The fees to lodge with council are not charged by Above All Tree Services. They are paid directly to Randwick City 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
Randwick tree removal rules
Checked against Randwick City Council's own documents on · Council: 1300 722 542
In Randwick you need council approval before you prune or remove most trees on private land: any tree 5 m or taller, with a canopy 4 m or wider, or with a trunk above the size set in the DCP, plus any hollow-bearing tree. Most jobs need a Tree Permit ($212Council fee for up to 3 trees); trees in a heritage conservation area, on a heritage item or on the Significant Tree Register need a Development Application for Tree Works instead. A short list of weed species, dead trees and trees posing an imminent risk are exempt, but you must keep evidence.
The checker
Do I need approval to remove my tree?
Randwick'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 belong to Council. Lodge an online service request or call 1300 722 542.
Is the property in a heritage conservation area, a heritage item, or is the tree on the Significant Tree Register?
Do you want to remove it or prune more than 10% of its live canopy?
You need a Development Application for Tree Works
Lodge a DA for Tree Works (online as a 'Heritage tree application'). The fee is $151Council fee per tree in 2026-27.
How to apply on the Randwick website · Need an arborist report?
You need a Tree Permit
Lodge a Tree Permit Application ($212Council fee for up to 3 trees). Allow about four weeks.
How to apply on the Randwick website · Need an arborist report?
Is the tree dead, or certified by an arborist as an imminent risk to life or property?
Exempt, but get proof first
You can remove it without a permit, but get an AQF Level 5 arborist's written assessment and photos, tell Council, and keep the evidence for at least six months.
Is it on Council's exempt species list?
No approval needed
Exempt weed species can be removed without consent. Council recommends phoning 1300 722 542 before the work and keeping photos.
Is it hollow-bearing, 5 m or taller, 4 m or wider in canopy, or above the trunk-size threshold?
You need a Tree Permit
Lodge a Tree Permit Application ($212Council fee for up to 3 trees). Allow about four weeks.
How to apply on the Randwick website · Need an arborist report?
Probably no permit — check first
Below the size thresholds a permit is generally not needed, but palms, cycads, tree ferns and trees in bushland are treated differently on Council's web page. Call 1300 722 542 to confirm.
Size matters
How big is "protected" in Randwick?
- Height: 5 m or more
- Canopy: canopy width 4 m or more
- Trunk: circumference 400 mm or more at 1 m above ground (DCP B5, 27 July 2026); council's web page still says 1 m
You need approval to…
- Any tree with a height equal to or exceeding 5 metres.
- Any tree with a canopy width equal to or exceeding 4 metres.
- Any tree whose trunk circumference (or combined circumference for a multi-trunk tree), measured 1 m above ground, meets the DCP threshold — see thresholds and uncertain.
- Any hollow-bearing tree, of any size.
- Cutting any tree root greater than 50 mm.
- Council's web page also says any palm tree (except Cocos palms), cycad or tree fern of any size, and any tree in recognised bushland, needs consent.
- In a Heritage Conservation Area, on a heritage item, on an Aboriginal object or place, or on the Significant Tree Register: a Development Application for Tree Works is needed to remove a tree or prune more than 10% of the live canopy in 12 months.
- Any tree that must be kept, or was required to be planted, under a development consent or earlier tree permit.
Usually no approval needed for…
- Trees certified by Council or a qualified arborist as posing an imminent risk to life or property (keep written verification).
- Removal of trees confirmed as dead, not as a result of poisoning or vandalism and not providing habitat for native fauna, with evidence retained.
- Removal of vegetation declared a priority weed under the Biosecurity Act 2015 (in a heritage conservation area or heritage item, Council must be notified at least 7 days prior).
- Selective pruning of branches up to 40 mm diameter within 2 m of a building, done to AS 4373-2007.
- Crown thinning limited to 10% of live canopy within any 2-year period.
- Removal of deadwood, roots under 50 mm diameter, or branches up to 2.5 m above ground level.
- Tree works that give effect to a development consent permitting them.
- Emergency works authorised under the State Emergency and Rescue Management Act 1989 or State Emergency Service Act 1989 (written verification to Council within 6 months), and bush fire hazard reduction work authorised under the Rural Fires Act 1997.
- Trees on the exempt species list (the list does not apply to heritage items or in heritage conservation areas).
- The exemptions do not apply to trees on council land, trees required to be retained or planted under a consent or permit, threatened species or their habitat, or native prescribed trees in the DCP's High Biodiversity Value areas.
Randwick's exempt species list (20 entries): trees you can usually remove without a permit
- Golden wreath wattle (Acacia saligna)
- Tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima)
- Evergreen alder (Alnus jorullensis)
- Bamboo species (Bambusa spp.)
- Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)
- Camphor laurel (Cinnamomum camphora)
- Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster spp.)
- Leyland cypress (Cupressocyparis x leylandii)
- Coral tree (Erythrina spp.)
- Rubber tree (Ficus elastica)
- Norfolk Island hibiscus (Lagunaria patersonia)
- Large-leaf privet (Ligustrum lucidum)
- Oleander (Nerium oleander)
- Ochna (Ochna serrulata)
- African olive (Olea europaea subsp. africana)
- Poplars (Populus spp.)
- Willows (Salix spp.)
- Umbrella tree (Schefflera actinophylla)
- Cocos palm (Syagrus romanzoffiana)
- Rhus tree (Toxicodendron succedaneum)
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 Randwick.
From checking the rules to planting the replacement tree.
Check whether your tree needs approval
Measure the height, canopy width and trunk circumference at 1 m. Check the exempt species list and whether your property is in a heritage conservation area or has a tree on the Significant Tree Register.
Pick the right application
Most trees need a Tree Permit Application. Heritage properties, conservation areas and significant trees need a Development Application for Tree Works (online as a 'Heritage tree application').
Get owner consent and supporting reports
Every owner must sign (strata needs the common seal and meeting minutes; tenants need the owner's written consent). Add an AQF Level 5 arborist report, plumber's or engineer's report if your reasons rely on them.
Lodge and pay
Apply through Council's Online Services ('Tree application'), or post or hand in the PDF form at 30 Frances Street, Randwick, with the fee ($212Council fee for up to 3 trees in 2026-27).
Wait for the inspection
A Council tree officer inspects from the ground; you don't need to be home. Mark the trees with ribbon if you can. Allow about four weeks.
Do the work within 12 months
If approved, hire your own contractor (Council may require a qualified arborist), follow the conditions, and plant any required replacement tree.
Council fees paid to Randwick City Council, not to Above All Tree Services
| Council fee for | Council fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tree permit application (Tree Assessment Application) — pruning or removal of up to 3 trees | $212Council fee | Per application, 2026-27. $52Council fee per additional tree over three. Standard processing 20 working days. |
| Fast-track determination — up to 3 trees | $537Council fee | Per application, 5 working days; $52Council fee each additional tree. |
| Development Application for tree work (heritage conservation area or heritage item) | $151Council fee per tree | 2026-27 fee schedule; other DA assessment fees may also apply. |
| Review of determination (tree permit) | $88Council fee | Per application. |
| Pensioner rebate | 50% off | Properties receiving a Pensioner Rebate on the rates are entitled to 50% off tree assessment charges. |
Processing: About four weeks (20 working days) for a standard tree permit, or 5 working days if you pay the fast-track fee. Neighbour notification can add time. A consent is valid for 12 months.
The details
Everything else you should know.
The situations that trip people up, from Randwick council's own rules.
Pruning
Without approval you may selectively prune branches up to 40 mm diameter within 2 m of a building, thin the crown by up to 10% of the live canopy in any 2-year period, remove deadwood, remove roots under 50 mm, and remove branches up to 2.5 m above ground. All pruning must comply with AS 4373-2007 Pruning of Amenity Trees. Lopping or topping is treated as injuring a tree. In heritage areas and for significant trees, pruning more than 10% of the canopy in 12 months needs a Development Application for Tree Works.
Dead or dangerous trees
A dead tree (not killed by poisoning or vandalism, and not providing habitat for native fauna) or a tree certified by Council or a qualified arborist as posing an imminent risk to life or property can be removed without consent. You must provide written verification to Council and keep evidence for at least six months: photographs, a tree risk assessment from an AQF Level 5 arborist, an arborist's statement that the tree is not habitat for protected species, and an SES statement if the SES did the work. Council's web page says an arborist report is required as evidence for removing a dying, dead or dangerous tree, and strongly recommends phoning 1300 722 542 before the day of removal with the address, species, reason and contractor's name.
Arborist reports
Council's own inspection is a visual assessment from the ground only. If your case depends on features more than 2 m above ground or below ground (for example root mapping), you must supply a report from a qualified AQF Level 5 arborist. An arborist report is also required as evidence before removing a dead, dying or dangerous tree without a permit. Applications with an arborist report showing elevated risk are prioritised.
Replacement planting
A condition of consent for removal usually requires a suitable advanced native replacement tree, maintained in a healthy condition until maturity, so there is no net loss of canopy. Where there is not enough space, you must provide offset planting on public land under Council's direction.
Bushfire and the 10/50 rule
No. Council states there is no designated bushfire prone land in the Randwick area, so the RFS 10/50 code cannot be used to remove trees. You can confirm your address with the NSW RFS online tool.
Heritage properties
Any tree in a Heritage Conservation Area, on a heritage item, on an Aboriginal object or place, on the State Heritage Register or on Council's Significant Tree Register needs a Development Application for Tree Works to remove it or to prune more than 10% of the live canopy in 12 months. Minor pruning that will not affect heritage significance or amenity can go through the ordinary Tree Permit form. The exempt species list does not apply in heritage areas. An updated Significant Tree Register is expected in late 2026.
Your neighbour's tree
To prune a neighbour's tree you must lodge an application; without the tree owner's written consent Council can only approve selective pruning of branches within your property. Applications to remove a neighbour's tree without the owner's consent are not accepted. Council cannot order a neighbour to prune or remove a tree (unless it is a declared noxious weed) but can serve notice if a tree poses an imminent danger. Disputes are civil matters: Legal Aid mediation (1300 888 529), then the Land and Environment Court (Trees and Hedges).
Street and park trees
Trees on streets, parks and reserves are managed by Council and must not be pruned or removed by residents. Report a problem with a public tree through Council's online service request or on 1300 722 542. Pruning around powerlines is done by Ausgrid contractors (Ausgrid emergencies 13 13 88).
Penalties
Removing or pruning without the required permit or consent is an offence under Division 9.6 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, which can lead to significant penalties, a Penalty Notice and/or an Order. Offenders may also be required to rehabilitate the site and plant and maintain new trees until maturity. Damaging a tree in a public place (including road reserves) is an offence under section 629 of the Local Government Act 1993, maximum 20 penalty units. Council does not publish a dollar figure for private-tree fines.
What's different about Randwick
- Randwick's DCP tree chapter (Part B5) was rewritten in the Stage 2 DCP review that commenced on 27 July 2026, lowering the trunk-circumference trigger to 400 mm and adding root cutting over 50 mm.
- Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub, a critically endangered ecological community, survives along the Maroubra to Malabar coastal walk, around Prince Henry at Little Bay and in Randwick Environment Park; exemptions do not apply to threatened species or their habitat.
- Council says there is no designated bushfire prone land in Randwick, so the 10/50 rule cannot be used here.
- Randwick offers a paid fast-track (5 working days, $537Council fee) as well as the standard 20-working-day tree permit.
- Randwick's Significant Tree Register (2007, four volumes) is being updated, with the new Register expected late 2026.
Trees common in Randwick
- Old man banksia (Banksia serrata)
- Heath-leaved banksia (Banksia ericifolia)
- Wallum banksia (Banksia aemula)
- Coastal tea-tree (Leptospermum laevigatum)
- Tree broom-heath (Monotoca elliptica)
- Coral tree (Erythrina spp.) — listed exempt weed
Suburbs
14 Randwick suburbs we cover.
Each suburb page has local notes, jobs nearby and a link back here.
Questions
Randwick tree rules: questions.
Do I need council approval to remove a tree in Randwick?
In Randwick you need council approval before you prune or remove most trees on private land: any tree 5 m or taller, with a canopy 4 m or wider, or with a trunk above the size set in the DCP, plus any hollow-bearing tree. Most jobs need a Tree Permit ($212Council fee for up to 3 trees); trees in a heritage conservation area, on a heritage item or on the Significant Tree Register need a Development Application for Tree Works instead. A short list of weed species, dead trees and trees posing an imminent risk are exempt, but you must keep evidence.
Can I prune a tree without a permit in Randwick?
Without approval you may selectively prune branches up to 40 mm diameter within 2 m of a building, thin the crown by up to 10% of the live canopy in any 2-year period, remove deadwood, remove roots under 50 mm, and remove branches up to 2.5 m above ground. All pruning must comply with AS 4373-2007 Pruning of Amenity Trees. Lopping or topping is treated as injuring a tree. In heritage areas and for significant trees, pruning more than 10% of the canopy in 12 months needs a Development Application for Tree Works.
How much does a tree permit cost in Randwick?
This is a council fee, paid to Randwick City Council, not to us. Tree permit application (Tree Assessment Application) — pruning or removal of up to 3 trees: $212Council fee (Per application, 2026-27. $52Council fee per additional tree over three. Standard processing 20 working days.). Other council fees are listed on this page.
How long does Randwick council take to decide?
About four weeks (20 working days) for a standard tree permit, or 5 working days if you pay the fast-track fee. Neighbour notification can add time. A consent is valid for 12 months.
Can I remove a dead or dangerous tree in Randwick?
A dead tree (not killed by poisoning or vandalism, and not providing habitat for native fauna) or a tree certified by Council or a qualified arborist as posing an imminent risk to life or property can be removed without consent. You must provide written verification to Council and keep evidence for at least six months: photographs, a tree risk assessment from an AQF Level 5 arborist, an arborist's statement that the tree is not habitat for protected species, and an SES statement if the SES did the work. Council's web page says an arborist report is required as evidence for removing a dying, dead or dangerous tree, and strongly recommends phoning 1300 722 542 before the day of removal with the address, species, reason and contractor's name.
Can I prune or remove the street tree outside my house?
Trees on streets, parks and reserves are managed by Council and must not be pruned or removed by residents. Report a problem with a public tree through Council's online service request or on 1300 722 542. Pruning around powerlines is done by Ausgrid contractors (Ausgrid emergencies 13 13 88).
Sources: what Randwick council actually says
“Tree with a height equal to or exceeding 5 metres”
“a trunk circumference equal to or exceeding 400 mm at a height of one (1) metre above ground level”
“Crown thinning limited to 10% of live canopy within any 2 year period”
“ANY palm tree (except Cocos palms), cycad or tree fern of ANY size on your own property”
Rules come from: Randwick Development Control Plan, Part B5 Preservation of trees and vegetation (Stage 2 review, commenced 27 July 2026), with State Environmental Planning Policy (Biodiversity and Conservation) 2021 Chapter 2.
- Removing & pruning trees — Randwick City Council
- Trees on private property — Randwick City Council
- Randwick DCP Part B5 Preservation of trees and vegetation (27 July 2026)
- Development Control Plan (DCP) — Randwick City Council
- Tree Permit Application form 2026-27
- Engineering Services and Domestic Waste fees and charges 2026-27
- Trees on public land — Randwick City Council
- Trees and neighbours — Randwick City Council
- Tree vandalism — Randwick City Council
- Significant Tree Register — Randwick City Council
- Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub — Randwick City Council
Checked against Randwick City Council's own pages and documents on 30 September 2026. Councils change their rules and fees, usually on 1 July, so confirm with Randwick City Council (1300 722 542) before any work. This page is a plain-English guide, not legal advice. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
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