Applying for a Nature Strip Planting Permit

The City of Stonnington is now giving residents the opportunity to create a garden on their property’s nature strip.

In urban areas with limited open space, planting on nature strips provides benefits to residents such as:

  • connecting with nature
  • supporting local biodiversity
  • adding colour to the street
  • replacing poorly performing grass
  • reducing maintenance of regular weeding and mowing.

Once approved for a permit, you will also receive a $25 voucher to an indigenous plant nursery to support you in starting your planting.

Applying for a permit is free and simple.

Key information

Before applying for a permit, check for underground cables and pipelines for services such as gas, electricity, and telecommunications. These often run underneath nature strips.

Damage to underground services can lead to injury or death, as well as disruption to essential services. You may also be responsible for the cost of any repairs.

You must check the location of these services before beginning planning your nature strip garden.

To receive a free report on underground assets in the area, visit Before You Dig Australia.  

How to apply

Understand the policy

When you apply for a permit, you must comply with the Nature Strip Planting Policy(PDF, 569KB).

The policy affects what you can and can't do to your nature strip.

For guidance, including diagrams and illustrations, view or download our Nature Strip Planting Handbook(PDF, 4MB).

If you have any questions about the policy, contact us at environment@stonnington.vic.gov.au.

Prepare your supporting documents

Have the job number and PDF summary report from Before You Dig Australia ready to upload.

You may also need to upload written support as evidence of planting permission from:

  • the property owner if you are renting
  • the owners of all other units if you live in a multi-unit block with no owners corporation
  • your owners corporation if you live in a property managed by one
  • the owner of the business adjacent to the nature strip.

The written statement of support must include:

  • that they agree to maintain or reinstate the nature strip if you move or can no longer care for it - for guidance check our Nature Strip Planting Handbook(PDF, 4MB)
  • their contact name and information
  • the owners corporation number if you are getting permission from one.

We also recommend telling your neighbours about your plans before you begin.

Apply online

To apply for a Nature Strip Planting Permit, fill out our application. We will review it to consider if your application is appropriate.

Apply now

Display your notice

If we assess that your nature strip is suitable for planting, we will send you a notice by mail to display outside your property.

This notice must be displayed for at least two weeks. During this time, we will consider any objections made.

If there are many objections to the nature strip modification, we may refuse your permit. We will let you know by email if this is the case. 

Get planting!

After the notice period, if there are no objections, you will receive your permit within 4 weeks via email. 


Once you receive your permit, you can start creating your nature strip garden.

Additional information