3 m tall or 300 mm wide
A permit is needed for any tree higher than 3 metres or wider than 300 mm at 1.4 m above ground level. That covers almost every established tree on a suburban block.
- ABN 20 681 105 760
- Emergency Callout: 0422 023 242
Council tree removal guide. Permits lodged for you.
Bayside Council Tree Removal
What the council allows, when you need a permit and how we lodge it. AQF Level 5 arborists, $20M public liability, fixed prices and the site left clean.
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Bayside Council tree removal
Bayside's permit line is low: 3 metres tall or a 300 mm trunk.
Bayside Council covers Rockdale, Arncliffe, Kogarah, Bexley, Brighton-le-Sands, Sans Souci, Mascot, Botany and Eastlakes. Its tree rules catch most garden trees, and dead or dangerous trees still go through an application backed by an AQF Level 5 arborist report. This page sets out the rules as Council publishes them.
The short version: if a tree is higher than 3 metres, or has a trunk wider than 300 mm at 1.4 m above ground, you need a permit before you prune or remove it — unless it is a fruit tree or on Council's exempt species list. The fee is $125.50 for one to three trees.
The rules
When you need a Bayside tree permit.
Fees
$125.50 for 1–3 trees, $254.00 for 4–10 trees, and $412 plus quoted costs for more than 10 trees.
Dead, dying or dangerous
Removing a tree that is dying, dead or dangerous needs an arborist report from an arborist with a minimum AQF Level 5 qualification with the application. The same applies when removing 10 or more trees.
Strata and units
On a strata property the application needs a signed consent letter from the strata. Any application also needs a simple diagram showing the numbered trees and nearby buildings.
Exemptions
Trees you can remove without a Bayside permit.
Fruit trees
Fruit trees are exempt — including citrus, stone fruit, berries and tropical fruit.
Exempt at any size
Tree of heaven, bamboo, citrus, cotoneaster, rubber tree, white mulberry, oleander, African olive, European olive, fruiting Prunus and pear (not ornamental or sterile varieties) and umbrella tree.
Exempt only under 5 m
Camphor laurel and coral tree (Erythrina crista-galli) are exempt only under 5 metres high, and queen (cocos) palms only under 5 metres. Bigger ones need a permit.
Not in heritage areas
None of these exemptions apply in a Heritage Conservation Area, on land with a listed Heritage Item, or to a tree on a Significant Tree List.
Big pines and palms
Norfolk Island pines and large palms, taken down safely.
Get a free quote
Tell us what you need done and we will call you back to arrange a look. Every job is assessed individually - no two trees are the same.
Urgent or unsafe tree? Call 0422 023 242 - we answer 24 hours.
Arborist reports
When Bayside needs a report, and what it has to show.
For most single-tree applications a report isn't required — the diagram, photos and reasons are enough for Council to inspect. A report becomes mandatory when the tree is dying, dead or dangerous, or when 10 or more trees are involved, and it must come from an arborist with at least an AQF Level 5 qualification.
True Roots' reports are written by AQF Level 5 arborists and set out the tree's condition, defects and risk with photographs, so Council can see why removal is justified. Council's guidelines also recognise pruning to give a minimum two-metre clearance from buildings and the removal of hazardous trees as grounds it considers.
The process
How a Bayside tree job runs.
1. Check the tree
Height, trunk at 1.4 m, species, and whether the property is in a heritage area.
2. Apply online
Lodge through Council's online system with the diagram, photos, strata consent if needed, the fee, and a report where one is required.
3. Council inspects
Council assesses the tree against its guidelines. Call it out early if the tree is moving or failing.
4. We do the work
To the permit conditions, with traffic control and cranes arranged where the site needs them.
FAQ
Bayside tree removal questions.
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Bayside?
Yes, if the tree is higher than 3 metres or wider than 300 mm at 1.4 m above ground, unless it is a fruit tree or on Council's exempt species list.
How much does a Bayside tree permit cost?
$125.50 for one to three trees, $254.00 for four to ten, and $412 plus quoted costs for more than ten.
Can I remove a dead or dangerous tree without a permit?
Bayside's application process asks for an AQF Level 5 arborist report when removing trees that are dying, dead or dangerous — so plan on an application with a report. If a tree is actively failing, call Council and a qualified arborist immediately.
Is a camphor laurel or cocos palm protected in Bayside?
Camphor laurel, coral tree and queen (cocos) palm are exempt only when under 5 metres. Taller ones need a permit.
Do exemptions apply in heritage areas?
No. The exempt species list doesn't apply in Heritage Conservation Areas, on land with a listed Heritage Item, or to trees on a Significant Tree List.
I live in a unit block — who applies?
Anyone can prepare the application, but it needs a signed consent letter from the strata.
Rules summarised from Bayside Council's tree application page, pruning and removal guidelines and DCP 2022 Appendix 3. Council rules change; check the current version before starting work. Next door? See our Georges River and City of Sydney guides.