4 metres tall
Any tree with a height equal to or greater than 4 metres above ground level.
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Council tree removal guide. Permits lodged for you.
Inner West 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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Inner West Council tree removal
Inner West protects small trees too — here is where the line sits.
Since 1 April 2023 one Tree Management DCP covers the whole Inner West — Marrickville, Leichhardt, Ashfield, Balmain, Newtown, Dulwich Hill and the rest. Its size thresholds are low, so plenty of courtyard and backyard trees are protected. This page sets out the rules as Council publishes them.
The short version: a tree 4 metres tall, or with a trunk over 150 mm at chest height, or a canopy 2 metres wide, is protected unless it is on the exempt list. Dead trees still need consent. Council says complete applications are generally finalised within 28 days, but currently warns to expect six to eight weeks.
The rules
What counts as a protected ("prescribed") tree.
150 mm trunk at 1.4 m
Or a trunk diameter of more than 150 mm at breast height (1.4 m above ground).
2 metre canopy
Or a canopy spread equal to or greater than 2 metres. Any palm or tree fern with a clean stem of 4 metres or more is also prescribed.
Heritage needs a DA
Heritage-listed trees, trees in Aboriginal heritage places and work with an adverse impact in a Heritage Conservation Area need a development application, not a permit.
Exemptions
What you can do without consent.
Exempt species
Box elder, tree of heaven, evergreen alder, bamboo, cotoneaster, coral tree (Erythrina x sykesii), honey locust, Norfolk Island hibiscus, large- and small-leaved privet, oleander, false acacia, willows, umbrella tree, cocos palm, athel pine and rhus tree, plus listed priority weeds. The exemption doesn't apply to heritage-listed trees or trees in heritage conservation areas.
Within 1 m of the house
A tree within 1 metre of the wall of a house on the same lot can be removed without consent, measured from the centre of the trunk at 1.4 m high to the wall. That is much tighter than the 3 m rule people quote from other councils.
Light pruning
Pruning branches under 100 mm in diameter, up to 10% of the canopy a year, lifting the canopy to 2.5 m above ground, and removing deadwood (without hollows or fauna habitat) don't need consent — as long as the work meets the Australian Standard.
Dead and dangerous trees
Removing a dead tree still needs consent. For a tree that is imminently dangerous, Council needs evidence from an AQF Level 5 arborist using the TRAQ or QTRA risk method, and can then issue expedited written consent.
Inner West work
Tight access in, replacement trees in.
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.
Reports and replanting
Arborist reports, replacement trees and appeals.
An arborist report isn't mandatory for an Inner West permit, but Council says it may help an application. Where a consulting arborist is used, Council expects AQF Level 5 or equivalent; people doing the tree work need at least AQF Level 3.
Every approved removal of a prescribed tree needs replacement planting: at least one tree on lots under 300 m² and two trees on larger lots, planted no closer than 1 metre to a building, pool or boundary. If Council refuses, you can appeal to the NSW Land and Environment Court within three months.
The process
How an Inner West tree job runs.
1. Measure it
Height, trunk at 1.4 m, canopy spread, distance to the house, species and heritage status.
2. Apply if needed
The permit form needs every owner's signature and is lodged through Council's online portal with the fee.
3. Council decides
Generally within 28 days for complete applications; Council currently advises six to eight weeks.
4. Work and replant
Approved work done to AS 4373 and the permit conditions, replacement trees planted to Council's spacing rules.
FAQ
Inner West tree removal questions.
Do I need council approval to remove a tree in the Inner West?
Yes, if it is a prescribed tree — 4 m or taller, a trunk over 150 mm at 1.4 m, or a canopy 2 m or wider — unless it is an exempt species or within 1 m of your house.
Can I remove a tree close to my house without a permit?
Only if it is within 1 metre of the wall of a house on the same lot, measured from the centre of the trunk at 1.4 m high. Further than that, you need consent.
Do dead trees need approval in the Inner West?
Yes. Council says removing a dead tree requires a tree works permit or development application.
How long does an Inner West tree permit take?
Council says complete applications are generally finalised within 28 days, but currently advises expecting six to eight weeks.
How much can I prune without approval?
Branches under 100 mm in diameter, up to 10% of the canopy each year, plus canopy lifting to 2.5 m and removing deadwood that has no hollows or habitat.
Is a cocos palm or privet protected?
No, both are on the exempt list — unless the tree is heritage listed or in a heritage conservation area.
Do I have to plant a new tree?
Yes, when a prescribed tree is approved for removal: one replacement on lots under 300 m², two on larger lots.
Rules summarised from Inner West Council's tree permit page, FAQs and Tree Management DCP (effective 1 April 2023). Council rules change; check the current version before starting work. See also our City of Sydney and Canterbury-Bankstown guides and tree planting.