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Council tree rules · checked 30 September 2026
Camden tree removal rules
Checked against Camden Council's own documents on · Council: 13 22 63
In Camden, you need a Council permit to prune or remove a tree on private land that is 3 m or taller, has a trunk circumference of 300 mm (about 100 mm diameter) or more at 1 m, or has a branch span of 3 m or more. You apply online through the NSW Planning Portal. A permit to remove usually comes with a condition to plant up to four replacement trees. Five named weed species, hedges and small-branch pruning (up to 50 mm) are exempt. Dead or dangerous trees need a Tree Exemption Form.
The checker
Do I need approval to remove my tree?
Camden's rules as a map. Answer each question and it follows your path to the answer. It's a guide: if you're unsure, ask council or ask us.
Is the tree on your own private property (not a street, park or reserve)?
Council's tree - don't touch it
Street and park trees are protected. Report it through Council's Report It page or email mail@camden.nsw.gov.au. Fines may apply for pruning street trees.
Is the property a heritage item, in a heritage conservation area, or is the tree part of a development or large native vegetation clearing?
Development consent or state approval needed
Heritage trees need development consent, and tree removal for development is assessed in the DA. Clearing over Biodiversity Offset Scheme thresholds goes to the Native Vegetation Panel. Call Council on 13 22 63.
Is the tree dead or dying (and not habitat), or an imminent risk to life or property?
Lodge a Tree Exemption Form
Apply online with Council's Tree Exemption Form, including photos and arborist advice, before removing a dead, dying or dangerous tree.
Is it privet, African olive, honey locust, cocos palm or Chinese celtis, or does it harbour fruit fly?
No permit needed
Exempt weed species, small trees under the size thresholds, hedge trimming and pruning of branches up to 50 mm don't need approval. Ask the owner first if it's a neighbour's tree.
Is it under 3 m tall, under 300 mm trunk circumference at 1 m, and with a branch span under 3 m?
No permit needed
Exempt weed species, small trees under the size thresholds, hedge trimming and pruning of branches up to 50 mm don't need approval. Ask the owner first if it's a neighbour's tree.
Do you only want to prune branches 50 mm in diameter or smaller, or trim a hedge?
No permit needed
Exempt weed species, small trees under the size thresholds, hedge trimming and pruning of branches up to 50 mm don't need approval. Ask the owner first if it's a neighbour's tree.
Does the RFS 10/50 tool show your property is in an entitlement area, with the tree within 10 m of your home?
You may be able to clear under 10/50
If the RFS tool confirms the entitlement, clearing under the RFS 10/50 Code of Practice doesn't need a Council permit. Council can't advise on 10/50, so follow the RFS Code exactly.
Apply for a tree permit on the NSW Planning Portal
Lodge through the NSW Planning Portal with a site plan, photos and owners' consent. Expect a condition to plant up to four replacement trees per tree removed.
How to apply on the Camden website · Need an arborist report?
Size matters
How big is "protected" in Camden?
- Height: 3 m or more
- Trunk: circumference of 300 mm (100 mm diameter) or more at 1 m above natural ground
- Canopy: branch span of 3 m or more
You need approval to…
- Any tree, sapling or shrub that is 3 m or more in height.
- Any tree with a circumference of 300 mm (100 mm diameter) or more at 1 m above natural ground level.
- Any tree with a branch span of 3 m or more.
- Any native vegetation (trees, understorey plants, groundcover or wetland plants) covered by DCP Part 2.4.
- Pruning branches larger than 50 mm in diameter.
- Clearing native vegetation above the Biodiversity Offset Scheme thresholds, or in an area on the Biodiversity Values Map, needs approval from the Native Vegetation Panel.
- Trees that are, or are part of, a heritage item or Aboriginal object, or are in a heritage conservation area or Aboriginal place, can't be approved under the DCP unless the work is minor or maintenance and won't harm heritage significance.
Usually no approval needed for…
- Routine pruning of trees or shrubs that form a continuous hedge.
- A tree that harbours fruit fly.
- Trees identified as noxious weeds (or similar), including the five species Council names.
- Minor pruning of branches no greater than 50 mm in diameter, if it doesn't harm the tree's health and, for a neighbour's tree, the owner's permission has been sought first.
- Removing a tree within 0.5 m of a property boundary so a registered surveyor can survey the boundary.
- Dying or dead vegetation that isn't required as native fauna habitat, and vegetation that is an imminent unacceptable risk to life or property. Council's Private Trees page says you must apply using the Tree Exemption Form.
Camden's exempt species list (5 entries): trees you can usually remove without a permit
- Privet (Ligustrum sp.)
- African olive (Olea africana)
- Honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos)
- Cocos palm (Syagrus romanzoffiana)
- Chinese celtis (Celtis sinensis)
Exemptions usually don't apply on heritage properties. Not sure what your tree is? Send us a photo.
Step by step
How to apply in Camden.
From checking the rules to planting the replacement tree.
Check whether your tree needs a permit
Measure the tree. It's protected if it's 3 m or taller, has a 300 mm trunk circumference at 1 m, or a 3 m branch span. Check whether it's one of the five exempt weed species.
If it's dead or dangerous, use the Tree Exemption Form
Lodge Council's online Tree Exemption Form with photos and any arborist advice instead of a permit application.
Register on the NSW Planning Portal
Create a NSW Planning Portal account. Private tree permits in Camden are lodged only through the Portal.
Prepare your documents
Prepare a detailed site plan, photographs, and the Owners Consent Form signed by all listed owners. Add any arborist, plumber or sewer reports you have.
Lodge and pay when asked
Submit the private tree removal or pruning application on the Portal. Council will contact you to arrange payment ($154Council fee for removal of 1 to 10 trees, $79.50Council fee for pruning in 2026-27).
Wait for the decision, then replant
Council assesses within 28 days. Don't start work until you have the permit, and plant the replacement trees it requires (up to four per tree removed).
Council fees paid to Camden Council, not to Above All Tree Services
| Council fee for | Council fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tree removal permit / DA assessment, 1 to 10 trees | $154.00Council fee | 2026-27; pensioner $79.50Council fee. 11 or more trees $302.00Council fee (pensioner $154.00Council fee). An extra fee applies if neighbours must be notified. |
| Tree pruning permit / DA assessment, 1 to 10 trees | $79.50Council fee | 2026-27; pensioner $37.50Council fee. 11 or more trees $154.00Council fee (pensioner $79.50Council fee). |
| Pre-DA / permit site inspection of trees and vegetation, 1 to 10 trees | $79.50Council fee | 2026-27; pensioner $37.50Council fee. 11 or more trees $154.00Council fee. |
| Residential offset planting (per tree) | $397.00Council fee | 2026-27, where Council plants offset trees in the public domain |
Processing: Council assesses within 28 days once the information is complete and fees are paid. If you haven't been notified after 28 days (excluding time waiting on further information), the application is deemed refused, although Council may still decide it later.
The details
Everything else you should know.
The situations that trip people up, from Camden council's own rules.
Pruning
Without a permit you can prune branches no greater than 50 mm in diameter, as long as the pruning doesn't affect the tree's health. If the tree is on a neighbour's property, you must have sought the owner's permission first. Routine hedge trimming is also exempt. Council won't approve pruning for leaf, bark, fruit or sap drop, bird or bat droppings, solar access, looks, or unapproved bushfire hazard control. Council says tree work should be done by a contractor with at least AQF Level 3 in Arboriculture.
Dead or dangerous trees
Council's Private Trees page says you need to apply using the online Tree Exemption Form if vegetation is dying or dead and not needed as native fauna habitat, or if it is an imminent unacceptable risk to life or property. The DCP adds that it doesn't apply to a tree that a qualified arborist has confirmed is dead, as long as the tree has no hollows or habitat resources. The replacement-planting requirement doesn't apply to trees Council is satisfied are dying, dead or a risk to life or property.
Arborist reports
An arborist report isn't mandatory on lodgement; Council asks you to submit any available information such as an arborist, plumber or sewer report. If the tree needs further analysis (aerial inspection, resistance testing, pathology or root investigation), Council will tell you in writing to engage a consulting arborist. Council says AQF Level 5 in Arboriculture is required for hazard, tree health and risk assessments and reports, and AQF Level 3 for carrying out tree work.
Replacement planting
If a permit is issued to remove a tree or vegetation, up to four replacement trees must be planted for every tree removed. The permit specifies the size at planting and the mature height required; the species is the owner's choice. Not following replanting conditions is an offence. Where offset planting goes in the public domain, a Tree Offset Application is used ($397Council fee per tree for residential in 2026-27).
Bushfire and the 10/50 rule
Council says it can't give advice on the 10/50 Vegetation Clearing Code of Practice or entitlement area, and directs residents to the RFS 10/50 online tool to check whether their property is in the entitlement area.
Heritage properties
The state Biodiversity and Conservation SEPP requires development consent for heritage trees. Under DCP Part 2.4, Council can't approve removal of a tree that is, or is part of, a heritage item or Aboriginal object, or is in a heritage conservation area or Aboriginal place, unless the work is minor or maintenance and won't harm heritage significance. Check the Heritage Provisions of the DCP first.
Your neighbour's tree
Discuss it with your neighbour first; pruning or removing their tree still needs Council approval. Council will only accept an application for a neighbour's tree if all listed owners of the tree's property consent. A permit doesn't force the owner to do the work or let you enter their land. Unresolved disputes can go to the Land and Environment Court under the Trees (Disputes Between Neighbours) Act 2006, after a reasonable effort to agree.
Street and park trees
Street and park trees are protected and maintained by Council's Urban Forest Services. Don't prune street trees yourself; fines may apply. Report issues through Council's Report It page or email mail@camden.nsw.gov.au. Council doesn't prune for powerline clearance; Endeavour Energy does that.
Penalties
Council states on-the-spot fines of $3,000 to $6,000 for pruning or removing trees without a permit or consent. Serious offences may go to court, where penalties of $1 million to $5 million apply.
What's different about Camden
- Camden's size test is one of the strictest in the region: 3 m height, 300 mm trunk circumference (about 100 mm diameter) at 1 m, or a 3 m branch span.
- Private tree applications in Camden are lodged only through the NSW Planning Portal, not on a Council form.
- Permits to remove a tree require up to four replacement trees for every tree removed, and failing to replant is an offence.
- Council states on-the-spot fines of $3,000 to $6,000, and court penalties of $1 million to $5 million for serious offences.
- Canopy cover in parts of the LGA was as low as 2 to 3% in 2019, with overall cover just over 15%. That is below the NSW target of 40% and is the reason behind Council's Urban Forest Strategy 2023.
Trees common in Camden
- Camden white gum (Eucalyptus benthamii)
- Forest red gum (Eucalyptus tereticornis)
- Grey box (Eucalyptus moluccana)
- Cabbage gum (Eucalyptus amplifolia)
- Narrow-leaved ironbark (Eucalyptus crebra)
- Spotted gum (Corymbia maculata)
- Broad-leaved apple (Angophora subvelutina)
- Kurrajong (Brachychiton populneus)
Suburbs
22 Camden suburbs we cover.
Each suburb page has local notes, jobs nearby and a link back here.
Questions
Camden tree rules: questions.
Do I need council approval to remove a tree in Camden?
In Camden, you need a Council permit to prune or remove a tree on private land that is 3 m or taller, has a trunk circumference of 300 mm (about 100 mm diameter) or more at 1 m, or has a branch span of 3 m or more. You apply online through the NSW Planning Portal. A permit to remove usually comes with a condition to plant up to four replacement trees. Five named weed species, hedges and small-branch pruning (up to 50 mm) are exempt. Dead or dangerous trees need a Tree Exemption Form.
Can I prune a tree without a permit in Camden?
Without a permit you can prune branches no greater than 50 mm in diameter, as long as the pruning doesn't affect the tree's health. If the tree is on a neighbour's property, you must have sought the owner's permission first. Routine hedge trimming is also exempt. Council won't approve pruning for leaf, bark, fruit or sap drop, bird or bat droppings, solar access, looks, or unapproved bushfire hazard control. Council says tree work should be done by a contractor with at least AQF Level 3 in Arboriculture.
How much does a tree permit cost in Camden?
This is a council fee, paid to Camden Council, not to us. Tree removal permit / DA assessment, 1 to 10 trees: $154.00Council fee (2026-27; pensioner $79.50Council fee. 11 or more trees $302.00Council fee (pensioner $154.00Council fee). An extra fee applies if neighbours must be notified.). Other council fees are listed on this page.
How long does Camden council take to decide?
Council assesses within 28 days once the information is complete and fees are paid. If you haven't been notified after 28 days (excluding time waiting on further information), the application is deemed refused, although Council may still decide it later.
Can I remove a dead or dangerous tree in Camden?
Council's Private Trees page says you need to apply using the online Tree Exemption Form if vegetation is dying or dead and not needed as native fauna habitat, or if it is an imminent unacceptable risk to life or property. The DCP adds that it doesn't apply to a tree that a qualified arborist has confirmed is dead, as long as the tree has no hollows or habitat resources. The replacement-planting requirement doesn't apply to trees Council is satisfied are dying, dead or a risk to life or property.
Can I prune or remove the street tree outside my house?
Street and park trees are protected and maintained by Council's Urban Forest Services. Don't prune street trees yourself; fines may apply. Report issues through Council's Report It page or email mail@camden.nsw.gov.au. Council doesn't prune for powerline clearance; Endeavour Energy does that.
Sources: what Camden council actually says
“Most trees in Camden are protected, before pruning or removing a tree from your property you must apply for permission via a tree removal and pruning application.”
“On the spot fines of $3000 - $6000 apply, serious offences may be pursued in the Courts where penalties of $1 - $5 million apply.”
“has a circumference of 300mm (100mm diameter) or more at a height of 1 metre above natural ground surface”
“If an approval is granted for the removal of a tree or vegetation, up to four (4) replacement trees are required to be planted for every tree removed.”
Rules come from: Camden Development Control Plan 2019, Part 2.4 Trees and Vegetation; State Environmental Planning Policy (Biodiversity and Conservation) 2021, Chapter 2.
- Private Trees - Camden Council
- Camden DCP 2019 Part 2.4 Trees and Vegetation
- Public Trees - Camden Council
- Urban Forest Forms and Applications - Camden Council
- Tree Exemption Form - Camden Council
- Adopted 2026-27 Fees and Charges Schedule
- Urban Forest Strategy - Camden Council
- Tree and Landscape Species List (Appendix 1, Tree Management Policy)
Checked against Camden Council's own pages and documents on 30 September 2026. Councils change their rules and fees, usually on 1 July, so confirm with Camden Council (13 22 63) before any work. This page is a plain-English guide, not legal advice. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
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