Land clearing application process and legislation

Native vegetation clearing in the Northern Territory is permitted by either the Planning Act or the Pastoral Land Act.

Clearing on freehold land, which includes most rural areas of Darwin, Katherine and Alice Springs, as well as Aboriginal land and Crown land, is controlled by the Planning Act.

Land clearing on pastoral stations is controlled by the Pastoral Land Act.

The Consent Authority depends on the zoning and land tenure. The application and approval process of land clearing on different land types is shown in the diagram below:

Visit www.ntlis.nt.gov.au/atlas/ to find out your land tenure.