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DV369 is a technical Territory Plan Variation about living infrastructure in residential zones. It is an important step to make Canberra a more sustainable and climate-resilient city.

It helps ensure healthier, more liveable and sustainable suburbs by requiring different levels of tree canopy cover is planted in new developments. This will contribute to the increase of tree canopy coverage across our whole city – working towards the goal of 30% tree canopy coverage in Canberra’s urban areas by 2045.

The new DV369 requirements include:

  1. At least a 15% tree canopy coverage planted for multi-unit development in RZ1-2 zones
  2. Minimum 20% canopy cover for multi-unit development in RZ3-5 zones
  3. Requirements for tree canopy coverage on single dwelling blocks

Before Variation 369, there were no rules requiring ACT residential landowners to have tree canopy cover on their block which meant there wasn’t always trees planted in new homes and gardens.

If you’re building a new home or redesigning your garden – consider how you can get more tree canopy into your space, providing shade for your home and a place for our local birds and bees to visit – plant a tree or two!

We have developed a new tree guide to help you understand the new requirements. Plant a Tree in Your Canberra Garden Guide provides valuable advice on which trees to plant in your gardens for the revised DV369 provisions and how to choose the right tree for you.