Mortdale based. Sydney wide. 15 years on the tools.
Tree Services Killara
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
Grand old gardens, golf-course blocks and the council fine that made the news.
Killara is a suburb of big established gardens — Swain Gardens, the National Trust-listed estate donated in the 1920s, and the streets around Killara Golf Club — which means mature exotic and native trees on nearly every block. It is also where, in 2026, a resident was fined $10,000 plus $4,800 in costs at Hornsby Local Court (reported June 2026) for removing a 24 m Norfolk Island pine without consent, with the Mayor stating Council has “zero tolerance” for it. The permit is the cheap part of a Killara tree job. We get it right.
What is different about Killara trees
Killara’s trees are old, which cuts both ways. Mature Norfolk pines, liquidambars, oaks and gums are the ones that fail in storms and the ones Council protects hardest. An application here stands or falls on evidence: a demonstrated likelihood of failure, a life expectancy under five years, or structural damage with the roots mapped. Our AQF Level 5 arborist writes that report to Council’s guidelines (AS 4970, TRAQ or QTRA sheets attached). Where the tree is sound, a proper crown reduction and deadwooding to AS 4373 is what Council approves, and it solves most of the problems people call about.
Do you need Ku-ring-gai Council approval in Killara?
Almost always, yes. Ku-ring-gai protects any tree “5 metres or more in height” or with a trunk of 150 mm or more at ground level, and the DCP says the injury of a protected tree “is prohibited without the written consent of Council”. The rules that matter most in Killara:
- Exempt: trees within 3 m of an existing dwelling (trunk centre to the wall; verandahs, carports and detached garages do not count); branches up to 50 mm in diameter; completely dead branches; branches directly over the roof line cut back to the nearest junction; and the exempt species table — privet, cocos palm, African olive, umbrella tree and Liquidambar only under 12 m, among others.
- Not exempt: a dead tree. Council says “no work can be carried out on a dead tree until Council has confirmed in writing the tree is dead”, and that it is not habitat.
- Fees: $88 to apply to remove one tree, $44 to prune, $13 for each additional tree, non-refundable. Council states “An Arborist Report is NOT required to submit an application” — but for a big or contested tree one is what gets it approved, and Council requires AQF Level 5 if one is supplied. Ours are $1,500–$2,000 ex GST.
- Reasons Council will not accept: leaf, flower or fruit drop, views, “tree too large”, or pruning to reduce height. It will accept a demonstrated likelihood of failure, a life expectancy under five years, and pruning for health and structure.
- No exemptions at all on a heritage item, inside a heritage conservation area, on Biodiversity Values Map land or in a critically endangered ecological community — those go through a development application.
- Penalties are real: in 2026 a Killara owner was fined $10,000 plus $4,800 costs in Hornsby Local Court (reported June 2026) for removing a 24 m Norfolk Island pine without consent, and Council issues penalty notices of $3,000 (individual) and $6,000 (company).
We check your tree against the exemptions, lodge the application with the photos and site plan Council asks for, and write the arborist report where it is the difference between approved and refused. Full detail in our Ku-ring-gai Council tree removal guide.
Tree services in Killara
Tree removal
Big gums, liquidambars and pines over houses, pools and neighbours: climbed and rigged down in sections, or craned where the block allows. Council permit lodged first.
Pruning and crown reduction
To AS 4373: deadwood, weight reduction on long limbs, clearance from roofs and powerlines, formative pruning of young trees. Not lopping — Council will not approve it.
AQF Level 5 arborist reports
Tree applications, DA conditions, AS 4970 impact assessments and tree protection plans for the big-block renovations Ku-ring-gai is full of.
Stump grinding
Our own 90hp Rayco for big stumps and a narrow Red Roo tight-access grinder for side passages and pool surrounds.
Land clearing and bushfire work
Block clearing for a rebuild, asset-protection zones on bush-edge streets, and 10/50 work where the RFS tool confirms you are eligible.
Storm and emergency
24/7 make-safe after a limb comes down on the house or the driveway. Make-safe of an imminent danger is exempt; we document it for Council afterwards.
Our Ku-ring-gai work
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 tree work costs in Killara
Ku-ring-gai trees are bigger than the Sydney average, so most quotes here sit in the upper bands. Small tree or palm under 5 m: $300–$900 ex GST. Medium tree 5–10 m with the stump ground: $1,500–$4,000. Large or hazardous tree over 10 m: $5,000–$25,000+ — rigging or a crane over the house, two to three days, traffic control where needed. Pruning and crown reduction: $800–$4,000. Stump grinding: $300–$900 a stump. AQF Level 5 report: $1,500–$2,000. Land clearing: $6,000–$25,000, mulch left on site free. Council’s $88 or $44 application fee is on top and we show it separately. More than one tree, an impact assessment for a development, or a council application add to the total. One fixed price after we have seen the tree, no call-out fee.
Killara tree questions
What is the fine for removing a tree without consent in Killara?
Council issues penalty notices of $3,000 for an individual and $6,000 for a company, and prosecutes serious cases: a Killara owner was fined $10,000 plus $4,800 costs in Hornsby Local Court in 2026 for a 24 m Norfolk Island pine. Court maximums are higher. The $88 application is the better deal.
Will Council let me remove a healthy tree in Killara because it is too big?
No. “Tree too large or high” is one of the reasons Council lists as not accepted, along with views and leaf drop. Crown reduction to AS 4373 is the approvable answer to a tree that has outgrown its spot.
Is Killara a heritage conservation area?
Parts may be under the Ku-ring-gai LEP 2015 heritage schedule; the Local Centres DCP does not list Killara areas. We check the heritage mapping for your address before we quote, because inside an HCA tree work is a DA.
How long does a Ku-ring-gai tree permit take?
Council does not publish a turnaround, and we will not invent one. In our experience a complete application with photos, a site plan and the owner’s consent form moves faster than one Council has to send back. We lodge it complete.
Can I prune branches over my roof without a permit?
Yes, in Ku-ring-gai: branches directly overhanging the roof of the house may be removed if cut back to the nearest branch junction or collar. Garages and carports are excluded, and anything bigger than clearance pruning still needs an application.
Is a dead tree exempt in Ku-ring-gai?
No. Council must confirm in writing that the tree is dead and is not habitat before any work. We send the photos and request the confirmation for you.
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.
A tree in Killara that needs a decision?
Send a few photos and your street. We tell you whether Council needs to approve it, lodge the application, and give you one fixed price.