Sutherland Shire Tree Pruning and Removal info

This is the first in our series about the different rules and regulations in regards to tree removal and pruning in your council area. We aim to provide you with all the info to navigate this complex topic in one place.

We’ll start with Sutherland Shire Council area

This information is sourced from the Sutherland Shire Council Website which can be found here.

What can be removed without Council approval?

What can be removed without Council approval?

• You can prune up to 10% of a tree without permission.
• Any branches that overhang a dwelling can be pruned without permission.

If you have a tree within 3m of your house, council will generally give you permission to remove it but you will have to fill out an application.

Other than the exceptions noted above, permission has to be granted for everything else.

You can find online applications for Sutherland Shire and St. George: Download Tree Removal Application Forms for Sutherland Shire and St. George.

All applications are assessed by qualified council staff.

A common misconception is that council says “NO” to almost everything. This is not correct. Sutherland Shire Council has a set criteria by which they assess all trees. If your trees fit within this criteria then permission will be granted.

Permission is needed from both council and the owner of the neighbouring property. There is a section on the application form your neighbour should complete and sign before submitting your request.