Killara · Ku-ring-gai Council
Tree removal in Killara
Tree removal, pruning and stump grinding in Killara and East Killara.
Tree work in Killara
Killara has large blocks and established gardens, often with tall eucalypts growing close to the house. That makes Ku-ring-gai's 3 m rule important here.
A tree within 3 m of your house can be removed without a permit, as long as the owner of the land it grows on agrees. The 3 m is measured from the centre of the trunk at ground level to the house's external wall. Verandahs, decks, carports and garages don't count, and the rule doesn't apply in heritage conservation areas. A tree 3.5 m away needs an application, so measure before you assume.
Ku-ring-gai Council rules at a glance
A permit is usually needed if the tree is at least 5 m tall, or a trunk 150 mm across at ground level.
Ku-ring-gai exempts minor pruning (branches and roots up to 50 mm), deadwood, and branches directly over the roof of a house pruned back to the nearest junction. Larger pruning on a protected tree needs approval.
Exemptions and special cases
- Trees within 3 m of an existing house on the same property, measured from the centre of the trunk to the external wall. Verandahs, decks, carports, garages and outbuildings don't count.
- Branches directly overhanging the roof of a house, pruned back to the nearest branch junction to AS 4373.
- Minor pruning of branches and roots up to 50 mm in diameter, and removing deadwood.
- Branches within 0.5 m of the electrical service line to the house.
Services in Killara
How a job works
Call or send photos
Tell us the suburb, roughly how tall the tree is and what's around it. Photos of the whole tree and the access to it help us give you a ballpark straight away.
On-site quote
A qualified arborist looks at the tree, the access and anything it could hit on the way down, then gives you a fixed price.
Council check
We tell you whether your council needs to approve the work and what to send them. If a permit is needed, the work is booked once it's approved.
Job done, site cleaned
The tree comes down in sections where space is tight, the green waste goes, and the stump is ground out if you've asked for it.
Nearby suburbs
Also: Balmoral, Clifton Gardens, Beauty Point, Spit Junction, Cremorne Point, Kirribilli, Milsons Point, Cammeray, Crows Nest, Wollstonecraft, Waverton, Northbridge, Castlecrag, Middle Cove, Artarmon, St Leonards, Greenwich, Longueville, Riverview.
Common questions
How is the 3 m distance measured?
From the centre of the trunk at ground level to the external wall of the house. Distances to verandahs, decks, balconies, carports, garages and outbuildings don't count.
Do I need council approval to remove a tree on the north shore?
Usually, if the tree is above your council's size threshold. Mosman, North Sydney and Ku-ring-gai protect most trees 5 m or taller; Willoughby and Lane Cove start at 4 m. Exempt species, dead trees and declared weeds are treated differently. Our council permit guide covers each council.
How long does a permit take?
Mosman Council usually inspects within about ten working days, and North Sydney Council aims to assess within 12 business days. Willoughby publishes applications for public comment, which can add time. Book the inspection early if the job isn't urgent.
Need a tree looked at?
Tell us the suburb and send a photo. We'll tell you what's involved, whether council needs to approve it, and what it should cost.