Chatswood · Willoughby City Council
Tree removal in Chatswood
Tree removal, tree lopping, pruning and stump grinding in Chatswood and Chatswood West, under Willoughby City Council's tree rules.
Tree work in Chatswood
Chatswood mixes high-rise with leafy residential streets, and Chatswood West backs onto bushland along the Lane Cove River. Willoughby's rules reflect that: as well as size limits, locally native trees, trees in wildlife corridors and trees that are visually prominent from the street can all be protected.
Two things catch people out in Willoughby. Applications are published for public comment, and approved removals need replanting at three new trees for every one removed, or a payment into Council's offset scheme.
Willoughby City Council rules at a glance
A permit is usually needed if the tree is at least 4 m tall, a trunk 600 mm around at 1.4 m, or a crown 3 m wide.
Willoughby allows selective pruning of up to 10% of the crown every 5 years without a permit. Keep records of what was done.
Exemptions and special cases
- Selective pruning of up to 10% of a tree's crown over a 5-year period. Keep records so you can show the exemption applies.
- Removing deadwood.
- Declared weeds under the Biosecurity Act 2015.
- Fruit trees grown for fruit.
Services in Chatswood
How a job works
Call or send photos
Tell us the suburb, roughly how tall the tree is and what's around it. Photos of the whole tree and the access to it help us give you a ballpark straight away.
On-site quote
A qualified arborist looks at the tree, the access and anything it could hit on the way down, then gives you a fixed price.
Council check
We tell you whether your council needs to approve the work and what to send them. If a permit is needed, the work is booked once it's approved.
Job done, site cleaned
The tree comes down in sections where space is tight, the green waste goes, and the stump is ground out if you've asked for it.
Nearby suburbs
Also: Balmoral, Clifton Gardens, Beauty Point, Spit Junction, Cremorne Point, Kirribilli, Milsons Point, Cammeray, Crows Nest, Wollstonecraft, Waverton, Northbridge, Castlecrag, Middle Cove, Artarmon, St Leonards, Greenwich, Longueville, Riverview.
Common questions
Do I need council approval to remove a tree on the north shore?
Usually, if the tree is above your council's size threshold. Mosman, North Sydney and Ku-ring-gai protect most trees 5 m or taller; Willoughby and Lane Cove start at 4 m. Exempt species, dead trees and declared weeds are treated differently. Our council permit guide covers each council.
How long does a permit take?
Mosman Council usually inspects within about ten working days, and North Sydney Council aims to assess within 12 business days. Willoughby publishes applications for public comment, which can add time. Book the inspection early if the job isn't urgent.
Need a tree looked at?
Tell us the suburb and send a photo. We'll tell you what's involved, whether council needs to approve it, and what it should cost.