Check tree ownership, council controls and assessment needs before pruning or removal. Gather records while leaving cutting and hazard work to professionals.
A tree being on private land does not automatically mean it can be pruned or removed without permission. Controls can depend on the council, species, heritage status and proposed work. Start by identifying the authority and the exact task, then obtain the appropriate advice. This guide is about preparation and permissions, not instructions for climbing, cutting or diagnosing tree stability.
Identify the tree and ownership
Record the location on a property sketch and gather photographs from safe ground-level positions. Note whether the trunk is on your property, a boundary, common property or public land, without assuming overhanging branches establish ownership. If the species or boundary is uncertain, say so. Do not cut roots, remove bark or take an unsafe sample to identify the tree. Appropriate professional or surveying advice may be needed.
Check the relevant council rules
City of Sydney explains a process involving protected trees, permits, consent and exemptions. That process is an example, not the rule for every Sydney council. Use your own council’s current guidance and the property information. Heritage and other controls may change what is required. Do not rely on a neighbour’s earlier permission, a contractor’s general statement or a tree’s appearance as proof that an exemption applies.
Describe the reason and proposed work
Explain whether the concern is access, branches near a structure, damage or a desired landscape change. A qualified arborist may need to assess condition and suitable options. Pruning and removal are different proposals, and the application may need specific supporting information. Do not invent a safety diagnosis to speed up permission. If there is a genuine immediate hazard, keep people away and seek the appropriate urgent professional or emergency advice.
Plan safe professional access
Tell the team about powerlines, narrow access, neighbouring property and structures below the tree from a safe position. Never approach fallen branches near electrical infrastructure. Do not climb, use a ladder or attempt preliminary cutting. Ask who coordinates permissions, access and protection of surrounding property. SafeWork NSW’s height guidance reinforces the need for planned professional access; it is not a household pruning method.
Keep permissions and the work scope together
Before work begins, confirm that the agreed task matches any approval and conditions. Ask what removal, stump work, waste and reinstatement are included rather than assuming “tree removal” covers every related task. Retain the assessment and permission records. A careful preparation process protects the decision from guesswork without promising approval, assigning neighbour liability or treating a landscaping advertisement as evidence of specialist tree qualifications.
For a property-specific discussion, contact our tree removal & pruning team with the details you have gathered.
