Trees and vegetation
The Council is responsible for maintaining the vegetation on Council-owned land and in public places, including Invercargill’s roads and roadside vegetation. It is also responsible for vegetation in the district’s parks and reserves.
Property owners are responsible for the upkeep of their own property, which includes land and dwellings. The Property Law Amendment Act 1975 states that property owners are responsible for any nuisance or damage that their vegetation causes to neighbouring properties.
The Council receives many calls about vegetation, in particular trees which overhang property boundaries. We have prepared information to inform property owners about their rights and responsibilities.
We suggest that you talk openly to your neighbours and/or other parties involved: it is often the best way to resolve issues relating to property and boundary vegetation.
Need help?
If you believe there is a health and safety issue contact the Environmental Health team.
Environmental Health team
- Phone: (03) 211 1777
- Email: dutyhealth@icc.govt.nz
For neighbour disputes and legal advice contact your lawyer or the Southland Community Law Centre at (03) 214 3180.
Looking after your street frontage
What you need to know
Because Invercargill City Council doesn't rate for frontage maintenance, you will need to maintain your property frontage by mowing lawns, and trimming hedges and trees to enhance street appearance and ensure footpath safety. Property owners are asked to include grass frontages or rural ditches in their regular property upkeep.
Trees and shrubs - trimming
Property owners are asked to keep trees and shrubs trimmed to prevent hazards on footpaths, particularly for mobility scooter users, and maintain clear sight lines at street corners and entrances. Before digging or planting on street verges, you must obtain Council permission as electricity and telecommunication cables run along property boundaries. While street beautification is encouraged, damaging these services is dangerous and expensive to repair.
Paving of frontages
Property owners who wish to have their frontage paved may apply to Council for permission. However, property owners are required to pay for this work.
Council owned plants and trees
The Council’s Parks Department is responsible for planting and maintaining all street trees and shrubs.
If you have any concerns about these plants, please contact the Parks Department directly. You can also reach out to request a tree for your street to help enhance the beauty of your neighbourhood.
Gravel on frontages
Gravel and large stones are not permitted on frontages as a landscaping material because they can become dislodged and scattered onto footpaths.
This can potentially cause injury to pedestrians, particularly the elderly and people using mobility scooters.
Landscaping of frontages
Landscaping of frontages in urban and rural areas may be permitted, however each situation is considered on merit. Please contact Council’s Roading staff on 03 211 1777 or email Roading.Operations@icc.govt.nz and they will assist you with your landscaping ideas.
Rural Frontages
In rural areas, property frontages can be very different to those in urban areas. Verges may be large grass areas, ditches, and watercourses. In areas such as Ōtātara, the verge may have native bush growing with no well-defined boundary.
Council maintains all culverts under roads for watercourses and some piped networks. If you live in a rural area where drainage is not rated for, you are responsible for maintaining ditches to ensure they are operational and kept tidy.
Council does permit grazing of frontages in rural areas, however, you must apply to Council and follow some sensible safety rules.
Please see our Roadside Grazing page for more information.
Property owners are responsible for maintaining any roadside bushes that extend from their property. These bushes should be trimmed to ensure clear visibility for motorists and to keep a safe distance from the road edge for pedestrians. When planting near the boundary, please ensure that vegetation does not interfere with overhead power lines.
Did you know...
Your property frontage may contain important service connections, such as water, stormwater, and sewer pipes linking your home to the street mains. Additionally, the street frontage often contains underground and overhead utilities, including electricity and telecommunication cables, water tobies, manholes, and fire hydrants.
For this reason, special permission from Council is required before anyone can excavate or dig in the road or verge area. This helps protect essential services and ensures that all work is carried out safely. Please note that “House for Sale” signposts must not be driven into the frontage, as doing so could damage underground cables or services.
Please ask before doing anything outside your property
Contact Council's Roading department:
- Phone: (03) 211 1777
- Email: roading.operations@icc.govt.nz
For neighbour disputes and legal advice contact your lawyer or the Southland Community Law Centre at (03) 214 3180.
