101 suburbs · 8 councils
Tree removal on the North Shore
Above All Tree Services is a family-owned Sutherland Shire arborist business working across Sydney, including the North Shore: from the harbour to Wahroonga and Hornsby, between Middle Harbour and the Lane Cove River. Our AQF Level 5 consulting arborists know each council's rules. Free, no-obligation quotes: 0412 708 072.
Council rules
Which council are you in?
Each council sets its own tree rules. Pick yours for the step-by-step guide and checker.
| Council | A permit is usually needed for | Suburbs |
|---|---|---|
| North Sydney | 5 m or taller, crown 5 m wide, or trunk circumference 500 mm at ground level | 13 |
| Mosman | 5 m or taller, or trunk circumference 450 mm at 300 mm high (2 m on heritage land) | 1 |
| Willoughby | Over 4 m, crown over 3 m, or trunk girth over 600 mm at 1.4 m (local natives at any size) | 12 |
| Lane Cove | Over 4 m tall, canopy over 5 m, or trunk over 150 mm at 1 m (even dead trees need a fee-free permit) | 8 |
| Hunters Hill | 4 m or taller, or stem 200 mm or more at 1.4 m | 5 |
| Ryde | 4 m or taller, or trunk 150 mm or more at 1.4 m | 15 |
| Ku-ring-gai | 5 m or taller, or trunk 150 mm across at ground level (no exemptions in Blue Gum High Forest or on heritage land) | 17 |
| Hornsby | Almost any tree that can grow over 3 m (trees within 3 m of the house are exempt) | 30 |
Suburbs
Every suburb on the North Shore.
Each suburb page has its official canopy, bushfire and heritage data, and its council's rule.
Hornsby
Services
What we do on the North Shore.
Tree removal in the North Shore
Whole trees, taken down in sections, stump ground, site cleaned.
DetailsPruning & trimming in the North Shore
Deadwood, clearance from roofs and lines, weight reduction.
DetailsStump grinding in the North Shore
Ground 300–400 mm below the surface, ready to turf or replant.
DetailsHedges in the North Shore
Tall screening hedges cut back, shaped and cleaned up.
DetailsPalm removal in the North Shore
Cocos, Canary Island date palms and fan palms removed, stumps ground.
DetailsStorm & emergency in the North Shore
Fallen trees and hanging limbs made safe, then cleaned up.
DetailsArborist reports & permits in the North Shore
AQF Level 5 reports for council applications, DAs and disputes.
DetailsStrata in the North Shore
Scheduled maintenance, risk inspections and the paperwork committees need.
DetailsCommercial & councils in the North Shore
Councils, schools, builders, facilities managers, rail and airport.
DetailsRecent work
Recent jobs.
Backyard removal, before clean-up
Crew unloading from the barge
Truck and chipper by barge to a waterfront block
No road access, so the truck and chipper went across on a barge.
Reviews
What customers say.
★★★★★From the quote by Alex, to the job itself, very polite, cooperative and satisfactory. Worked with me and my plan, gave advice and carried out the job to my complete satisfaction. Very competitive quote and on the day changes - no problems and no unfair gauge at extras.
★★★★★Even though the weather was terrible, this team showed up on time and quickly and efficiently removed a large Canary Islands Date Palm from our front yard.
★★★★★I had a very large Eucalyptus tree removed from my place by Above All Tree Services and had an great experience! Alex came out quickly to give me a quote, and it was very reasonable compared to others I’d looked into. They locked in a date and true to their word, they showed up exactly when they said they would. They got everything done smoothly and cleaned up really well afterward too.
★★★★★Spoke with Alex in the office who was very knowledgeable and a great help. Needed a job done quickly and was able to help. Great service thank you so much!
★★★★★Alex was great, had a tree I needed removing along our fence in Collaroy. Was overquoted by other companies. The rest of the crew came out the next day. Top quality work with no corners cut. If I could give 10 stars I would.
Questions
Tree work on the North Shore: questions.
Do you work on the North Shore?
Yes. We're a Sutherland Shire business working right across Sydney, including all 101 suburbs on the North Shore. Quotes are free and no-obligation.
Do the tree rules differ across the North Shore?
Yes. the North Shore covers 8 councils (North Sydney, Mosman, Willoughby, Lane Cove, Hunters Hill, Ryde, Ku-ring-gai and Hornsby), and each sets its own tree rules, exempt species and council fees. Each council's page has the rules step by step, with a checker.
Are there heritage conservation areas on the North Shore?
Yes, in 40 of its 101 suburbs (NSW Planning Portal heritage mapping). Trees in a conservation area usually need more than a standard permit, often a development application. Each suburb page lists its conservation areas.
Does the 10/50 bushfire rule apply on the North Shore?
In parts. 56 suburbs here are at least 20% bush fire prone land on the NSW RFS map. Whether the 10/50 rule applies depends on your exact address: check the RFS tool. See the 10/50 rule explained.
Free quote
Tree work on the North Shore? Tell us about it.
Free, no-obligation quotes. When you call, you speak to the people who do the work.
Monday to Friday 8:00 am – 5:30 pm · Saturday 8:00 am – 1:00 pm · Sunday Closed