The fees to lodge with council are not charged by Above All Tree Services. They are paid directly to Lane Cove Council. Prices were last checked on . We have done our best to keep these current and accurate, but you should always refer to the council's website to confirm pricing.
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Council tree rules · checked 30 September 2026
Lane Cove tree removal rules
Checked against Lane Cove Council's own documents on · Council: 02 9911 3555
Lane Cove is one of the strictest councils in Sydney. You need a permit to prune or remove any tree that is taller than 4 metres, has a canopy spread over 5 metres or a trunk thicker than 150 mm (measured 1 m above the ground), and there is no "10% pruning" allowance. Even dead trees and trees on Council's weed-type list need a permit — it is simply fee-free. Apply online as a "Private Tree Works Inspection"; standard applications can take 8–10 weeks.
The checker
Do I need approval to remove my tree?
Lane Cove'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 bushland reserve)?
Council's tree — don't touch it
Trees on Council land are protected at any size. Lodge a Council Tree Maintenance Request, or call 02 9911 3555.
Is the property a heritage item, in a heritage conservation area, or an Aboriginal object or place, and do you want to remove the tree?
Development application needed
Removing trees on heritage or Aboriginal-significance land needs a DA through the NSW Planning Portal. Minor maintenance pruning may still be possible under a Tree Works Permit.
Is the tree part of an Endangered Ecological Community mapped on the NSW Biodiversity Values Map?
Apply to the Native Vegetation Panel
Mapped Endangered Ecological Community trees go to the NSW Native Vegetation Panel, not Council. A Biodiversity Conservation Licence may also be needed.
Is the tree taller than 4 m, with a canopy over 5 m, a trunk over 150 mm at 1 m, or do the works involve roots 40 mm or thicker?
Below Council's size thresholds
A tree under all of the size thresholds is exempt works under DCP Part J. If you are unsure of the measurements, ask Council before cutting.
Is the tree dead, a declared weed, or on Council's Fee-Free Species List (within its height limit)?
Fee-Free permit — still apply
Lodge a Private Tree Works Inspection and tick the Fee-Free option. Don't start until Council issues the permit (usually 1–2 weeks).
How to apply on the Lane Cove website · Need an arborist report?
You need a tree permit
Lodge a Private Tree Works Inspection online ($160Council fee for 1–3 trees). Allow 8–10 weeks. No pruning allowance applies without a permit.
How to apply on the Lane Cove website · Need an arborist report?
Size matters
How big is "protected" in Lane Cove?
- Height: more than 4 m
- Trunk: diameter more than 150 mm, measured 1 m above ground
- Canopy: canopy spread more than 5 m
You need approval to…
- Pruning or removing any tree, native or exotic, that is taller than 4 metres.
- Pruning or removing any tree with a canopy spread greater than 5 metres.
- Pruning or removing any tree with a trunk diameter greater than 150 mm, measured 1 metre above the ground.
- Pruning roots 40 mm or greater in diameter.
- Any pruning of a protected tree, however small — Council states it does not allow pruning of up to 10% without a permit.
- Removing a dead tree, or dead branches from a live tree (a Fee-Free permit is still required).
- Pruning or removing species on Council's Fee-Free Species List (a Fee-Free permit is still required if the tree meets the size thresholds).
- Removing a tree on a heritage item or in a heritage conservation area, or on an Aboriginal object or place — this needs a development application, not a tree permit.
- Removing a tree that forms part of an Endangered Ecological Community mapped on the NSW Biodiversity Values Map — you must apply to the NSW Native Vegetation Panel, not Council.
Usually no approval needed for…
- Trees that are no more than 4 metres tall, with a canopy spread under 5 metres, a trunk under 150 mm diameter (at 1 m above ground) and roots under 40 mm (DCP J.4.2 d(i)).
- Bamboo (Bambusa species) — Council's FAQ says it is now a declared weed across NSW and you may remove it without further consent from Council.
- Pruning required by the Electricity Supply Act 1995 near powerlines (DCP J.4.2 d(iii)) — but Council's website says homeowners should lodge a Fee-Free permit for pruning within 3 m of street powerlines or 0.5 m of the service wire, and only Ausgrid's contractors may work near live wires.
Lane Cove's exempt species list (28 entries): trees you can usually remove without a permit
- Box Elder (Acer negundo) — fee-free permit, under 6 m only
- Evergreen Alder (Alnus acuminata) — fee-free permit, under 10 m only
- Camphor Laurel (Cinnamomum camphora) — fee-free permit, under 10 m only
- Silky Oak (Grevillea robusta) — fee-free permit, under 6 m only
- Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia) — fee-free permit, under 6 m only
- Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) — fee-free permit, under 6 m only
- Liquidambar (Liquidambar styraciflua) — fee-free permit, under 10 m only
- Phoenix Palm (Phoenix species) — fee-free permit, under 6 m only
- African Olive (Olea africana) — fee-free permit, no height limit
- Bananas (Musa species) — fee-free permit, no height limit
- China Doll (Radermachera sinica) — fee-free permit, no height limit
- Cocos Palm (Syagrus romanzoffianum) — fee-free permit, no height limit
- Coral Tree (Erythrina species) — fee-free permit, no height limit
- Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster species) — fee-free permit, no height limit
- Exotic fruit trees e.g. citrus, peach, plum, loquat (Citrus, Prunus, Eriobotrya japonica) — fee-free permit, no height limit
- Giant Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia nicolai) — fee-free permit, no height limit
- Hackberry (Celtis sinensis and Celtis australis) — fee-free permit, no height limit
- Leighton Green and cultivars (x Cupressocyparis leylandii) — fee-free permit, no height limit
- Lombardy Poplar (Populus nigra 'Italica') — fee-free permit, no height limit
- Mulberry (Morus species) — fee-free permit, no height limit
- Norfolk Island Hibiscus (Lagunaria patersonia) — fee-free permit, no height limit
- Oleander (Nerium oleander) — fee-free permit, no height limit
- Privets (Ligustrum species) — fee-free permit, no height limit
- Rhus (Toxicodendron succedaneum) — fee-free permit, no height limit
- Rubber Tree (Ficus elastica) — fee-free permit, no height limit
- Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) — fee-free permit, no height limit
- Umbrella Tree (Schefflera actinophylla) — fee-free permit, no height limit
- Willow (Salix species) — fee-free permit, no height limit
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 Lane Cove.
From checking the rules to planting the replacement tree.
Lane Cove’s DCP says arborist reports must be by independent AQF Level 5 arborists, so we can’t write the report for a Lane Cove application; we can recommend an independent consultant.
Check whether your tree is protected
Measure it: taller than 4 m, canopy wider than 5 m, trunk over 150 mm at 1 m above ground, or roots 40 mm or more? If yes, you need a permit to prune or remove it.
Check the Fee-Free list
Dead trees, dead branches, declared weeds and species on Council's Fee-Free Species List (within the height limits) still need a permit, but no fee.
Check the Biodiversity Values Map and heritage status
If the tree is part of a mapped Endangered Ecological Community, apply to the NSW Native Vegetation Panel. If the property is heritage-listed or in a conservation area, removal needs a development application via the NSW Planning Portal.
Gather photos and reports
Photograph the whole tree with a person for scale, plus bark, leaves and fruit. For safety or damage claims, get an AQF Level 5 arborist report and plumber/engineer/builder evidence.
Get written consent if needed
If the tree is on a neighbour's land, or your arborist needs access to it, attach the owner's written consent.
Lodge a Private Tree Works Inspection online
Apply at service.lanecove.nsw.gov.au and pay the fee ($160Council fee for 1–3 trees; 50% pensioner discount). A Tree Officer will inspect.
Wait for the written decision
Allow up to 8–10 weeks. Do not start work until you have the permit; keep a copy on site. There is no internal review — appeals go to the Land and Environment Court within 3 months.
Notify Council before work starts
Email CRM@lanecove.nsw.gov.au at least 48 hours before, with the date and your AQF Level 3 arborist's details. Finish within 12 months and plant any replacement within 3 months.
Council fees paid to Lane Cove Council, not to Above All Tree Services
| Council fee for | Council fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pruning or removal application — 1 to 3 trees | $160.00Council fee | Fees valid from 1 July 2026. |
| Pruning or removal application — 4 or more trees | $160.00Council fee + $35.00Council fee per additional tree | Council's page lists $160Council fee plus $35Council fee for each additional tree. |
| Meeting with Council's arborist on site | $110.00Council fee | One-off fee, limited to 20 minutes; longer meetings may incur extra fees. Pensioner discount does not apply. |
| Pensioner discount | 50% off application fees | Valid Pensioner Concession Card must be uploaded in the online form. |
| Fee-Free permit (dead trees, dead branches, Fee-Free Species List, declared weeds) | $0Council fee | Only select Fee-Free if every tree in the application qualifies; otherwise lodge a standard application. |
Processing: Up to 8–10 weeks from lodgement for standard applications; Fee-Free (exempt) works usually 1–2 weeks. Outcome notified about 1–2 weeks after inspection. Permits lapse after 12 months.
The details
Everything else you should know.
The situations that trip people up, from Lane Cove council's own rules.
Pruning
Almost none without approval. Council's FAQ says it "does not allow pruning of up to 10% without a permit", so any pruning of a tree over the size thresholds needs a permit. Pruning of dead branches is on the Fee-Free permit list (you still lodge an application, but no fee). Approved pruning must be done by an arborist with at least AQF Level 3 to Australian Standard AS 4373 Pruning of amenity trees, and you must email CRM@lanecove.nsw.gov.au at least 48 hours before work starts with the date and your arborist's details. Council does not allow large sections of trees to be pruned for sunlight or views.
Dead or dangerous trees
Dead trees can be removed with a Fee-Free permit: lodge a Private Tree Works Inspection and tick "Removing a Dead Tree OR dead branches from a Live tree". A Tree Officer inspects; if the tree is not dead you will be sent a payment link, and if it is dead the officer decides on full or partial removal depending on height and wildlife habitat. For general safety concerns you still lodge a normal application, ideally with evidence such as dropped large limbs or cracking and a risk assessment by an AQF Level 5 arborist. In a storm emergency with imminent risk of failure, call Council in business hours; out of hours call the SES on 132 500 (and Ausgrid on 13 13 88 if powerlines are involved).
Arborist reports
Where you want a live tree removed for safety or property-damage reasons, Council will often require a report by an AQF Level 5 arborist plus evidence from a plumber, engineer or builder. For 4 or more trees Council strongly recommends an AQF Level 5 report (or a detailed itemised assessment by at least an AQF Level 3 arborist). DCP J.4.3 says reports must be by independent AQF 5 arborists. Include photos of the whole tree (with a person for scale), bark, leaves and fruit.
Replacement planting
Replanting must be done as set out in the permit or development consent, and replacement planting must be completed within 3 months of the tree being removed unless the permit says otherwise (DCP J.4.5 f–g). For trees removed through a development application, Part J requires replacement at a 1:1 ratio or greater at Council's discretion.
Bushfire and the 10/50 rule
Council directs residents to the NSW RFS online tool to check whether their property is in a 10/50 vegetation clearing entitlement area. Trees not covered by the RFS rules need a Council permit.
Heritage properties
If the property is a heritage item or in a heritage conservation area, or is an Aboriginal object or place, tree removal needs a development application lodged through the NSW Planning Portal. Minor works such as crown maintenance pruning to AS 4373 can still go through a Tree Works Permit if Council is satisfied there is no adverse heritage impact. Check your property on the NSW ePlanning Spatial Viewer.
Your neighbour's tree
Talk to your neighbour first. You can only apply to remove a neighbour's tree (including hedges) with the owner's written consent, and written consent is also needed if your arborist must enter their land, climb their tree or reach across the boundary. If the owner won't act or consent, it becomes a civil matter — Council points you to the Land and Environment Court (02 9113 8200) under the Trees (Disputes Between Neighbours) Act 2006.
Street and park trees
Trees on Council land (streets, parks, reserves, bushland) are protected regardless of size and may only be pruned or removed by Council staff or approved contractors. Request maintenance through Council's online Council Tree Maintenance Request. Only Ausgrid's authorised contractors may work near live wires — report powerline trees to Ausgrid, or call 13 13 88 in an emergency.
Penalties
Council states that clearing protected trees or vegetation without a permit is an offence against the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, and that failure to comply with permit conditions may result in enforcement action. Illegal works in progress can be reported to Council on 9911 3555 so a Ranger can attend. Council's pages do not list fine amounts.
What's different about Lane Cove
- Lane Cove explicitly does not allow the common "10% pruning" exemption that many Sydney councils offer — any pruning of a protected tree needs a permit.
- Roots count: pruning roots 40 mm or thicker needs a permit, and root pruning within the Tree Protection Zone (12 × trunk diameter) is generally not allowed without supporting evidence (DCP J.4.5 b).
- Council publishes approved and refused private tree works (from 1 July 2022) so neighbours can check whether work was permitted before reporting it.
- Clearing or pruning of indigenous trees on private land will not generally be permitted (DCP J.4.5 a).
- Tree permits are not accepted as part of the exempt and complying development (CDC) process — a development application is required (DCP J.4.5 h).
Trees common in Lane Cove
- Sydney red gum (Angophora costata)
- Turpentine (Syncarpia glomulifera)
- Red mahogany (Eucalyptus resinifera)
- Tallowwood (Eucalyptus microcorys)
- Brush box (Lophostemon confertus)
- Coachwood (Ceratopetalum apetalum)
- Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia)
Suburbs
8 Lane Cove suburbs we cover.
Each suburb page has local notes, jobs nearby and a link back here.
Questions
Lane Cove tree rules: questions.
Do I need council approval to remove a tree in Lane Cove?
Lane Cove is one of the strictest councils in Sydney. You need a permit to prune or remove any tree that is taller than 4 metres, has a canopy spread over 5 metres or a trunk thicker than 150 mm (measured 1 m above the ground), and there is no "10% pruning" allowance. Even dead trees and trees on Council's weed-type list need a permit — it is simply fee-free. Apply online as a "Private Tree Works Inspection"; standard applications can take 8–10 weeks.
Can I prune a tree without a permit in Lane Cove?
Almost none without approval. Council's FAQ says it "does not allow pruning of up to 10% without a permit", so any pruning of a tree over the size thresholds needs a permit. Pruning of dead branches is on the Fee-Free permit list (you still lodge an application, but no fee). Approved pruning must be done by an arborist with at least AQF Level 3 to Australian Standard AS 4373 Pruning of amenity trees, and you must email CRM@lanecove.nsw.gov.au at least 48 hours before work starts with the date and your arborist's details. Council does not allow large sections of trees to be pruned for sunlight or views.
How much does a tree permit cost in Lane Cove?
This is a council fee, paid to Lane Cove Council, not to us. Pruning or removal application — 1 to 3 trees: $160.00Council fee (Fees valid from 1 July 2026.). Other council fees are listed on this page.
How long does Lane Cove council take to decide?
Up to 8–10 weeks from lodgement for standard applications; Fee-Free (exempt) works usually 1–2 weeks. Outcome notified about 1–2 weeks after inspection. Permits lapse after 12 months.
Can I remove a dead or dangerous tree in Lane Cove?
Dead trees can be removed with a Fee-Free permit: lodge a Private Tree Works Inspection and tick "Removing a Dead Tree OR dead branches from a Live tree". A Tree Officer inspects; if the tree is not dead you will be sent a payment link, and if it is dead the officer decides on full or partial removal depending on height and wildlife habitat. For general safety concerns you still lodge a normal application, ideally with evidence such as dropped large limbs or cracking and a risk assessment by an AQF Level 5 arborist. In a storm emergency with imminent risk of failure, call Council in business hours; out of hours call the SES on 132 500 (and Ausgrid on 13 13 88 if powerlines are involved).
Can I prune or remove the street tree outside my house?
Trees on Council land (streets, parks, reserves, bushland) are protected regardless of size and may only be pruned or removed by Council staff or approved contractors. Request maintenance through Council's online Council Tree Maintenance Request. Only Ausgrid's authorised contractors may work near live wires — report powerline trees to Ausgrid, or call 13 13 88 in an emergency.
Sources: what Lane Cove council actually says
“Lane Cove Council requires a permit to prune or remove any tree that is either 150mm diameter (at 1m above ground) and/or greater than 4 metres in height.”
“Unlike some other Councils, Lane Cove Council does not allow pruning of up to 10% without a permit.”
“Even though your works may be considered Fee-Free, you are STILL required to lodge an application for a Fee Free Tree Works Permit”
“Canopy spread greater than 5 metres, and/or Trunk diameter greater than 150mm diameter (measured at 1 metre above the ground) and/or roots 40mm or greater in diameter”
Rules come from: Lane Cove DCP Part J – Landscaping and Tree Preservation (adopted 22 February 2010, amended 18 July 2024), Section J.4 Tree Preservation Guidelines (4.2 Regulatory controls, 4.3 Arborist reports, 4.4 Public land, 4.5 Private land), made under SEPP (Biodiversity and Conservation) 2021 Parts 2.2 and 2.3.
- Trees on Your Property — Lane Cove Council
- Tree Preservation Order — Lane Cove Council
- Fee-Free Tree Works Permit and Fee Free Species List — Lane Cove Council
- Trees FAQs — Lane Cove Council
- Trees on Neighbouring Property — Lane Cove Council
- Bushfire Protection Rules for Trees — Lane Cove Council
- Reporting unauthorised tree removal, pruning or damage — Lane Cove Council
- Trees on Public Land — Lane Cove Council
- Lane Cove DCP Part J – Landscaping and Tree Preservation (amended 18 July 2024)
Checked against Lane Cove Council's own pages and documents on 30 September 2026. Councils change their rules and fees, usually on 1 July, so confirm with Lane Cove Council (02 9911 3555) before any work. This page is a plain-English guide, not legal advice. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
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