North Sydney · North Sydney Council
Tree removal in North Sydney
Strata gardens, terrace backyards and street-facing trees on tight sites. We do tree work across North Sydney, Kirribilli, Milsons Point, Waverton, Wollstonecraft and Cammeray.
Tree work in North Sydney
A lot of North Sydney tree work happens on strata properties and terrace blocks. Gardens are small, trees are close to buildings, and there's often no vehicle access to the back. Jobs are planned around carrying equipment through and lowering every section by rope.
For strata, the owners corporation needs to approve work on common property before council will. Allow time for that if a tree is causing problems for the building.
North Sydney Council rules at a glance
A permit is usually needed if the tree is at least 5 m tall, a crown 5 m wide, or a trunk 500 mm around at ground level.
Light maintenance pruning is exempt within strict limits (10% of the crown, branches up to 100 mm). Anything more on a protected tree needs a permit.
Exemptions and special cases
- Trees under the size thresholds above.
- Dead trees, if an arborist or horticulturist (AQF Level 3 or higher) confirms in writing that the tree is dead and it isn't needed as habitat.
- Removing deadwood, including dead palm fronds.
- Light maintenance pruning: no more than 10% of the crown, branches up to 100 mm thick, and only where those branches are no more than 2.4 m above ground at the trunk or within 1 m of a building. The work must follow AS 4373-2007.
Services in North Sydney
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
Who applies for a tree on strata common property?
The owners corporation, through the strata managing agent. Councils want a letter from the managing agent or meeting minutes showing the owners support the work.
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.