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Council tree rules · checked 30 September 2026
Fairfield tree removal rules
Checked against Fairfield City Council's own documents on · Council: 02 9725 0222
In Fairfield you need a Tree Work Permit from Council to cut down, top, lop, prune, ringbark or remove any tree more than 4 metres tall, or with a branch spread of more than 3 metres, or a trunk more than 75 mm across at 1 metre above the ground. Species on Council's 'undesirable' tree schedule can be removed without a permit, but only after a qualified arborist or horticulturalist has identified the tree in writing. Council generally only approves removal when a tree is dead, dying, dangerous or causing serious structural damage.
The checker
Do I need approval to remove my tree?
Fairfield'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 laneway)?
Council's tree — don't touch it
Street and park trees belong to Council. Report issues online or call 02 9725 0222.
Is the tree a heritage item, or part of Cumberland Plain Woodland or mapped riparian land?
Extra rules apply — ask Council first
Heritage trees need development consent, and small trees in bushland or on riparian land may be protected. Call 02 9725 0222.
Is the tree an immediate threat to life or property?
Get an AQF 5 arborist and call Council
Have a Consulting Arborist (AQF Level 5) assess it and phone Council on 02 9725 0222, including after hours. Call the SES on 132 500 for storm help.
Is it an 'undesirable' species on Council's schedule, confirmed in writing by a qualified arborist or horticulturalist?
No Tree Work Permit needed
This work is exempt. Keep photos (and the arborist's written ID for undesirable species) in case Council asks.
Is the tree over 4 m tall, or over 3 m branch spread, or over 75 mm trunk at 1 m above ground?
No Tree Work Permit needed
This work is exempt. Keep photos (and the arborist's written ID for undesirable species) in case Council asks.
Is the trunk within 3 m of the external wall of your house (not a garage, carport or deck)?
No Tree Work Permit needed
This work is exempt. Keep photos (and the arborist's written ID for undesirable species) in case Council asks.
Are you only pruning branches up to 50 mm, roots up to 30 mm, or branches overhanging your roof?
No Tree Work Permit needed
This work is exempt. Keep photos (and the arborist's written ID for undesirable species) in case Council asks.
Apply for a Tree Work Permit
Apply online or at Council. The fee is $97Council fee for 1 to 2 trees; Council decides within 28 days.
How to apply on the Fairfield website · Need an arborist report?
Size matters
How big is "protected" in Fairfield?
- Height: more than 4 m (more than 1 m on mapped riparian land)
- Trunk: diameter more than 75 mm measured 1 m above ground (more than 20 mm on mapped riparian land)
- Canopy: branch spread more than 3 m (more than 0.5 m on mapped riparian land)
You need approval to…
- Any tree more than 4 metres tall.
- Any tree with a branch spread of more than 3 metres.
- Any tree with a trunk diameter of more than 75 mm measured 1 metre above the ground (and a species that grows taller than 4 metres).
- On land shown on the Fairfield LEP 2013 Riparian Land and Waterways Map, much smaller trees are protected: more than 1 metre tall, 0.5 metre spread, or 20 mm trunk diameter.
- Any tree on Council's Significant Tree Register.
- Any tree associated with the critically endangered Cumberland Plain Woodland community, even if it is small.
- Pruning branches more than 50 mm in diameter, or roots more than 30 mm in diameter.
- Trees that are heritage items (Schedule 5 of Fairfield LEP 2013) need development consent.
Usually no approval needed for…
- 'Undesirable' trees and plants listed in the Schedule at the end of DCP Chapter 3A — but you must first get written advice from a qualified arborist or horticulturalist identifying the tree, and keep it (with photos) as evidence.
- Plants declared priority weeds under the Biosecurity Act 2015, and the Rhus tree (Toxicodendron succedaneum).
- Trees under 4 metres tall, or with a branch span under 3 metres, or a trunk under 75 mm at 1 metre above ground (not trees associated with Cumberland Plain Woodland).
- Minor pruning of branches not more than 50 mm in diameter, to AS 4373-2007.
- Minor pruning of roots not more than 30 mm in diameter, to AS 4373-2007.
- Pruning branches directly overhanging the roof of a house or commercial building, back to the nearest branch junction or collar to clear the roofline (not detached garages, carports or outbuildings).
- Trees within 3 metres of an approved, existing house, measured from the centre of the trunk at ground level to the external wall; the trunk must be on the same property. Verandas, carports, detached garages, outbuildings, balconies and decks do not count.
- Pruning or removing dead trees and dead branches (listed with exemption (m) in the DCP).
- Work approved in a valid development consent, or under an RFS Hazard Reduction Certificate (Rural Fires Act 1997).
- Pruning branches within 0.5 metres of electrical service lines on private property, as allowed under section 48 of the Electricity Supply Act 1995.
- Where the tree's condition is an immediate threat to life or property.
Fairfield's exempt species list (30 entries): trees you can usually remove without a permit
- African olive (Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata)
- European olive (Olea europaea subsp. europaea)
- Athel pine (Tamarix aphylla)
- Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia)
- Black cherry (Prunus serotina)
- Box elder (Acer negundo)
- Brazilian cherry (Eugenia uniflora)
- Broad-leaf pepper tree (Schinus terebinthifolius)
- Camphor laurel (Cinnamomum camphora)
- Cherry guava (Psidium cattleianum)
- Chinese celtis (Celtis sinensis)
- European hackberry (Celtis australis)
- Chinese elm (Ulmus parvifolia)
- Chinese tallow tree (Triadica sebifera)
- Cocos palm (Syagrus romanzoffiana)
- Coral tree (Erythrina x sykesii) and Cockspur coral tree (Erythrina crista-galli)
- Cotton palm / California fan palm (Washingtonia filifera)
- Foxglove tree / Empress tree (Paulownia tomentosa)
- Golden rain tree (Koelreuteria elegans)
- Honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos)
- Murraya / Orange jessamine (Murraya paniculata)
- Osage orange (Maclura pomifera)
- Paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera)
- Patula pine (Pinus patula) and Radiata pine (Pinus radiata)
- Phoenix palm / Canary Island date palm (Phoenix canariensis)
- Privet — broad-leaf, narrow-leaf and European (Ligustrum lucidum, L. sinense, L. vulgare)
- Rhus tree (Toxicodendron succedaneum)
- Tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima)
- Umbrella tree (Schefflera actinophylla)
- Willows (Salix species)
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 Fairfield.
From checking the rules to planting the replacement tree.
Check whether the tree is protected
Measure the height, branch spread and trunk diameter at 1 m above ground. Over 4 m tall, 3 m spread or 75 mm trunk means it is protected (smaller on mapped riparian land).
Check the exemptions
See if the work fits an exemption — undesirable species (with written arborist ID), small pruning (branches up to 50 mm, roots up to 30 mm), roof-overhang pruning, or a tree within 3 m of your house.
Consider pruning instead
Council suggests checking whether pruning would fix the problem. For power lines, contact Endeavour Energy on 133 718.
Get the owner's signature
The form must be signed by the owner of the land where the tree stands (the Body Corporate for strata or company title).
Lodge the application and pay the fee
Use Council's online Tree Removal/Pruning form, or lodge the paper form at 86 Avoca Road, Wakeley, or by mail. The fee is $97Council fee for 1 to 2 trees ($48.50Council fee pensioner).
Mark the trees and allow inspection
Tie a ribbon on each tree if you will not be home. A Council officer inspects by appointment.
Follow the permit
Keep the approval on site during the work, prune to AS 4373-2007, plant any replacement tree required, and finish within six months of the inspection.
Council fees paid to Fairfield City Council, not to Above All Tree Services
| Council fee for | Council fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tree Work Permit — 1 to 2 trees | $97Council fee | pensioner $48.50Council fee; fees valid to 30 June 2027; maximum two trees per application form |
| Tree Work Permit — 3 to 4 trees | $194Council fee | pensioner $97Council fee |
| Tree Work Permit — 5 to 6 trees | $291Council fee | pensioner $145.50Council fee |
| Tree Work Permit — 7 to 8 trees | $388Council fee | pensioner $194Council fee |
| Tree Work Permit — 9 to 10 trees | $485Council fee | pensioner $242.50Council fee |
Processing: Council decides within 28 days of receiving the application (SEPP s 2.11). If the Biodiversity Offsets Scheme is triggered, the Native Vegetation Panel has 90 days. Approvals are valid for six months from the date of inspection (extensions can be requested).
The details
Everything else you should know.
The situations that trip people up, from Fairfield council's own rules.
Pruning
Without a permit you may prune branches up to 50 mm in diameter and roots up to 30 mm in diameter, and prune branches directly overhanging the roof of your house back to the nearest branch junction to clear the roofline — all in line with AS 4373-2007 Pruning of Amenity Trees. Anything more needs a Tree Work Permit, and all approved pruning must be done to AS 4373-2007. Council may approve selective canopy thinning for sunlight but will not approve pruning or removal for views.
Dead or dangerous trees
Dead trees and dead branches can be pruned or removed under the DCP exemptions, and trees whose condition is an immediate threat to life or property are exempt. For storm damage or suspected emergencies, Council says to contact a Consulting Arborist (AQF Level 5) first. An emergency application can be made by phoning Council on 02 9725 0222 (including after hours) where the AQF 5 arborist has identified likely tree or branch failure, people or property cannot be moved away, and the arborist gives Council a written and photographic record. Call the SES on 132 500 for storm help. Penalties may apply to 'emergency' work that did not follow this process.
Arborist reports
Not required for every application, but Council's officer may require an arborist report (the form has an 'Arborist Report required' box). A structural damage claim must be backed by an engineer's report. To remove an 'undesirable' exempt species you need written identification from a qualified arborist or horticulturalist. Emergency applications need an AQF Level 5 Consulting Arborist. A refusal can be reviewed by getting an independent assessment from a suitably qualified arborist and applying to Council for a review (fee applies).
Replacement planting
The application form states that a replacement tree of the applicant's choice (not an exempt species) is to be planted for every approved removal. The DCP says owners may be required to plant compensatory trees elsewhere on the property.
Bushfire and the 10/50 rule
Not confirmed. Fairfield's DCP has bushfire controls for bush fire prone land, and the rural west of the city (Horsley Park, Cecil Park) has bushland creeklines, but Council's tree pages do not mention the 10/50 scheme. Check your address with the NSW RFS 10/50 online tool before relying on it.
Heritage properties
Tree work on heritage items listed in Schedule 5 of Fairfield LEP 2013 needs development consent, and clause 5.10 of the LEP applies. The DCP says significant landmark trees that are heritage items are to be retained and protected, and an arborist is to be engaged to assess any impact. Council's Heritage Adviser is available free of charge.
Your neighbour's tree
Council cannot order a neighbour to prune or remove a tree. Talk to your neighbour first and agree on the work and cost. Either neighbour can apply for a Tree Work Permit, but it can only be approved with the signature of the owner of the land where the tree stands. If you cannot agree and the tree is unsafe, Council will assess it to help mediation (inspection fee and owner's consent to enter needed). Otherwise use Community Justice Centres or apply to the Land and Environment Court under the Trees (Disputes Between Neighbours) Act 2006.
Street and park trees
Residents and developers must not remove or prune street trees or other trees on public land (parks, sportsfields, laneways) for any reason. Report issues through Council's Reporting Issues (Service Requests) form or on 02 9725 0222. Removing a street tree for a driveway or development needs a Development Application (not Complying Development) and the applicant pays the cost. Unauthorised removal will be investigated and penalties may apply.
Penalties
Council says penalties apply if a tree is damaged or removed without a Tree Work Permit, that it will take action, and that it holds detailed aerial photography showing all trees in the City. Anyone acting contrary to Part 2.6 of the SEPP, Fairfield LEP 2013 or the DCP is liable to prosecution unless they can show the tree was dying, dead or dangerous, and it is not a defence that the species was misidentified. Penalties are set under section 9.56 of the EP&A Act.
What's different about Fairfield
- Fairfield's size threshold is one of the lowest in Sydney: a tree is protected from just over 4 m tall, 3 m spread or a 75 mm trunk.
- On land shown on the Fairfield LEP 2013 Riparian Land and Waterways Map, trees are protected from just 1 m tall, 0.5 m spread or 20 mm trunk.
- Trees within 3 m of an existing house can be removed without a permit — measured from the centre of the trunk to the external wall.
- Removing an exempt 'undesirable' species still needs written identification from a qualified arborist or horticulturalist; misidentification is not a defence.
- Council says it holds detailed aerial photography showing the location of all trees in the City.
Trees common in Fairfield
- Forest red gum (Eucalyptus tereticornis)
- Broad-leaved apple (Angophora subvelutina)
- Brush box (Lophostemon confertus)
- Water gum (Tristaniopsis laurina)
- Broad-leaved paperbark (Melaleuca quinquenervia)
- Illawarra flame tree (Brachychiton acerifolius)
- Cheese tree (Glochidion ferdinandi)
Suburbs
24 Fairfield suburbs we cover.
Each suburb page has local notes, jobs nearby and a link back here.
Questions
Fairfield tree rules: questions.
Do I need council approval to remove a tree in Fairfield?
In Fairfield you need a Tree Work Permit from Council to cut down, top, lop, prune, ringbark or remove any tree more than 4 metres tall, or with a branch spread of more than 3 metres, or a trunk more than 75 mm across at 1 metre above the ground. Species on Council's 'undesirable' tree schedule can be removed without a permit, but only after a qualified arborist or horticulturalist has identified the tree in writing. Council generally only approves removal when a tree is dead, dying, dangerous or causing serious structural damage.
Can I prune a tree without a permit in Fairfield?
Without a permit you may prune branches up to 50 mm in diameter and roots up to 30 mm in diameter, and prune branches directly overhanging the roof of your house back to the nearest branch junction to clear the roofline — all in line with AS 4373-2007 Pruning of Amenity Trees. Anything more needs a Tree Work Permit, and all approved pruning must be done to AS 4373-2007. Council may approve selective canopy thinning for sunlight but will not approve pruning or removal for views.
How much does a tree permit cost in Fairfield?
This is a council fee, paid to Fairfield City Council, not to us. Tree Work Permit — 1 to 2 trees: $97Council fee (pensioner $48.50Council fee; fees valid to 30 June 2027; maximum two trees per application form). Other council fees are listed on this page.
How long does Fairfield council take to decide?
Council decides within 28 days of receiving the application (SEPP s 2.11). If the Biodiversity Offsets Scheme is triggered, the Native Vegetation Panel has 90 days. Approvals are valid for six months from the date of inspection (extensions can be requested).
Can I remove a dead or dangerous tree in Fairfield?
Dead trees and dead branches can be pruned or removed under the DCP exemptions, and trees whose condition is an immediate threat to life or property are exempt. For storm damage or suspected emergencies, Council says to contact a Consulting Arborist (AQF Level 5) first. An emergency application can be made by phoning Council on 02 9725 0222 (including after hours) where the AQF 5 arborist has identified likely tree or branch failure, people or property cannot be moved away, and the arborist gives Council a written and photographic record. Call the SES on 132 500 for storm help. Penalties may apply to 'emergency' work that did not follow this process.
Can I prune or remove the street tree outside my house?
Residents and developers must not remove or prune street trees or other trees on public land (parks, sportsfields, laneways) for any reason. Report issues through Council's Reporting Issues (Service Requests) form or on 02 9725 0222. Removing a street tree for a driveway or development needs a Development Application (not Complying Development) and the applicant pays the cost. Unauthorised removal will be investigated and penalties may apply.
Sources: what Fairfield council actually says
“A tree is defined as being 4 metres or more in height, or with a spread of more than 3 metres, or with a trunk diameter of more than 75mm measured 1 metre above the ground level.”
“Trees within 3 metres of an approved, existing residential building, measured from the centre of the trunk of the tree at ground level to the external wall of the building.”
“Minor pruning of branches not more than 50mm in diameter provided work is consistent with the Australian Standard for Pruning of Amenity Trees (AS 4373-2007)”
“You must not remove a tree without written advice provided by a qualified arborist/horticulturalist.”
Rules come from: Fairfield CityWide DCP 2024 (Amendment No. 2), Chapter 3A Environmental Management and Constraints, section 3A.2 Preservation of Trees or Vegetation and the Schedule of trees and plants that can be removed without a permit; made under SEPP (Biodiversity and Conservation) 2021, Chapter 2 / Part 2.6. (Council's tree web page and exempt list still refer to Fairfield Citywide DCP 2013 Chapter 3.).
- Tree Removal & Pruning — Fairfield City Council
- Tree Removal/Pruning Form — Fairfield City Council
- Application — Tree Work Permit (QMF-OS-080, effective June 2026)
- Tree Management and Tree Work Permits information sheet (QMI-OS-080)
- Exempt Trees List — A guide for residents and landowners (QMI-OS-086, April 2023)
- Tree Matters — Preservation of Trees (QMF-PG-035)
- Fairfield CityWide Development Control Plan 2024, Amendment No. 2 (Chapter 3A and Appendix F)
- Development Control and Structure Plans — Fairfield City Council
Checked against Fairfield City Council's own pages and documents on 30 September 2026. Councils change their rules and fees, usually on 1 July, so confirm with Fairfield City Council (02 9725 0222) before any work. This page is a plain-English guide, not legal advice. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
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