Verges

A verge is the area between the road and the boundary of a property. It provides a safe pedestrian space and vehicular access to properties. It also accommodates public service utilities such as street lighting, power, street trees as well as underground utilities like water, sewerage and phone cables.

Verge policy and guidelines

Under the City’s Policy P210 Street Verges, you do not need permission for:

• A natural lawn
• Reticulation
• Verges mulched with organic mulch
• Low growing water-wise verge gardens.

You do need permission to install these treatments:

• Paving or other hardstand (eg brick and concrete paving)
• Synthetic or artificial turf.

You must complete a written Application for Verge Treatment Approval and receive approval from the City prior to installation. A fee is payable at the time of application as detailed below.

Non-permitted verge treatments

The following verge treatments are not permitted:

• Inorganic mulches such as gravel, stone or crushed brick or rock
• Particular items that protrude above the natural level of the verge.

Verge landscape guidelines

Please refer to the City's Street Verge Landscape Guidelines for more detail on verge improvements including permitted and non-permitted landscaping, design guidelines and maintenance.

Verge maintenance

The maintenance of lawns and gardens on verges is the responsibility of the owner of the property adjacent to the verge. While the City is responsible for all street trees on verges, residents are encouraged to establish waterwise verge gardens and look after their verges.

Where present, private vegetation on verges must be maintained to ensure safe access for path users and utility service providers carrying out work including Western Power, the Water Corporation and Australia Post.

Overhanging trees or large shrubs growing within a property must be pruned back to the boundary line by the property owner, particularly if a path user would need to duck or step off the path to avoid the vegetation. To establish the approximate location of the property boundary where no fence is present, residents can measure 0.3m from the property side of the pedestrian path. 

The minimum height of the clearance required on the boundary line is 2.5m.

Private trees or shrubs must be maintained when they impact:

• Driveways – to ensure vehicle sightlines are not obstructed when entering and exiting the property. 
• Road kerb edges – there must be an unobstructed area at least 2m wide immediately adjacent to the back of the kerb where there’s no footpath, or 0.3m from a kerb edge where there is a footpath. 
• Right of ways and laneways – the entire width is to be kept clear to a height of 4.8m for vehicle access, in particular the City’s street sweeping and rubbish collection vehicles.

Vegetation planted between pedestrian paths and boundary fences also need to be maintained to ensure they are not a trip hazard. There is a maximum height of 0.6m for these plants. 

If the City identifies obstructions, we will contact the property owner and request the issue be resolved within 10 days of date the correspondence was prepared. If not, the City will carry out the works and seek to recover costs incurred from the owner. 

Unfortunately, vegetation obstructing pedestrian and cycle paths is one of the most common complaints received by the City, and affects a range of people within the community, including people who have difficulty with access and movement, pedestrians and cyclists, and service providers carrying out works.

Verge parking

To park on a verge, you will need the permission of the owner/occupier of the premises adjacent to the verge. Where verge parking signs are present, the restrictions apply to all vehicles including owners and occupiers. There are no exemptions.

During special events, parking on some verges is restricted. See the parking page for more information on special event parking restrictions.

Make an enquiry about a verge

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