- Home
- Areas
- City of Sydney
- Sydney
City of Sydney · 2000
Tree removal in Sydney
Need a tree removed in Sydney? Above All Tree Services is a family-owned Sutherland Shire arborist business working across Sydney. Sydney is in the City of Sydney area, where a permit is usually needed for 5 m or taller, canopy over 5 m, or trunk over 300 mm at ground level. We'll tell you on site whether your tree needs approval. Free quotes: 0412 708 072.
Tree work in Sydney
Inner-city terraces and apartments.
- Big figs and planes whose roots lift paving and crack drains.
- Strata and apartment buildings with trees in courtyards and on podiums.
- Narrow terrace backyards with no side access: everything comes out through the house, over the roof by crane, or via a rear lane.
Trees we often see in inner-city terraces and apartments: London plane, Jacaranda, Brush box, Bangalow palm.
Council rules
Permit needed for: 5 m or taller, canopy over 5 m, or trunk over 300 mm at ground level
That's City of Sydney council's test. It lists 21 exempt species and 5 other kinds of work that don't need approval. Checked 30 Sept 2026 against council's own documents.
Our work
Photos of our work.
★★★★★“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…”
Dismantling a trunk above the bay
Truck and chipper by barge to a waterfront block
No road access, so the truck and chipper went across on a barge.
Crane removal beside a church
Where a tree can't be lowered safely, the crane lifts each section clear over the building.
Services in Sydney: Tree removal · Pruning & trimming · Stump grinding · Hedges · Palm removal · Storm & emergency · Arborist reports & permits · Strata · Commercial & councils
Questions
Tree work in Sydney: questions.
Do I need council approval to remove a tree in Sydney?
Often. Sydney is in the City of Sydney area, where a permit is usually needed for 5 m or taller, canopy over 5 m, or trunk over 300 mm at ground level. Exempt species and some pruning don't need one. Our City of Sydney guide walks through it with a checker.
Does the 10/50 bushfire rule apply in Sydney?
None of Sydney is mapped as bush fire prone land. 10/50 entitlement areas use a different map, so this is only a guide: the 10/50 clearing rule probably won't apply. The RFS tool, not the suburb, decides. See the 10/50 rule explained.
Do you work in Sydney?
Yes. We're a Sutherland Shire business working right across Sydney, including Sydney and nearby The Rocks, Woolloomooloo and Millers Point.
How much does tree removal cost in Sydney?
It depends on the tree's size, access, what's underneath and whether you want the stump ground. With no side access, everything may have to come out through the house, over the roof by crane or via a rear lane. Quotes are free and no-obligation. See what affects the cost.
Free quote
Tree work in Sydney? 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