Find answers to the most common private tree questions
Council consent is not required for trees located within 1 metre of a residential dwelling located on the same lot.
The distance is measured from the centre of the tree at 1.4 metres from the wall of the residential dwelling.
It is recommended that a replacement tree is planted within the same lot within a different location. Please note that this exempt work does not apply to trees listed within the heritage trees list, located on a property that is a heritage item, or located in a heritage conservation area.
Yes, trees within the exempt tree species list (straight tree species) can be removed without Council approval unless the tree is located within a heritage conservation area or are listed as part of a Heritage Item within the Council’s Local Environment Plan.
See the exempt tree species list in the table below or download Council's Tree Management Development Control Plan (DCP) (PDF, 662.40KB).
| Species Name | Common Name |
|---|---|
| Acer negundo | Box Elder |
| Ailanthus altissima | Tree of Heaven |
| Alnus jorrullensis | Evergreen Alder |
| Bambusa spp. Phyllostachys spp. | Bamboo species |
| Cotoneaster spp. | Cotoneaster |
| Erythrina x sykesii | Coral Tree |
| Gleditsia triacanthos | Honey Locust |
| Lagunaria patersonia | Norfolk Island Hibiscus |
| Ligustrum lucidum | Broad Leaved Privet |
| Ligustrum sinense | Small Leaved Privet |
| Nerium oleander | Oleander |
| Robinia pseudoacacia | False Acacia/Black Locust |
| Salix spp. | Willow |
| Schefflera actinophylla | Umbrella Tree |
| Syagrus romanzoffianum | Cocos Palm |
| Tamarix aphylla | Athel Tree |
| Toxicodendron succedaneum | Rhus Tree |
Department of Primary Industry Priority Weeds List of the Greater Sydney (Inner West) | See the NSW Weedwise website for list |
Yes, removal of dead trees requires Council consent. A Tree Works Permit or Development Application needs to be lodged to Council.
Arborist report (or other specialist reports) are not mandatory however they may assist with an approval of your application. Council is a consent authority that provides a determination based on information provided. Please refer to our development fact sheets below, to assist with what information is required in a specialist report.
Canopy lifting to 2.5 metres above ground level; Pruning of branches with a diameter of less than 100mm to a maximum of 10% of the canopy annually and the pruning of deadwood that does not have hollows or provide habitat for native fauna.
Removal of trees without permission
Removal of a tree including a prescribed tree located within 1 metre distance of a residential dwelling located on the same lot is as per details above; Removal of trees listed within the exempt tree species list. Note: The above exempt works do not apply to trees listed within the heritage trees list, or located on a property that is a heritage item, or located in a heritage conservation area.
A: Before completing this process, please confirm that you are not in a Heritage Conservation Area. If you are, you must submit a Development Application to remove or prune the tree.
- Download and complete the tree works application form (PDF, 224.89KB).
- Log in to the Inner West portal. You will need to be a registered user in order to submit and track this application.
- Click on "Enquiries".
- Click the "Start button" next to "Public Approvals".
- Select "Tree Approval" from the dropdown and select "Tree Permit Application".
- Fill in the rest of the form and click "Lodge".
- Attach the application form in attachments. The application type is "Application Form".
- Click "Finalise and Lodge".
You may apply to the NSW Land and Environment Court against a refusal by Council to grant the permit. The appeal must be made within three months of the date of the determination. Refer here for more information.
An application for a development application may seek an appeal in the following ways:
- Section 8.7 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (the Act) gives you the right to appeal to the Land and Environment Court in accordance with the timeframes set out in Section 8.10 of the Act.
- Section 8.2 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 provides that the applicant may request Council to review the determination. Section 8.2 does not apply to, designated development, a determination made by Council under Section 4.2 in respect of Crown applications, or a decision that has already been the subject of a Section 8.2 review.