or two additional medium trees for each additional 800sqm. 

The size of the trees and other relevant rules are included in the table below.  

The Single Dwelling Housing Code provides a list of criteria that trees need to meet to satisfy these conditions. These can be viewed on page 30 and 31 of the Code. The ACT Government has released some example trees that would satisfy these requirements, which has been included below. This list is only an example, and there are many other species and varieties of tree that will satisfy the conditions.

Small Tree:

• Narrow-leaved sallee, Little sallee
• Callistemon 'King’s Park Special'
• Bechtel's crab apple
• Black cherry plum
• Japanese elm
• Chinese flowering crab apple
• Natchez crepe myrtle
• Weeping myall
• Flax leaf paperbark, Snow in summer
• White cedar

Medium Tree:

• Chinese pistachio (male form)
• Trident maple
• Black sallee
• Todd Chinese elm
• Mount Buffalo sallee
• Black tea tree
• Aristocrat callery pear
• Weeping snow gum
• Cimmaron green ash
• Kurrajong tree

Large Tree:

• Autumn blaze maple
• Wallangarra white gum
• Blackwood
• Argyle apple
• Hillgrove gum   
• Free Fall pin oak
• Common Linden, Lime Tree
• American sweet gum
• Indian Bean Tree
• Red box gum

These can satisfy the requirements. This is one area the ACT Government is still being vague. The current understanding is that if a survey is provided that shows you have trees on your block that satisfy the minimum requirements already, or if you have trees that will grow to satisfy the minimum requirements, your block will be deemed compliant with these new regulations.

Plans will need to be provided that highlight the existence and or proposed planting of trees, whether the project is going through a Development Approval or Building Approval. The new trees (or pre-existing trees) will need to be planted on the block prior to the issuing of final compliance certificates by a building certifier. If they are not planted at this time, a Lessee Declaration Form can be completed, which allows for the lessee to take responsibility and commit to planting the trees as per the approved plans. This declaration can be found here: https://www.planning.act.gov.au/__data/assets/word_doc/0011/2066951/Lessee-Declaration-Form-Trees-on-single-dwelling-block-in-accordance-with-living-infrastructure-requirements.docx

As the rules specifically state that the trees must be planted in deep soil zones they cannot be left in pots. They must be planted somewhere on the block that will allow for them to grow to their full height without being impeded by any structures above or below ground.  

The rule specifically states that the tree must be on block, so the verge or a neighbours tree will not be considered to satisfy these rules. The number of trees surrounding your block is not factored into this rule, nor is the shadowing and canopy cover that these trees already provide to your block.

If the species of tree is relevant for your application, for example it is listed as a ‘Problematic Tree Species’, then we can help you determine the species of tree. We may need you to provide photos or access to the property to examine the tree. There are useful fact sheets for all tree species in the ACT which can be accessed here: https://www.cityservices.act.gov.au/trees-and-nature/trees/tree-species-for-canberra.