The clearing of native vegetation in Western Australia is principally regulated under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act) and its subsidiary legislation. Find out more about Acts of Parliament and subsidiary legislation at the Western Australian Legislation website.
The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation is the primary regulator that administers the clearing provisions of the EP Act. We assess applications for clearing permits under Part V of the EP Act (except when the clearing relates to mineral and petroleum activities).
Our assessment processes for clearing permit applications (including assessment timeframes) are detailed in the Procedure: Native vegetation clearing permits.
You can also find information on:
- Clearing permit applications for public comment
- Clearing permits available for public appeal
- Clearing referral determinations.
For general information on our other regulatory functions, see our Regulatory services fact sheet.
For further information, please view our FAQs, or contact us via email or phone (08) 6364 7000.
To report an incident of potential unlawful native vegetation clearing, please complete the Report unlawful clearing online form.
Alternatively, please contact DWER’s 24-hour Pollution Watch hotline on 1300 784 782.
When is an EP Act clearing permit required?
You need a permit to clear native vegetation unless you either have an exemption or we determined you did not need one during the clearing referral process. To apply go to our clearing permit application forms and referrals forms.
Note that some exemptions do not apply within declared environmentally sensitive areas (ESAs). Look up the Clearing Permit System map to determine whether an area you wish to clear is in an ESA. You can also order a property interest report from Landgate, for a fee, to obtain this information.
In addition, even if clearing is exempt under the EP Act, other state or federal legislative requirements may still apply – see our guide to the exemptions and regulations for clearing native vegetation for further information.
Information about clearing permits
- Clearing permit application and clearing referral forms
- Referrals process
- Clearing permit applications available for public comment
- Clearing permits available for public appeal
- Clearing referral determinations
- Clearing permit fees
- Concurrent assessment under the Commonwealth bilateral agreement
- Stages of assessment for native vegetation clearing permits
- Clearing Permit System and map viewer
- Report unlawful clearing of native vegetation
- Environmental offsets
- Environmentally sensitive areas
- Guidelines and fact sheets
Legislation
Show moreThe Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act), and Part V in particular, has provisions that protect native vegetation while allowing for approved clearing activities.
The EP Act is additionally supported by subsidiary legislation – specifically the Environmental Protection (Clearing of Native Vegetation) Regulations 2004.
Find the EP Act and its subsidiary legislation at the Western Australian Legislation website.
Please see A guide to the exemptions and regulations for clearing native vegetation for more information on the regulations.
Note that the Minister for Environment may declare a statutory exemption order under s.6 of the EP Act. Exemption orders may only apply in limited circumstances or in the event that certain conditions are met. In relation to the clearing of native vegetation, exemption orders currently in effect include:
