Question: Do any strata laws stop a lot owner from doing general gardening tasks on common property if the committee approves?
As a lot owner in our building, can I garden on common property? I want to trim the edges, clean up dead leaves, and perform routine garden tasks. Do any strata laws stop me from doing work in the garden or in a common area if I have approval from the strata committee?
Answer: General pottering is fine with strata committee approval, but agree the scope upfront and check your voluntary workers insurance covers the activity.
We often get asked about gardening and community gardens in particular, which are a trend in strata. In our experience, owners who take pride in their building and want to help keep gardens and common areas looking their best are typically welcomed by owners and the committee.
With the strata committee’s approval, owners can attend to the gardens on the common property, but within reason. We suggest you agree the scope of what can and cannot be done with the strata committee: tidying leaves and edges, no problem. Planting or removing plants, and making significant changes to the garden, may constitute changes or enhancements to the common property that may require resolutions of the owners corporation. If you’d like to do larger changes, you’ll need to take a proposal to the committee for discussion and approval.
Your building will have a voluntary workers insurance policy, which is compulsory under section 164 of the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015.
This covers persons undertaking work on the common property without monetary reward if there is an accident or injury. This should provide your committee with a level of comfort, too.
In summary, general pottering in the garden is fine, but check in with your strata committee and strata managing agent first.
This post appears in the July 2026 edition of The NSW Strata Magazine.
Hugh McCormack
McCormacks Strata Management
E: Hugh.McCormack@mccormacks.com.au
P: 1300 991 825
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