Establishing a verge or footpath garden helps to beautify local streets, show pride in your neighbourhood and contribute to a clean, green Brisbane. Brisbane City Council has developed Verge Garden Guidelines to help residents who are interested in establishing a verge garden to self-assess their compliance with Council requirements. The guidelines support Council’s vision of a clean, green city that protects and supports our subtropical environment by sustainably managing and caring for our natural environment and resources.

Starting a footpath garden

These guidelines apply to verge gardens at properties that are identified as a “Residential zone” within the Brisbane City Plan 2014 and are between the property boundary and the road kerb (allowing a minimum width of 1.2 metres for pedestrian access).

You need to make sure that your footpath gardening project is respectful of the needs of others. It must be well-maintained and safe, and must keep the footpath accessible for everyone without negatively impacting the environment and surrounding infrastructure.

Verge garden guidelines

To make sure your garden meets Brisbane City Council’s requirements, residents are encouraged to review the guidelines and complete the checklist before you start your project. It will also help you to ensure your verge garden does not impact on the safety of your local community, environment or surrounding infrastructure.

Responsibility

The homeowner is responsible for the verge gardens adjacent to their property. While verge gardens are planted in public spaces, priority must always be given to maintenance and access for utilities services such as pedestrian movement, water and sewerage, power, gas, telephones, optic fibre cables. If adequate access is not provided, householders may be asked to remove or make changes to their garden.

Recommended plants

Residents are encouraged to use native or water-wise plants where possible. Council has established a recommended planting list to help residents when selecting species.

Gardens that don't comply

If you would like to report a verge garden that doesn't comply with the above guidelines, phone Council on 07 3403 8888.

If you receive a compliance notice for a verge garden that does not comply, the notice will outline what alterations need to be made to your verge garden. You can phone Council on 07 3403 8888 to discuss your notice in greater detail.

More information

For any questions about establishing or maintaining verge gardens, contact Council.

To add trees to your verge garden, you can request Council to plant a street tree on your footpath, or you can tell us where you think Brisbane needs more street trees. Find out more.