Growth limit zone

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Growth Zones

The Electricity (Hazards from Trees) Regulations 2003 specify ‘zones’ which define the area around a power line which trees may not encroach.

There are two zones; the Growth Limit Zone and the Notice Zone, and the distances specified for each vary depending on the voltage of the power line.

Growth Limit Zone

This zone refers to the space around the power line which vegetation (trees) must not encroach on, even in windy or stormy conditions.

The Growth Limit Zone varies based on the voltage of the power line which the vegetation is in close proximity to.

Voltage of Power Line	Growth Limit Zone
33,000 volts (High Voltage)	2.5 metres
11,000 volts (High Voltage)	1.6 metres
400 volts/230 volts (Low Voltage)	0.5 metres

Notice Zone

This is one metre beyond the Growth Limit Zone.

The notice zone also varies based on the voltage of the power line which the vegetation is in close proximity to.

Voltage of Power Line	Notice Zone
33,000 volts (High Voltage)	3.5 metres
11,000 volts (High Voltage)	2.6 metres
400 volts/230 volts (Low Voltage)	1.5 metres

Controlled Access Zone

The Controlled Access Zone is four metres from any power line, and designates the area which must only be entered by a Unison-approved person.

If any part of a tree is within the Controlled Access Zone (four metres from any power line), an approved contractor must be used to cut or trim that tree.

The tree in this illustration will need to be cut or trimmed as it is inside the Growth Limit Zone. It is also within the Controlled Access Zone, so a Unison-approved person must be used to safely trim the tree.

Get my trees trimmed

tree-zone-diagram-colour-02_LR

A	Growth limit zone
B	Notice Zone
C	Controlled Access Zone