Service Line Clearance: Keeping Your Home Safe & Compliant
Overgrown trees and vegetation near service lines can pose serious safety risks. The risk from overgrown foilage include electrical hazards, fire risks, and power disruptions.
In Victoria, property owners are legally responsible for keeping trees clear of service lines year-round. Neglecting service line clearance can result in fines, legal liability, power failures, or even electrical fires. Professional maintenance is crucial to prevent this.
At Tree Range Arborists, we provide specialist tree clearance services for private service lines. We help homeowners and businesses stay compliant, reduce risks, and protect their properties.
What is Service Line Clearance?
Service line clearance is the careful tree trimming or removal of trees and vegetation surrounding the private service line that supplies electricity from the main power line to your property.
Unlike street powerlines, which are maintained by private electricity distribution businesses, the service line running directly to your home is your responsibility. Keeping this line clear ensures:
✅ Reduced fire risks from branches touching live wires
✅ Prevention of service disruptions caused by tree interference
✅ Improved electrical safety for your home and surrounding areas
✅ Compliance with Victorian electricity regulations
Tree Range Arborists follows strict safety standards and adheres to the Electricity Safety Act 1998 and the Electric Line Clearance Regulations 2020 to ensure your service lines remain protected.
Your Legal Responsibility for Service Line Clearance
If you have a private service line, you are legally required to maintain safe tree clearance around it at all times.
Key Service Line Clearance Requirements:
- A minimum clearance of 300mm must be maintained around insulated service lines.
- Extra clearance is strongly recommended to prevent issues caused by tree growth, high winds, and storms.
- There is no set pruning schedule, but trees must remain clear year-round.
- For properties in high-risk areas, such as bushfire-prone zones, annual tree inspections and preventative pruning are recommended.
Failure to meet clearance requirements can result in legal penalties, increased fire risks, and potential liability for damages.
At Tree Range Arborists, we provide expert service line clearance with routine maintenance plans. We’ll help you stay on top of your obligations without the stress, call now to learn more.
How to Keep Your Service Line Safe from Trees
Keeping trees clear of service lines is essential for electrical safety, uninterrupted power, and compliance. Here’s how you can manage tree growth near your service line effectively:
1. Regular Inspections
Properties with mature trees or dense vegetation should have a yearly inspection by a qualified arborist. This is especially important in areas like the Dandenong Ranges, where high winds, storms, and bushfires make tree maintenance critical.
2. Preventative Pruning
Tree trimming before peak storm and bushfire seasons helps prevent branches from falling onto service lines, which can cause power failures or fire hazards.
3. Hiring Certified Arborists
Trimming near live electrical service lines is high-risk work that should only be performed by qualified professionals. At Tree Range Arborists, our team of arborists in Eastern Melbourne are fully certified to handle service line tree clearance safely and efficiently.
4. Knowing Your Responsibility
- For service lines on your property: You are responsible for keeping trees clear.
- For street power lines: Your electricity distributor manages clearance.
- For trees outside your property boundary: Your electricity distribution business is responsible.
FAQs – Service Line Clearance
Who is responsible for keeping trees clear of service lines on my property?
You, as the property owner, are responsible for maintaining tree clearance around the service line that connects power from the street to your home. For larger street powerlines, clearance is handled by your local electricity provider.
How close can trees grow to my service lines?
- A minimum clearance of 1 metre is recommended for insulated service lines.
- Greater distances are required for bare wires or high-risk areas.
- Trees should be kept well away to prevent wind movement and storm-related damage.
How often should I have my trees inspected?
If you live in a tree-heavy area, such as the Dandenong Ranges, an annual tree inspection is advised. This is especially important before storm season or during bushfire risk periods.
Who is responsible for clearing trees around service lines outside my property boundary?
If a tree is outside your property boundary, your electricity distributor is responsible for maintaining clearance around powerlines and service lines connecting to neighbouring properties.
To find your electricity distributor, visit: Find Your Energy Distributor (Energy Victoria).
For more information on Service Line Clearance, see Energy Safe Victoria.
Need Help With Service Line Clearance?
Keeping your home and service lines safe doesn’t have to be overwhelming. At Tree Range Arborists, we offer:
✅ Routine maintenance plans tailored to your property
✅ Certified arborists trained in high-risk service line tree trimming
✅ Expert advice to ensure compliance with Victorian regulations
Contact us today for a free consultation and professional tree care services.
