Mortdale based. Sydney wide. 15 years on the tools.
Camphor Laurel Removal Sydney
AQF Level 5 arborists, $20M public liability and council paperwork handled. Tell us about the job and we call you back the same day.
★ 5.0 from 71 Google reviewsAQF Level 5 arboristsISO 9001 certified$20M public liability
Big, fast-growing, root-hungry — and exempt from a permit in many Sydney councils, but only up to a certain height.
Camphor laurel (Cinnamomum camphora) is an environmental weed across coastal NSW: NSW WeedWise says it grows “up to 30 m tall” and spreads by birds eating the fruit. Councils know it, so most list it as exempt — with a catch. Georges River exempts it only under 6 m, Bayside under 5 m; Canterbury-Bankstown, the City of Sydney and Woollahra under 10 m; Sutherland Shire and Hornsby at any height; Inner West, Ku-ring-gai, Randwick and Waverley do not exempt it at all. The camphor in a typical Sydney backyard is 15–25 m, so the real job is usually a permit, a crane or EWP, and a crew.
Why people remove them
Size first: a mature camphor laurel shades half a block and drops leaf, fruit and twigs year-round. Roots second: older trees develop a massive root system that lifts paving, blocks drains and cracks concrete, and cut roots regrow unless the stump is ground or treated. Third, the fruit brings birds that spread seedlings into bushland: NSW WeedWise calls it a highly invasive tree subject to the general biosecurity duty. It is not a declared priority weed in Greater Sydney, so nobody is forced to remove one — but nobody will stop you either, once the council side is sorted.
Is camphor laurel exempt from council approval?
It depends on the council and the height. Each council’s actual wording, with the source, checked October 2026. Exemptions never apply to a tree that is part of a heritage item or in a mapped biodiversity area.
| Council | Camphor laurel removal | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Georges River | Exempt only “with height < 6m”. Taller camphors need a permit. | Tree Management Policy 2024, Table 1 |
| Canterbury-Bankstown | Exempt “(less than 10m in height)”. | Council private trees page |
| City of Sydney | Exempt only if less than 10 m tall. | Council exemptions guide |
| Woollahra | Exempt “if less than 10m in height” (Group B); replacement tree and 7 days’ notice apply. | DCP Chapter E3 |
| Hornsby | Exempt with no height condition (not on biodiversity-mapped or heritage land). | Hornsby DCP Tree and Vegetation 2024 |
| Inner West | Not on the exempt list — a permit is needed once the tree meets the size threshold. | Council FAQ |
| Randwick / Waverley | Not on their exempt lists — permit needed for a protected-size tree. | Randwick trees page |
| Ku-ring-gai | Not in the DCP Part 13 exempt species table — permit needed once the tree is 5 m tall or the trunk is 150 mm. | Council trees page |
| Sutherland Shire | Exempt — DCP 2015 Chapter 39 cl 4.3 lists Cinnamomum camphora as an exempt species, no height limit, unless the tree is part of a heritage item. | DCP Chapter 39 |
| Bayside | Exempt only under 5 m — DCP 2022 Appendix 3: “Camphor Laurel — Note: Only trees under 5 metres high”. | DCP 2022 Appendix 3 |
Over the height limit, or in a council with no exemption, we lodge the application for you. Camphor laurel removals are rarely refused — councils generally want them replaced with natives — but the paperwork still has to be done. See our council guides.
How we take down a big camphor laurel
Photos from our own jobs. Client addresses are never published.
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.
What camphor laurel removal costs
Small camphor under 5 m: $300–$900 ex GST. 5–10 m with the stump ground: $1,500–$4,000 — sectional dismantle near the driveway or boundary, waste removed. Large or hazardous camphor over 10 m: $5,000–$25,000+, which is most mature ones: rigging or a crane over the house, two to three days, traffic control where the street needs it. Stump grinding is $300–$900 per stump; on a camphor we grind deep and treat the roots so it does not shoot. More than one tree, an arborist impact assessment for a development, or a council application add to the total. One fixed price after we have seen the tree.
The timber is the other cost line: camphor is heavy and the volume from a 20 m tree is enormous. Our price includes chipping, loading and tipping. If you want logs left for firewood, say so and the price drops.
Job steps
Height and council check
We measure the tree, confirm whether your council’s height exemption applies, and lodge the permit if it does not.
Plan the drop
Crane, EWP or climber and rigging depending on what is under the tree. Traffic control booked if the crane sits on the street.
Dismantle
Top down in sections, each piece lowered or craned clear of the roof, pool and fences. SafeWork NSW drop-zone rules on every job.
Stump and roots
Stump ground below turf level and roots treated so the camphor does not regrow. Surface roots under paving removed on request.
Camphor laurel questions
Is camphor laurel a protected tree in NSW?
Not specifically protected, and exempt from permits in many councils below a set height: under 5 m in Bayside, under 6 m in Georges River, under 10 m in Canterbury-Bankstown, City of Sydney and Woollahra, any height in Sutherland Shire and Hornsby. Inner West, Ku-ring-gai, Randwick and Waverley have no camphor exemption, so a tree over their size threshold needs a permit like any other.
Do I need council approval to remove a camphor laurel in Sydney?
If it is above your council’s height limit, or your council has no exemption, yes. Most backyard camphors are well over 10 m, so plan on a permit. We lodge it and councils rarely refuse a camphor removal.
Will a camphor laurel grow back after it is cut down?
Yes if the stump is left — camphor shoots vigorously from the stump and from cut roots. We grind the stump and treat the remaining roots on the day.
Do camphor laurel roots damage pipes and foundations?
Mature camphors have a very large root system and are known for lifting paving, blocking drains and cracking concrete. Roots do not break sound pipes, but they find existing cracks. If roots are already in the drain, a plumber relines the pipe after we remove the source.
Can I burn camphor laurel wood?
It burns, but it is not a good firewood: it spits, and the camphor oil smoke is unpleasant in a fireplace. Most people have us take it away.
Why is camphor laurel a weed if it is not on the Sydney priority list?
NSW WeedWise describes it as a highly invasive tree subject to the general biosecurity duty, and gives it a regional priority rating in the Hunter but not in Greater Sydney. In Sydney that means no obligation to remove it, and no permit needed below your council’s height limit.
How long does removing a large camphor take?
One day for a medium tree with good access; two to three days for a 20 m+ tree over a house with a crane. We give you the timing with the price.
What our clients say
Real reviews from Sydney clients, quoted from our Google profile. Long reviews are shortened; tap Read more for the full review on Google.
Reviews …Really great service, professional, safe and accommodating. Difficulties of access easily overcome, good people to deal withRead more
David G.October 2026Jimmy and the guys were excellent at their job—very fast and very tidy. I highly recommend them, and I certainly wouldn't hesitate to use them again in the future. "True Roots" are the best.
Nomikos R.October 2026Removed 4 bunches of palm nuts and tidied everything up. Great job.
Matthew K.October 2026Jimmy and his crew were fast, efficient and professional! He was so helpful in removing a tree in our yard that was a safety hazard. I highly recommend True Roots and would not hesitate to use them again if needed.
Liz B.June 2026Jimmy and his team were excellent. Fast, reliable, well-priced and impressive work. Great to see such a good, local tree removal business and arborist in Mortdale and operating in the St George area. You will not be disappointed using these guys.
Jamie D.April 2026Great service! I liked how they cleaned up after they chopped down our tree. Efficient and very competitive pricing. I would happily book them again in the future.
Celia L.April 2026Jimmy and the two men working with him were professional, hard working and efficient with their time. They removed a large bougainvillea adjacent to the pool. I was very impressed with how well they did this, especially given how thorny it…Read more
Jan B.March 2026I recently hired True Roots to remove a large gum tree from my property, and I couldn’t be more impressed with their service. From the initial consultation to the final clean-up, the team of arborists were professional, efficient, and…Read more
Joseph2025Jimmy was amazing; right from the beginning, he was informative, professional and willing to work within our budget. We could not be happier with what he has delivered for us. We removed all our side trees and replaced them with hedges and…Read more
JJ2025Highly recommend the Team from True Roots, the boys came in and removed a Black Butt that was overhanging our house. Very competitive pricing and managed to squeeze us in. The stump was ground back and all waste was removed. Very professional and skilled workers. Will definitely use them again in the future.
Ben G.2024Highly recommend! James and the boys did an amazing job cutting down a large tree in my yard. Super professional, efficient, and left everything clean and tidy. Great service, and I’m really happy with the results. Will definitely call again for any future tree work! Thanks Andrew
Andrew M.2024Qualified, insured and accountable
- AQF Level 5 arboristDiploma of Arboriculture (AHC50524), TAFE NSW, 2024. About 15 years in arboriculture.
- ISO 9001 certifiedQuality management system certified to ISO 9001.
- $20M public liabilityPlus icare workers compensation. Certificates of currency sent with every quote.
- Australian StandardsTree pruning and trimming to AS 4373, tree protection on building sites to AS 4970.
- Indigenous-ownedOwned and operated by an Indigenous director. Registered NSW Government supplier on buy.nsw.
- 5.0 on Google71 reviews, every one from a real job. Read them.
Got a camphor laurel that has outgrown the yard?
Send a photo and your suburb. We tell you whether it is exempt or needs a permit, and give you one fixed price.