Draft guidelines released by Auckland Transport could see residents pay $150 for a licence to beautify their berms.

LISTEN ABOVE: Pippa Coom, Waitemata Local Board Deputy Chair joins Larry Williams to discuss the new proposed berm rules from Auckland Transport.

Those wanting to plant the frontage of their properties will have to keep plants small, and on the back berm closest to their house.

Any planting on the roadside berm will need a $150 permit.

Waitemata Local Board deputy chair Pippa Coom believes the proposed guidelines are too heavy-handed.

"In most cases they should just be guidelines that are supportive and enabling. [They should] just let people do sensible, private plantings on their grass verges - that they're responsible for - and then there won't be any issues."

While she understands there are genuine reasons for sensible limitations that need to be in place for road safety, Coom said there's a risk the benefits of planted verges will be lost.

"The people are just trying to beautify their neighbourhood, meet their neighbours by being outside their houses, it's really good for the bees - so to have the right kind of plants is good for the environment."