Willoughby Council Tree Removal Permit Guide

Which trees are protected

• Any tree taller than 4 m.
• Any tree with a trunk girth over 600 mm, measured 1.4 m above ground.
• Any tree with a crown spread over 3 m.
• Locally native trees, vegetation in a wildlife corridor or with habitat value, and trees that are visually prominent from the street or neighbouring properties.

What's exempt

• Selective pruning of up to 10% of a tree's crown over a 5-year period. Keep records so you can show the exemption applies.
• Removing deadwood.
• Declared weeds under the Biosecurity Act 2015.
• Fruit trees grown for fruit.
• Undesirable species listed in Part G of the Willoughby DCP.
• Clearing under the bushfire 10/50 rules, where your property is in a 10/50 entitlement area.

Pruning

Willoughby allows selective pruning of up to 10% of the crown every 5 years without a permit. Keep records of what was done.

How to apply

1. Lodge a Vegetation Management Application with the owner's consent.
2. An arborist report is optional. If you supply one, it must be written by an AQF Level 5 consulting arborist with no financial ties to a tree removal or pruning company.
3. Applications are published on Council's website for public comment and can be tracked on the DA Tracker.
4. Approved removals need replacement planting at 3 new trees for every tree removed. If there isn't room, you can pay into Council's Tree Offset Planting Scheme instead.
5. Display the approval on your front boundary from 72 hours before work starts until it's finished.

Fees: Application fees apply. Amounts are in Council's fees and charges.

Reasons that usually aren't accepted

Council generally won't approve work on healthy, stable trees for cosmetic reasons, views or light, bird droppings, leaf, fruit or bark drop, overhanging branches, insects, or pipe problems that can be fixed another way.

Official sources

• Willoughby City Council: trees on your property
• Willoughby: apply to prune or remove a tree

Tree removal in this council area