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Straight answers about trees, rules and costs.
Written by our team and checked against the council, state and industry sources we link to. Costs · Tree care · Council rules · Safety · Neighbours · Storms.
Tree rules compared: every council we cover
Height and trunk triggers, distance-from-house exemptions, fees and processing times, side by side.
OpenWhich trees can you remove without a permit?
Every council’s exempt species list in one table: cocos palm, camphor laurel, liquidambar, privet and more.
Open
Is it cheaper to grind a stump or dig it out?
Grinding wins on cost, mess and time for almost every garden stump. When digging out makes sense, what the grindings are good for, and what to do if you want to replant in the same spot.
5 October 2026
No side access? How a tree comes out when the truck can't get near it
Narrow side paths, battle-axe blocks, trees behind the house and waterfront properties with no road: the four ways a crew gets a tree out, and what each one does to the price.
5 October 2026
The 10/50 rule explained
What the NSW 10/50 bushfire clearing rule really allows, how to check if it applies to your home, and the exclusions that catch people out.
1 October 2026
Can I remove a tree on my property without council approval?
Height, trunk size, distance from the house, exempt species: what decides whether your tree needs a permit in Sydney, and why the answer changes at every council boundary.
30 September 2026
How to choose a tree removal company (and avoid the cowboys)
Qualifications, insurance, the new SafeWork NSW tree work code, council approval and the door-knocker warning signs: what to check before anyone climbs your tree.
30 September 2026
Do I need approval to remove a dead or dangerous tree?
Dead, dying and dangerous trees can often be removed without a permit, but only when the council is satisfied, and most councils want evidence first or afterwards.
30 September 2026What are the fines for removing a tree without approval in NSW?
On-the-spot fines, court penalties, replacement orders and real cases from Sydney councils, and why the '$1.1 million' figure you see online is out of date.
30 September 2026
My neighbour's tree: overhanging branches, roots and hedges in NSW
What you can cut yourself, when you need council approval, how the Land and Environment Court handles tree disputes, and the 2.5 m hedge rule.
30 September 2026
Is my tree dangerous? Ten warning signs
The signs arborists look for before a tree fails, from lifting root plates and new leans to cracks, fungi and split unions, and when to call someone.
30 September 2026
Trees in strata: who's responsible, and who decides?
Owners corporation duties for trees on common property, exclusive-use courtyards, special resolutions, council permits and strata disputes in NSW.
30 September 2026
A tree fell in a storm: what to do, step by step
What to do in the first hour after a tree comes down: safety, power lines, the SES, photos for insurance, council trees and who pays.
30 September 2026
How much does tree removal cost in Sydney?
What drives the price of removing a tree: height, access, what's underneath, cranes, stumps, council paperwork. Plus what a fair quote should include.
30 September 2026
Trees near power lines: who's responsible?
Who trims trees near the service wire to your house, who looks after the street lines, the 3 m rule for homeowners, and what to do when a tree comes down on a line.
30 September 2026
What's in an arborist report, and when do you need one?
When councils ask for an arborist report, what AQF Level 5 means, what a good report contains, and the councils that insist it comes from an independent consultant.
30 September 2026Got a question we haven't answered?
Send it through, with a photo if you can. If it's a common one, we'll write it up.
Ask an arboristGot a question we haven't answered?
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Ask an arboristCouncil tree rules
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