Short answer: usually yes, if the tree is over a certain size, but it varies by council and there are exemptions. Most Sydney councils protect established trees, so you generally can’t remove or heavily prune one without approval unless it falls under an exemption. The catch is that the exact rules, the size thresholds and the exempt species differ from one council to the next. This guide explains how tree removal approval works in Sydney in 2026, when you might not need it, and how to check the rules for your own address. Treat it as general guidance, not legal advice, and always confirm with your specific council before you touch a tree.
Why are trees protected in Sydney?
Trees do a lot of quiet work in a city. Shade, cooling, habitat, stormwater, streetscape and property value all lean on the tree canopy, which is why councils protect it. In New South Wales, tree removal in the suburbs is governed by the State Environmental Planning Policy for vegetation in non-rural areas, which sits over the top of each council’s own tree rules. Those local rules usually live in a Tree Preservation Order or in the tree-management chapter of the council’s Development Control Plan.
What that means in practice is two layers of rules: the state framework, and your council’s specific version of it. The state policy sets the structure, your council fills in the detail, and the detail is what decides whether your particular tree is protected.
What is the common size threshold, and why does it vary by council?
Many Sydney councils use a size trigger. A common one is a tree above roughly 200mm in trunk diameter measured at chest height, or around 5 metres tall, though some councils measure differently or set different figures. Above the threshold, the tree is generally protected and needs approval to remove or prune heavily. Below it, you often have more freedom.
Here’s the important part. That 200mm or 5 metre figure is a common example, not a Sydney-wide rule. Councils set their own thresholds and their own lists of exempt and protected species, and they do change these over time. So do not take a number you read here, or one that applies to a friend’s place in another suburb, as gospel for your address. Check your own council’s tree rules, because that is the only figure that counts for your property.
When might you not need approval?
There are situations where removal may be allowed without a full application, but every one of them comes with a “check first” attached.
Some councils exempt certain species, often weeds or declared pest trees, and some set a lower size below which approval isn’t needed. Dead, dying or genuinely dangerous trees are treated differently by many councils, though you’ll usually still need to follow a process and may need evidence that the tree really is dangerous. And separately from council rules, the 10/50 Vegetation Clearing Scheme can apply.
The 10/50 scheme is run by the NSW Rural Fire Service, and in designated bushfire-prone areas it can let you clear certain vegetation within 10 metres of a home to reduce bushfire risk, independent of council approval. The eligibility is strict and it only applies if your property sits inside a designated 10/50 area, which you check on the RFS tool at rfs.nsw.gov.au/1050. Don’t assume it applies just because a neighbour used it. Confirm your own address.
Across all of these, the safe move is the same: check with your council, and the RFS for 10/50, before you act on an exemption you think applies.
What about street trees, verge trees and boundary trees?
Not every tree near your home is actually yours to deal with. Street trees and most verge trees sit on council land, so removing or pruning them is a matter for the council, not the homeowner. Get in touch with the council rather than taking to a street tree yourself.
Boundary trees are their own tangle. A tree on or near the line between two properties can bring in the neighbour, and disputes about trees and overhanging branches in New South Wales are dealt with under the Trees (Disputes Between Neighbours) Act 2006. If your situation is really about a neighbour’s tree, an overhanging branch or a shared boundary rather than approval to remove your own tree, our guide on boundary and overhanging neighbour trees walks through that side of it.
What is an arborist report, and when does a council want one?
An arborist report is an assessment of a tree by a qualified arborist, covering its species, health, condition and any risk it poses, along with a recommendation. Councils often ask for one to support an application to remove or prune a protected tree, especially where the claim is that the tree is dead, dangerous or in decline. The report gives the council independent evidence to make a decision on.
If you’re not sure whether your council needs a report for your tree, that’s another thing to confirm with them as part of the process.
What is the typical application and removal process?
It runs in a fairly predictable order, even if the detail changes by council. First, check your council’s specific tree rules and work out whether your tree is protected. If it is, find out what the council requires, which may include an arborist report. Lodge the application with the tree details and your reasons for the work. Then wait for the council’s decision before any work goes ahead. If the council knocks the application back or attaches conditions, follow those conditions to the letter, because they carry the same weight as the approval itself.
Councils assess each case on its merits, so approval is never guaranteed and timeframes vary. Give them what they ask for, be clear about why the work is needed, and don’t book the job in until you have the approval in hand.
What happens if you remove a protected tree without approval?
It’s not worth the risk. Penalties for removing a protected tree without approval can be significant in New South Wales, and they’re far more expensive than the cost of doing it properly. Beyond the fine, you can be required to replace the tree. The message is simple: if there’s any doubt about whether a tree is protected, check with your council before anything comes down. It’s a quick call that can save a large bill. And if the tree really is dead or dangerous, that same call is how you find out the right, lawful way to deal with it, which is usually quicker than you’d fear.
How does All Green help?
All Green is a licensed Sydney tree services provider (licence 353827C, established 2015), not the permitting authority, so the approvals sit with you and your council. What we do is the tree work itself. We can assess the tree, carry out approved tree removal and lopping in Sydney once you have the go-ahead, and clear away the resulting green waste.
Where your council asks for an arborist report to support an application, we can help you arrange one. If you’re weighing up whether a tree even needs to come out, our guide on spotting a dangerous tree is a good starting point, and if your project also involves changing ground levels around the tree, there are related approvals for changing ground levels worth reading up on too.
Sorting out a tree in Sydney?
If you’ve got a tree you’re thinking about removing or pruning, get the approvals side squared away with your council first, then talk to All Green about the work. We can assess the tree, carry out approved removal or lopping, and clean up afterwards. Get in touch for an assessment and a quote.
Frequently asked questions
Can I remove a tree on my own property in Sydney? Often not without approval. Most Sydney councils protect trees above a size threshold, so you generally need council permission unless the tree is exempt. The rules vary by council, so check yours before you do anything.
What size tree can I remove without council approval? It depends on your council. A common trigger is a tree above roughly 200mm trunk diameter or about 5 metres tall, but the exact threshold and the exempt-species list differ by local government area, so confirm the figure that applies to your address.
How does the 10/50 vegetation clearing scheme work? In designated bushfire-prone areas, the NSW Rural Fire Service 10/50 scheme can allow clearing within 10 metres of a home without council approval, subject to strict eligibility. Check whether your property qualifies on the NSW RFS 10/50 online tool.
Do I need an arborist report to remove a tree? Sometimes. Councils often ask for one to support an application to remove or prune a protected tree, particularly where it’s claimed to be dead or dangerous. Confirm with your council whether a report is required for your tree.