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Permits for Pruning and Removal

North Sydney Council has adopted a tree and vegetation management policy which aims to prevent unlawful or unnecessary removal, pruning or destruction of trees in the North Sydney Local Government Area. This policy is enforced though clause 5.9 of North Sydney Local Environment Plan 2010 and has the following objectives:

  • To maintain the visual, social and environmental amenity of the area through the preservation of trees and other vegetation.
  • To describe trees and vegetation that are protected by the policy.
  • To identify exempt tree species and exempt tree works.
  • To make the community aware of the implications for the unlawful removal, pruning or wilful destruction of trees and vegetation within the local government area.

Trees that require a permit

Development Consent or a Tree Management Permit is required for the removal or pruning of the following trees/vegetation:

  • Any tree or vegetation on public land, regardless of size.
  • Any vegetation more than 5m tall on the site of a heritage item.
  • Any other tree with: a height of 10m, or a crown width of 10m, or a trunk circumference of 1.5m measured at 1m above ground level (existing).

Trees or work that do not require a permit

A Tree Management Permit is not required for removal or pruning any of the following:

  • Trees that are declared to be dead or dying as confirmed by an appropriately qualified arborist.
  • Pruning of deadwood from a tree.
  • Noxious weeds as prescribed by the Noxious Weeds Act, 1993 (except for large canopy species including Camphor laurel (Cinnamomum camphora); Coral Tree (Erythrina sp.) and Celtis (Celtis sp.).
  • Trees or vegetation that are being maintained or removed by North Sydney Council staff (or their sub-contractors) on land under Council's ownership or care and control.
  • Trees or vegetation that have been authorised to be removed or pruned pursuant to a Development Consent issued under the Act, but not prior to the issue of a Construction Certificate relating to that Development Consent.
  • Cocos Palms (Syagrus romanzoffiana) and African Olive Trees (Olea Africana).

Procedures

Before removing, pruning or proposing development within 5m of a tree in North Sydney, residents and/or contractors are advised to contact Council to determine whether they need to obtain a Tree Management Permit or Development Consent.

Where a Tree Management Permit is required, once Council has received a completed application form an appointment will be made for an on-site tree inspection of the relevant tree(s) by one of Council's Tree Preservation Officers. If the application is approved a Tree Management Permit will be sent to the applicant. Inspections and permits are free of charge.

Download tree_removal_form1.pdf Tree Removal/Pruning Application Form (129KB)

If the tree work requires Development Consent please go to the Trees and Development.