Trees on private land are an important part of our City's urban forest.
All trees in the City are protected by the Tree Management Order which is administered by Council.
On this page you can find information regarding private trees, and how they may be affected by the Tree Management Order.
Council has compiled a list of trees that have undesirable characteristics, are weed species or unsuited to growing in the private domain. These tree species are exempt under our Tree Management Order, meaning if they appear on this list, you do not need permission from Council to undertake any work.
Trees species that are not on Council's exempt species list are protected by the Tree Management Order, and will need permission for most works if they are over 5m in height.
Please check your tree species and this list carefully. If you make an application and the tree species is exempt, we are unable to refund your application fees.
| Scientific Name | Common Name |
|---|---|
| Acacia baileyana | Cootamundra Wattle |
| Acacia podalyriifolia | Queensland Silver Wattle |
| Acacia saligna | Golden Wattle |
| Ailanthus altissima | Tree of Heaven |
| Bambusa spp. | Bamboo |
| Celtis sinensis | Hackberry |
| Cinnamomum camphora | Camphor Laurel (less than 10m in height) |
| Citrus limon cvs. | Lemon Tree |
| Citrus reticulata cvs. | Mandarin Tree |
| Citrus sinensis cvs | Orange Tree |
| Citrus x paradisi cvs | Grapefruit Tree |
| Eriobotrya japonica | Loquat Tree |
| Erythrina x sykseii | Common Coral Tree |
| Eucalyptus nicholii | Narrow-leafed Peppermint |
| Eucalyptus scoparia | Willow Gum |
| Ficus elastica and cvs. | Rubber Tree |
| Gleditsia triacanthos | Honey Locust |
| Ligustrum lucidum | Broad-leaf Privet |
| Ligustrum sinense | Narrow-leaf Privet |
| Liquidambar styraciflua | Liquidambar |
| Malus domestica and cvs. | Apple Tree |
| Mangifera indica | Mango Tree |
| Morus spp. | Mulberry Tree |
| Musa spp. | Banana |
| Olea europaea subspecies africana | African Olive |
| Phoenix canariensis | Canary Island Date Palm (with a trunk less than 4m in height) |
| Phyllostachys spp. | Rhizomatous Bamboo |
| Pinus radiata | Radiata Pine Tree |
| Populus spp. | Poplars |
| Prunus avium / P. cerasus and cvs. | Cherry Tree |
| Prunus persica and cvs. | Peach Tree |
| Prunus spp. and cvs. | Plum Tree |
| Prunus spp. and cvs. | Apricot Tree |
| Pyrus communis and cvs. | European Pear |
| Salix spp. | Willow Tree |
| Schefflera actinophylla | Umbrella Tree |
| Schinus terebinthifolius | Broad-leaf Pepper Tree |
| Syagrus romanzoffiana | Cocos Palm |
| Toxicodendron succedaneum | Rhus Tree |
| X Cupressocyparis leylandii and cvs. | Leyland Cypress |
The Tree Management Order exempts other trees based on the tree size and location.
The main exemptions from the Tree Management Order are:
- Trees less than 5m in height
- Trees within 3m of the center of the trunk to a wall of a primary dwelling (not a verandah) when measured at 1.4m above the ground. This does not include secondary buildings like garages, sheds or granny flats.
If your trees are not exempt, you can make an application for a Tree Management Order Permit.
If you've received permission to prune or remove your tree, you must use an ‘AQF3 Arborist’.
An arborist with a qualification at AQF Level 3 in Arboriculture has been trained to know how a tree works and how best to care for the tree. They will ensure they prune the tree to Australian standards and be able to interpret any other conditions council has given for the tree work.
Tree loppers have not been trained to the same standard as Arborists. They may be cheaper but will likely leave your tree in a poor state of health.
Unfortunately Council can’t recommend any Arborists. You can look for an Arborist in your local paper, or search for one on the lists held by Arboriculture Australia and the Tree Contractors Association.
In CBCity, when a tree removal is approved, there is a 3:1 replacement requirement, meaning you need to plant three new trees for each one removed. The specifics of planting will be detailed in the determination you receive.
Our Council Officers will assess your property and decide on the appropriate variation of the 3:1 requirement based on your specific situation. They will also specify the tree size suitable for your property. However, we won't specify the exact tree species, except for the requirement not to plant fruit trees or any species exempted in the Tree Management Order.
Please note that all permits to remove trees require any replacement trees to be planted within 28 days of the tree removal works unless Council has specified different requirements. Council may visit to inspect replacement plantings onsite or undertake reviews with aerial imagery to monitor replacement tree plantings. Planting replacement trees is crucial for maintaining our urban forest and canopy coverage.
Native animals are a great thing to see in our urban forest and may be calling your tree home. If you have been given approval to prune or remove your tree, or the tree is exempt under our Tree Management Order, and that tree has native animals living in it, you may need further approvals to do the works. This does not mean birds and other animals that just move through your tree, but refers to native birds that are nesting and animals living in hollows.
The Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 protects all native animals, and makes it a crime to damage their habitat or hurt or kill them.
Council's Tree Management Order or a determination permit cannot provide you with permission to overrule the Act in regards to the native animals that may be present in your tree.
You can apply for a license through the National Parks and Wildlife Service, in addition to any permits Council has provided, to undertake works that may harm native animals or their habitat. You may also need to have a pest controller licensed under the Act to undertake that work.
If you’re not sure if you’ll need these extra approvals, you can also discuss the issue with Councils Biodiversity Team.
Please note this information is correct as of September 2023, and may be subject to change without notice. For the most update information, please consult information provided by the NSW Government.