Land in urban and residential areas that is overgrown with thick vegetation is a potential fire risk and likely to provide a home to vermin. Help us keep our community safe by reporting excessive vegetation to us.
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Properties considered ‘untidy’ are not overgrown. Overgrown land must be vegetation that is consistently thick, at least 600 mm high and covers a sufficient area to provide a potential home for vermin.
Approach your neighbour and chat to them or drop off a letter in their mailbox about your concerns. You may find they will be happy to address the matter if approached in a friendly manner.
If talking to your neighbour doesn't resolve the issue, you can contact a Community Justice Centre (CJC). These are independent, government-funded centres that specialise in settling differences between neighbours without entering into complicated legal processes.
Take a photo or video as evidence the land is overgrown and confirmed to be home to vermin. Evidence includes sightings, faeces, nests, runs or eggs.
Complete all details on our online form. Provide as much detail as you can.
Excessive vegetation that is consistently thick, at least 600 mm high and covers a sufficient area to provide a potential home for vermin. An uncleared or regenerated bush block of mainly indigenous vegetation is not necessarily considered a home for vermin.
We cut and mow the land on the side of our roads to improve visibility and safety for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. We carry out a 5-year outreach mowing program across the region to cater for the limited funding and resources we have to do the work. Our roadside slashing (cutting of long grass) along our sealed roads is done on a 12-month schedule across the region.
Occasionally, circumstances outside of our control (floods, storms etc.) may affect the planned programs, resulting in delays to the schedule. We try to get back to the usual program as soon as possible.
Not all property owners have the same standards when it comes to maintaining the external appearance of their yard. What one feels is an overgrown or unsightly property, may be acceptable to another.
Check our definition of overgrown land.
Community Justice Centres (CJC) offer a free mediation service for NSW residents, run by trained mediators. Mediation is an informal, problem-solving process in which an impartial person helps people with a dispute come together to reach an agreement everyone can live with.