Do You Need a Council Permit to Remove a Tree in NSW?

Most Sydney councils have a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) — sometimes called a Significant Tree Order, sometimes built into the Local Environment Plan. They protect trees on private and public land above a certain size or species, and removing a protected tree without a permit can result in fines from $3,000 to over $1 million for a corporation.

How TPOs work in NSW

Each council writes its own. The thresholds vary, but they're usually some combination of:

• Trunk diameter at breast height (DBH) — typically 30–50cm
• Height — typically 5–10 metres
• Species — some species (Sydney red gum, lemon-scented gum) are protected at smaller sizes
• Heritage listing — significant trees are protected regardless of size

Sydney councils — what to check

Permit thresholds vary by council and change from time to time. Most Sydney councils with significant tree cover (Randwick, Woollahra, Waverley, Mosman, Ku-ring-gai) protect trees above modest height and trunk-diameter thresholds, with stricter rules in heritage conservation areas and on listed significant trees. Always check the current Development Control Plan or Tree Management Policy on your council's website before any work — figures shift, and a number quoted in an article isn't a defence against a fine.

The councils we work with most often (Randwick, Woollahra, Waverley, Mosman, Ku-ring-gai for Killara and St Ives) all maintain online application portals and have arborist-friendly application processes. We check the current rules for your specific tree before quoting.

When you don't need a permit

Most councils exempt:

• Dead trees (proven dead, not just declining)
• Some non-native pest species (privet, camphor laurel in some areas)
• Trees within 3m of a habitable structure (the "10/50 rule" in some bushfire zones)
• Light pruning under 10% of the canopy

How to apply

Most applications go online via the council's planning portal. You'll need:

• Site plan or photo showing the tree
• Tree details — species, height, DBH
• Reason for removal (structural risk, dead, dying, in conflict with a building approval)
• An arborist report for protected or significant trees (we provide this)

Application fees are typically $50–$300. Processing takes 2–8 weeks for a routine application.

What happens if you skip the permit

Two scenarios:

1. Council finds out (neighbour, aerial imagery comparison, council inspector). Fines start at $3,000 for individuals and can run to $1.1 million for corporations under the Local Government Act.
2. You go to sell the property and the buyer's solicitor flags missing development consent. You wear the cost of council reinstating the tree (yes, councils can order replanting at your expense).

We handle the paperwork

Every tree we remove gets the permit check upfront — and where a permit is required, we lodge or assist the application as part of the quote. See our tree removal process.