Permits and protected trees
Everything on the North Shore starts here. Ku-ring-gai, Willoughby, Hornsby, Lane Cove and the City of Ryde all regulate tree removal and significant pruning on private land. The thresholds differ — height, trunk diameter, distance from the house, species — and so do the exemption lists.
On top of that, two critically endangered ecological communities survive here in fragments: Blue Gum High Forest on the shale ridge and Sydney Turpentine-Ironbark Forest on the shale-sandstone transition. Trees forming part of a remnant carry protection beyond ordinary council controls, on private land as well as in reserves.
The practical rule: find out which category your tree is in before you plan anything around it being gone.
Bushfire-prone land
Owners on the Hornsby bushland fringe and the St Ives edge often assume bushfire mapping permits clearing. The 10/50 vegetation clearing entitlement area was cut back in 2015 and much of the North Shore now sits outside it. Check the Rural Fire Service tool against your actual address. Work within an approved asset protection zone is a legitimate and separate pathway.
Powerlines
Vegetation near Ausgrid's network is Ausgrid's business, not a private crew's. Ring 13 13 88 about a tree growing toward a conductor, keep eight metres clear of any line on the ground, and treat every fallen line as live.
Money and process
Quotes are free and given after someone has looked at the job. There is no published price list because access, drop zone, volume, species, method, permits, ground conditions and timing all move the number — the cost guide sets each of those out. Booking stump grinding on the same visit as the removal avoids paying to bring a machine back.
Still not answered?
Ring (02) 9090 4915 or use the contact page. The services pages cover each job in detail and the suburb pages cover your council specifically.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need council approval to cut down a tree in NSW?
In most cases yes. Councils regulate tree removal and significant pruning through their development control plans, with thresholds based on height, trunk diameter and sometimes distance from a dwelling. Removing a protected tree without consent can attract substantial penalties. Exemptions exist for certain weed species and small trees, but they vary by council.
Which North Shore council is the strictest?
Ku-ring-gai, with Willoughby close behind. Both run tree controls among the most restrictive in New South Wales, and Ku-ring-gai in particular follows up unauthorised removal. Hornsby, Lane Cove and Ryde also regulate private trees, with different thresholds. The practical effect is that your address, not just your tree, determines what is possible.
What time of year is best for tree work?
Safety work — deadwood, hazardous limbs, storm damage — should never wait for a season. Structural pruning of deciduous exotics is easiest in winter when the framework is visible. Heavy work on a tree stressed by a dry summer is better deferred. For most North Shore species, any time of year is workable.
What happens to the branches and timber?
Branches are chipped on site and the chip leaves with the truck, or stays on your garden beds at no extra cost if you want it. Trunk wood is cut into rounds and removed. If you want firewood lengths left, ask before the job so the crew cuts to length. Nothing is dumped over a back fence into bushland reserve.
Can I do anything about a neighbour's tree?
You may cut growth that crosses the boundary back to the boundary line at your own cost, subject to any council permit, and the cuttings belong to your neighbour. For trees causing damage or a risk of injury, the NSW Land and Environment Court can hear applications, but a conversation and a written record should come first.
Is the crew insured?
Ask for a certificate of currency before work starts. This site passes enquiries to independent contractors and does not verify their licensing, insurance or certification, which is stated in the disclaimer. Any legitimate tree contractor will produce public liability cover and workers compensation evidence when asked.