Council Permit for Tree Removals in Burwood
What Burwood Council requires before you remove or prune a tree on private land, which species are exempt, and the sizes that trigger a permit.
When Burwood Council needs to approve the work
Trees with a height of 4m or more, a branch spread of 2m or more, or a trunk diameter over 150mm measured 1.4m above ground. Heritage properties need consent for any tree work at any size.
Pruning without approval
Exemptions sit in Section 6.1 of the Burwood DCP. Confirm before treating any pruning as exempt.
Trees close to a building
Confirm with Council against BDCP Section 6.1.
Dead and dangerous trees
Confirm with Council. Certification from a qualified arborist is normally required.
Worth knowing
Burwood does not publish its exemption list on the website, so confirm species status against BDCP Section 6.1 before quoting a removal as exempt.
Rules last checked September 2026 against Council's published pages. Official sources: Council tree rules · BDCP Preservation of Trees or Vegetation · Council enquiries 02 9911 9911
Species you can remove without a permit in Burwood
Burwood's exemptions are held in BDCP Section 6.1 rather than on the website, so treat every tree over the size thresholds as needing approval until Council confirms otherwise.
None in this encyclopedia.
Exempt only under a height limit
None in this encyclopedia.
Species that need a permit
Suburbs we cover in Burwood
Licensed arborists working across Burwood every week.
Common questions
Do I need council approval to remove a tree in Burwood?
Trees with a height of 4m or more, a branch spread of 2m or more, or a trunk diameter over 150mm measured 1.4m above ground. Heritage properties need consent for any tree work at any size. If your tree is on Council's exempt species list, or the work falls inside one of the exemptions below, you can proceed without a permit. Otherwise you need to apply.
How much can I prune without approval in Burwood?
Exemptions sit in Section 6.1 of the Burwood DCP. Confirm before treating any pruning as exempt.
Can I remove a dead tree in Burwood without a permit?
Confirm with Council. Certification from a qualified arborist is normally required.
Important note on council rules
This encyclopedia is a practical guide for Sydney property owners, not legal advice. Council tree rules change, and exemptions are frequently overridden by heritage listings, heritage conservation areas, significant tree registers, biodiversity mapping, endangered ecological communities and conditions attached to development consent. Always confirm the current rules with your council for your specific address before any tree work begins, or ask us to check it for you.
Need council approval? We handle the application.
Most councils will not accept a removal application without species identification, photographs and a stated reason. We prepare and lodge the lot, then carry out the work once it is approved. One call, one invoice, no forms to work out yourself.