Do you need council permission to remove a tree?

One of the most common mistakes homeowners make with tree removal is assuming that because it is their own backyard, it is entirely their own decision. In most parts of Australia that is not the case — many councils require approval before a tree of a certain size or type can be removed or significantly pruned, and getting this wrong can mean a fine, not just an awkward conversation with a neighbour.

The specifics vary a genuinely significant amount from one council area to the next, which is exactly why it is worth checking your own local rules rather than relying on what a friend in a different suburb or state was told. Many councils use some form of tree preservation order or local law covering "significant" trees, and thresholds commonly cited around Australia sit somewhere in the range of 100 to 300mm trunk diameter (measured at a standard height above ground) or a canopy spread of roughly 3 to 5 metres — but these figures are examples of what different councils use, not a single national rule, and some councils protect trees by species, heritage listing or location rather than size alone. Exemptions also differ: some councils allow removal without approval for dead, dying or clearly dangerous trees, for certain small or fast-growing species, or for trees within a defined distance of an existing dwelling in some bushfire-prone areas — but again, whether any of these exemptions apply, and exactly how they are defined, depends entirely on your specific council, so it is not something to assume applies to your situation without checking.

Because the rules are locally set, the most reliable first step before removing any tree of reasonable size is a direct check with your local council — most publish their tree management or local law provisions online, and many have a specific enquiry line or online form for exactly this question. It is worth doing this before you book an arborist, not after, since a reputable arborist will generally ask whether approval is needed anyway and some will not proceed without it. If a permit is required, the application commonly asks for details like the tree's species, size, condition and the reason for removal, and councils increasingly expect a report from a qualified consulting arborist — commonly someone holding a Diploma of Arboriculture — to support removal applications for larger or protected trees, particularly where the tree appears otherwise healthy.

The consequences of skipping this step are genuinely worth taking seriously. Removing a protected tree without the required approval can result in significant fines, and in some council areas penalties for unauthorised removal of a protected tree can run into the tens of thousands of dollars, particularly for large or heritage-listed specimens. Beyond the fine itself, some councils can also require replacement planting or other remediation as a condition of resolving the breach.

This article is general information about how tree permit systems commonly work in Australia, not a statement of the rules in your specific council area, since those rules genuinely differ from place to place and change over time. Checking directly with your local council before removal is the only reliable way to know what applies to your tree. Our directory lists Australian arborists by area, including many who can advise on the local permit process as part of a quote, if you are ready to start that conversation.

Frequently asked questions