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Council tree rules · checked 30 September 2026
Mosman tree removal rules
Checked against Mosman Council's own documents on · Council: 02 9978 4000
In Mosman you need Council consent (a Tree Permit) to prune or remove any tree 5 metres or taller or with a trunk circumference of 450 mm or more at 300 mm above the ground — and in a heritage conservation area or on a heritage item, any tree 2 metres or taller. Council's website says all pruning of protected trees needs consent; only deadwood and a list of exempt species can be dealt with freely. Applications cost $114Council fee for 1–3 trees and usually take up to 10 working days.
The checker
Do I need approval to remove my tree?
Mosman'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, reserve or bushland)?
Council's tree — don't touch it
All vegetation on Council land is protected. Apply for a public land tree permit or call Mosman Council on 02 9978 4000.
Is the property a heritage item or in a heritage conservation area?
Is the tree 2 m or taller?
Heritage property — check with Council
Trees 2 m or taller are protected here and a development application may be needed. Call 02 9978 4000 before any work.
Likely no consent needed
This appears to fall outside Mosman's prescribed trees or within an exemption. Keep photos and measurements; prune to AS 4373.
Is the tree 5 m or taller, or is its trunk circumference 450 mm or more at 300 mm above ground (or is it on the Urban Forest Management Register)?
Likely no consent needed
This appears to fall outside Mosman's prescribed trees or within an exemption. Keep photos and measurements; prune to AS 4373.
Is it on Mosman's exempt species list (e.g. privet, cocos palm, cypress, camphor laurel under 10 m) or a declared biosecurity weed?
Likely no consent needed
This appears to fall outside Mosman's prescribed trees or within an exemption. Keep photos and measurements; prune to AS 4373.
Do you only want to remove dead wood from the tree?
Likely no consent needed
This appears to fall outside Mosman's prescribed trees or within an exemption. Keep photos and measurements; prune to AS 4373.
Is the whole tree dead, or has an independent AQF Level 5 arborist confirmed in writing that it is a high risk to life or property?
Get Council's agreement first
Dead or high-risk trees are exempt only once Council is satisfied. Send the arborist's written evidence and wait for Council's response; an urgent 72-hour assessment is available.
You need a Tree Permit
Apply online ($114Council fee for 1–3 trees). Council usually decides within 10 working days. Any pruning of a protected tree needs consent.
How to apply on the Mosman website · Need an arborist report?
Size matters
How big is "protected" in Mosman?
- Height: 5 m or more
- Trunk: circumference 450 mm or more, measured 300 mm above ground level (the policy equates this to 150 mm diameter)
- HeritageHeight: 2 m or more in a heritage conservation area or on a heritage item
You need approval to…
- Pruning or removing any tree 5 m or more in height (DCP Part 4.5 table (1)(a)(i)).
- Pruning or removing any tree with a trunk circumference of 450 mm or more measured 300 mm above ground level (about 150 mm diameter).
- Pruning or removing any tree 2 m or more in height if the property is in a heritage conservation area or is (or forms part of) a heritage item — a development application may be required rather than a tree permit.
- Pruning or removing tree ferns (Cyathea australis and Cyathea cooperi) 2 m or more in height.
- Any work on a tree listed on Council's Urban Forest Management Register, public or private.
- Any pruning of a protected tree, however small — Council's website says all pruning on private and public land requires consent unless the tree is an exempt species (deadwood removal on private land excepted).
- Pruning branches that overhang your land from a neighbour's protected tree (or from a Council tree).
- Any work at all on trees or vegetation on Council land, including dead material.
- Removing a tree protected by a development consent — this needs a Modification Application, not a tree permit.
Usually no approval needed for…
- Trees under 5 m tall and with a trunk circumference under 450 mm at 300 mm above ground, on land that is not a heritage item or in a heritage conservation area, and not on the Urban Forest Management Register.
- Dead wood in trees on private land.
- The exempt species listed below, on private land.
- Plants or weeds declared a biosecurity risk (including notifiable or prohibited matter under the Biosecurity Act 2015).
- A tree or vegetation that Council is satisfied is dead and not needed as habitat for native fauna.
- A tree that a qualified AQF Level 5 arborist confirms in writing is a high risk to human life or property, where Council agrees.
- Trees and vegetation that may be cleared under the 10/50 Vegetation Clearing Scheme (Rural Fires Act 1997) — only about 6% of Mosman's residential lots.
- Pruning for power line clearance carried out by Ausgrid contractors.
Mosman's exempt species list (20 entries): trees you can usually remove without a permit
- Camphor laurel (Cinnamomum camphora) — under 10 m only
- Citrus trees (Citrus spp.)
- Cocos palm (Syagrus romanzoffiana)
- Coral tree (Erythrina x sykesii)
- Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster spp.)
- Cypress (Cupressus spp.)
- Giant bird of paradise (Strelitzia nicolai)
- Hackberry (Celtis australis)
- Hibiscus (Hibiscus spp.)
- Leyland cypress / Leighton green and cultivars (x Cupressocyparis leylandii)
- Mulberry (Morus spp.)
- Norfolk Island hibiscus (Lagunaria patersonii)
- Oleander (Nerium spp. and Thevetia spp.)
- Pawpaw (Carica papaya)
- Privet (Ligustrum spp.)
- Prunus (Prunus spp.)
- Rubber tree (Ficus elastica)
- Umbrella tree (Schefflera actinophylla)
- Wild olive (Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata)
- Willow (Salix spp.)
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 Mosman.
From checking the rules to planting the replacement tree.
Mosman's DCP asks for an independent AQF Level 5 consulting arborist's report when you say a tree is dangerous, and appeals need an independent arborist's report too. Because we also do tree work, our own report may not count as independent for those, so we'll recommend an independent consultant.
Measure the tree
Is it 5 m or taller, or is the trunk circumference 450 mm or more at 300 mm above ground? In a heritage conservation area or on a heritage item, the height limit is 2 m.
Check the exemptions
Is it on Mosman's exempt species list (camphor laurel only under 10 m), a declared weed, or are you only removing deadwood? Check the Trees Mosman app or Council's tree page.
Check the Urban Forest Management Register and heritage status
Registered significant trees and heritage properties have extra protection; heritage sites may need a development application. Call 02 9978 4000 if unsure.
Gather evidence
Prepare a plan showing the tree(s) and nearby trees, photos and a short statement of reasons. For safety claims, get an independent consulting arborist's report (AQF Level 5).
Get the owner's consent if needed
Strata trees need a managing agent's letter or strata meeting minutes. Trees wholly on a neighbour's land need the owner's written consent.
Apply online and pay
Lodge the Application for Tree Permit Private Property online ($114Council fee for 1–3 trees, $41.50Council fee each extra, 50% off for pensioners; $540Council fee extra for a 72-hour decision).
Wait for the Tree Permit Assessment
Council's Tree Management Officer inspects and usually decides within 10 working days. You can appeal with an arborist's report ($410Council fee).
Do the work within 12 months
Follow the assessment exactly, prune to AS 4373, and plant any required replacement tree.
Council fees paid to Mosman Council, not to Above All Tree Services
| Council fee for | Council fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tree Permit Application — 1 to 3 trees (private or Council property) | $114.00Council fee | 2026/27 Fees and Charges, no GST. 50% discount for pensioners on production of a current pension card. Paid online with the application. |
| Tree Permit Application — each additional tree | $41.50Council fee | Per tree above 3. |
| Urgency tree permit application (processed within 72 hours) | $540.00Council fee | Listed in the 2026/27 schedule as 'Urgency TPA fee to process applications in 72 hours'. |
| Review/appeal of Council's tree decision | $410.00Council fee | Lodged with an Application to Appeal Tree Permit Assessment and an independent arborist's report. |
Processing: Council's Tree Management Officer usually determines applications within up to 10 working days, based on a visual inspection and the documents supplied. An urgency fee buys processing within 72 hours. Consent lapses if the work is not done within 12 months.
The details
Everything else you should know.
The situations that trip people up, from Mosman council's own rules.
Pruning
Very little pruning is allowed without consent. Council's tree page says all pruning work on private and public land needs Council consent unless the tree is an exempt species, and the DCP lists "dead wood in trees on private land" as exempt, so removing deadwood is the main exception. There is no general "10% pruning" allowance for protected trees on private land. Approved pruning must follow AS 4373-2007 Pruning of amenity trees, and Council recommends a qualified, insured arborist. Council says pruning that does not follow AS 4373 breaches its tree preservation controls and will be investigated.
Dead or dangerous trees
A dead tree is exempt only where Council is satisfied it is dead and not needed as habitat for native fauna, so contact Council first. Council does not assess hazards on private trees — you must get your own professional advice. If an independent AQF Level 5 consulting arborist confirms in writing that a tree is a high risk to life or property and Council agrees, the policy says it will be immediately approved for removal. The DCP note requires an independent consulting arborist (minimum level 4) who does not do pruning or removal work, with visual and written evidence of an immediate risk. For faster processing Council charges an urgency fee ($540Council fee) to process an application within 72 hours.
Arborist reports
Not mandatory for every application, but it is the applicant's job to give enough information to justify the work, particularly for removals, or consent may be refused. Where you claim a tree is dangerous, the DCP requires an independent report from a qualified consulting arborist (minimum level 4) who does not carry out pruning or removal work; the policy refers to an AQF Level 5 consultant arborist. Appeals need an independent arborist's report, or advice from an engineer or licensed plumber.
Replacement planting
Council policy is that a replacement tree be planted for any tree removed, unless the Tree Management Officer decides otherwise and notes this on the assessment. The assessment specifies the replacement, which must reach a minimum height set by Council and be maintained to maturity on the property (DCP Part 4.5 P6). Council audits replacement conditions.
Bushfire and the 10/50 rule
Council says the 10/50 entitlement area in Mosman was cut in August 2015 from about 56% to about 6% of residential lots, and lots wholly or partly within 100 m of the NSW coastline or mapped estuaries are excluded. Council urges owners to check the NSW RFS online tool before relying on 10/50, and warns that 10/50 pruning must still follow AS 4373.
Heritage properties
In a heritage conservation area, or on a heritage item, any tree 2 m or taller is protected (not just trees over 5 m). If the tree is or forms part of a heritage item, is in a heritage conservation area, or relates to an Aboriginal object or place, a development application may be required instead of a tree permit (DCP Part 4.5). Council considers heritage significance when assessing any application.
Your neighbour's tree
Anyone affected by overhanging branches from a neighbouring tree (including a Council tree) can apply to prune the overhang. If the work can be done from your side, the tree owner's approval is not needed, but a consent does not let you or your contractor enter their land; if access is needed, the owner must agree. To prune or remove a tree wholly on someone else's land you need that owner's written consent. Council may ask you to tell the owner first. Council does not compel owners to act or mediate disputes — contact the Community Justice Centre (1800 990 777) or use the Trees (Disputes Between Neighbours) Act 2006 in the Land and Environment Court.
Street and park trees
All vegetation on Council land is protected and residents must not remove or prune it. To have work done on a public tree you lodge an Application for Tree Permit for Public Land; if approved, you pay one of Council's approved contractors to do the work. Pruning of public trees for views is capped at 10% of the live canopy per tree, up to three trees per application and one application per tree every 12 months. Removal of high-amenity public trees triggers 14-day neighbour notification. Ausgrid handles trees near power lines. Call Council on 02 9978 4000.
Penalties
Council says anyone who carries out tree work without consent may be liable to substantial fines and/or conviction, and anyone who engages or allows another person to do it can also be penalised. Council rates each breach: a low rating gets a warning letter, mid-range a Penalty Infringement Notice, and high breaches may be prosecuted. Where no offender is found, Council may shroud the damaged tree and install a banner or large sign. Fine amounts are not listed on Council's pages. Report suspected illegal work on 02 9978 4000.
What's different about Mosman
- Mosman measures trunk size as a 450 mm circumference taken 300 mm above the ground — lower on the trunk than most councils.
- In heritage conservation areas and on heritage items, trees as small as 2 m are protected.
- Council keeps an Urban Forest Management Register of significant public and private trees, including the Balmoral figs, Mosman Park figs, Holt Avenue plane trees and a large angophora at 1 David Street.
- Council formally discourages Leighton green cypress because of its impact on neighbours' views and sun, and made it exempt from the tree permit process.
- The 10/50 entitlement area covers only about 6% of Mosman's residential lots since August 2015; lots within 100 m of the coastline or mapped estuaries are excluded.
Trees common in Mosman
- Brush box (Lophostemon confertus)
- Sydney red gum (Angophora costata)
- Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia)
- Water gum (Tristaniopsis laurina)
- Coast banksia (Banksia integrifolia)
- Red-flowering gum (Corymbia ficifolia)
- Tuckeroo (Cupaniopsis anacardioides)
- Plane tree (Platanus orientalis)
Suburbs
1 Mosman suburbs we cover.
Each suburb page has local notes, jobs nearby and a link back here.
Questions
Mosman tree rules: questions.
Do I need council approval to remove a tree in Mosman?
In Mosman you need Council consent (a Tree Permit) to prune or remove any tree 5 metres or taller or with a trunk circumference of 450 mm or more at 300 mm above the ground — and in a heritage conservation area or on a heritage item, any tree 2 metres or taller. Council's website says all pruning of protected trees needs consent; only deadwood and a list of exempt species can be dealt with freely. Applications cost $114Council fee for 1–3 trees and usually take up to 10 working days.
Can I prune a tree without a permit in Mosman?
Very little pruning is allowed without consent. Council's tree page says all pruning work on private and public land needs Council consent unless the tree is an exempt species, and the DCP lists "dead wood in trees on private land" as exempt, so removing deadwood is the main exception. There is no general "10% pruning" allowance for protected trees on private land. Approved pruning must follow AS 4373-2007 Pruning of amenity trees, and Council recommends a qualified, insured arborist. Council says pruning that does not follow AS 4373 breaches its tree preservation controls and will be investigated.
How much does a tree permit cost in Mosman?
This is a council fee, paid to Mosman Council, not to us. Tree Permit Application — 1 to 3 trees (private or Council property): $114.00Council fee (2026/27 Fees and Charges, no GST. 50% discount for pensioners on production of a current pension card. Paid online with the application.). Other council fees are listed on this page.
How long does Mosman council take to decide?
Council's Tree Management Officer usually determines applications within up to 10 working days, based on a visual inspection and the documents supplied. An urgency fee buys processing within 72 hours. Consent lapses if the work is not done within 12 months.
Can I remove a dead or dangerous tree in Mosman?
A dead tree is exempt only where Council is satisfied it is dead and not needed as habitat for native fauna, so contact Council first. Council does not assess hazards on private trees — you must get your own professional advice. If an independent AQF Level 5 consulting arborist confirms in writing that a tree is a high risk to life or property and Council agrees, the policy says it will be immediately approved for removal. The DCP note requires an independent consulting arborist (minimum level 4) who does not do pruning or removal work, with visual and written evidence of an immediate risk. For faster processing Council charges an urgency fee ($540Council fee) to process an application within 72 hours.
Can I prune or remove the street tree outside my house?
All vegetation on Council land is protected and residents must not remove or prune it. To have work done on a public tree you lodge an Application for Tree Permit for Public Land; if approved, you pay one of Council's approved contractors to do the work. Pruning of public trees for views is capped at 10% of the live canopy per tree, up to three trees per application and one application per tree every 12 months. Removal of high-amenity public trees triggers 14-day neighbour notification. Ausgrid handles trees near power lines. Call Council on 02 9978 4000.
Sources: what Mosman council actually says
“All pruning work on private and public land requires Council consent unless work is undertaken on an exempt species as listed in Mosman's Development Control Plans”
“are 5m or more in height; or have a circumference of 450mm or more measured 300mm above ground level; or are listed on Council's Urban Forest Management Register; or are 2m or more in height, only if located in a heritage conservation area, or if are a heritage item or form part of a heritage item.”
“Dead wood in trees on private land.”
“This process usually takes up to 10 working days.”
Rules come from: Mosman Residential Development Control Plan 2012 (amended May 2022), Part 4.5 Preservation of trees or vegetation (P1–P11 and table of prescribed trees), and Council's Urban Forest Management Policy (adopted 1 August 2017); applied under SEPP (Biodiversity and Conservation) 2021.
- Trees (Tree management) — Mosman Council
- Urban Forest Management Policy, adopted 1 August 2017 (PDF)
- Mosman Residential DCP 2012, amended May 2022 — Part 4.5 Preservation of trees or vegetation (PDF)
- MOSPLAN Fees & Charges 2026–2027 (PDF, Tree Permit Application)
- Application for Tree Permit Private Property (online form) — Mosman Council
- Urban Forest Management Register (PDF)
- Street Tree Master Plan, adopted 4 July 2017 (PDF, species)
Checked against Mosman Council's own pages and documents on 30 September 2026. Councils change their rules and fees, usually on 1 July, so confirm with Mosman Council (02 9978 4000) before any work. This page is a plain-English guide, not legal advice. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
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