Pruning or removing a tree on private property application

You will not need a permit if the tree is:

• No higher than 3m and is no more than 300mm wide at a height of 1m above the ground. 
• A fruit tree

Fruit trees exempt from a permit include, but are not limited to:  

• Berry fruit 
• Cacti 
• Citrus fruit  
• Melons 
• Plantation fruits 
• Pome fruit 
• Stone fruit 
• Tropical fruit

Council requires lodgement of all plans and supporting documentation in digital form (as PDF documents).

• Diagram of property and tree locations showing:
  • A plan of property (this may be hand drawn) showing position of all trees involved and outlines of nearby buildings. 
• Number each tree
• Arborist or Engineering report: A report by a qualified experienced arborist, with a minimum Australian Qualification Framework Level 5, is required as evidence for removal of a tree that is dying, dead or dangerous OR you are applying for removal of 10 more trees.
• If you are applying for a permit that involves more than 3 trees provide a list and details of all the trees. 
• An A4 copy of all plans showing the location of the affected tree in relation to proposed buildings for any related Complying Development (CD) application.
• If you are applying to remove or prune a tree on common land in a villa or unit complex, submit a signed consent letter from the Strata.
• Development Applications may not need a separate approval to remove a tree. Contact our Customer Service Centre to clarify before lodging an application.

An Arborist report is to be produced by a qualified experienced arborist, with a minimum Australian Qualification Framework Level 5.

When do you need an Arborist report:

• When you are applying to remove 10(ten) or more trees.
• When you are applying to remove a tree that is dying, dead or dangerous. 

You may lodge an application with Council for inspection of a neighbor’s tree however, Council will send any communications for work to the trees owner(s).

Contact your neighbor before you consider an application.

It is not the role of Council to intervene in neighborhood disputes regarding trees. 

You may contact the Community Justice Centre if you have a dispute or, once all other attempts to resolve the matter have been exhausted, an application may be lodged with the Land & Environment Court for resolution under the Trees (Disputes between Neighbor’s) Act 2006.
 

You may request the Council’s Manager of Parks & Open Space review a previous decision made on an application (for a fee listed in the current Fees and Charges).

You must outline the reasons for seeking the review and attach any new relevant information or evidence that was not supplied in the initial assessment.

You may also elect at any time to have the matter heard before the Land and Environment Court (at your expense) if you are dissatisfied with the way Council has dealt with your application.

Download and print the application form, and lodge when completed to any of our Customer Service Centres.

Payments made by MasterCard or Visa incur a service fee of 0.5%.
A non-refundable application fee is required at submission. 

Council’s adopted fees and charges can be found in the current Fees and Charges.

* An Arborist tree plan report is required with numbered trees.  Admin fee to be paid with the submission of the Arborist Tree Plan, and a quotation for the works will be issued for payment prior to any formal review. Request quote

Once your application is received you may be contacted for further information. 

If you have any questions, contact on 1300 581 299 Monday to Friday between 8:30am and 5pm.