Through the Urban Forest Fund, City of Melbourne offers a matched-funding grants program to support new greening projects on private property in the city.

As part of our mission to make Melbourne the garden city and facilitate community greening, we're running a super-sized round of our Urban Forest Fund. In 2026, we're looking to support more projects than ever before, with up to $1 million of total matched funding on offer for a wide range of greening projects.

Depending on the size of your project, you'll be able to apply for one of two funding streams:

• Stream 1 will support high-impact greening, with matched-funding of $30,000 to $100,000 available for larger projects on private property with environmental and community benefits. Think green walls and facades, new green spaces with canopy cover, communal areas, rooftop gardens, water sensitive urban design and innovative design.
• Stream 2 will support community greening, with matched-funding of up to $10,000 available for community-focused, smaller-scale projects on private property or Council footpaths that have a Greening Melbourne permit. Think residential communal area uplifts, laneway greening, planter boxes and pots, garden bed revitalisation, food growing and biodiversity plantings.

Who can apply?

• Residents 
• Business owners
• Owners corporations
• Community groups
• Building owners and developers
• Educational institutions

Eligibility 

To be eligible, greening projects must:

• Be located within the City of Melbourne.
• Be primarily focused on creating a new greening project.
• Demonstrate community and environmental benefits.
• Be visible from public spaces or regularly accessed by a large number of people.
• Have a clear plan for long-term maintenance.
• Be completed by 31 May 2025.
• Apply for a planning permit if required.
• Be located on land owned by the applicant or, where private property is not owned by the applicant, a secured lease is required for at least five years, with written consent from the building owner.

Additional eligibility requirements must be met if you’re applying for a grant under Stream 2 Laneway greening:

• Be located on a privately-owned laneway that is publicly-accessible, or on a privately-owned building facade within a laneway.
• Include a detailed landscape plan including relevant green infrastructure systems and nominated suppliers for planting and green infrastructure systems.
• A structural design with certification for any green wall or green facade fixings, prepared by suitably qualified persons.
• Have at least one person in the local community who will champion this project​.
• Demonstrate collaborative greening efforts by the laneway community.​

• Phone: (03) 9658 9658
• Email: urbanforestfund@melbourne.vic.gov.au