Council Permit for Tree Removals in Strathfield
What Strathfield Council requires before you remove or prune a tree on private land, which species are exempt, and the sizes that trigger a permit.
When Strathfield Council needs to approve the work
Trees with a height greater than 4m or a girth greater than 0.5m measured 1m above ground level. Works within 5m of the base of a protected tree also need consent.
Pruning without approval
Removal of dead branches to AS 4373-2007, clearances to gutters and clearance for pedestrian movement.
Trees close to a building
Gutter clearance pruning is exempt. There is no blanket proximity removal exemption.
Dead and dangerous trees
Deadwood pruning is exempt in any tree.
Worth knowing
The works within 5m of the trunk rule catches excavation, paving and landscaping, not just the tree itself.
Rules last checked September 2026 against Council's published pages. Official sources: Council tree rules · Trees FAQs · Council enquiries 02 9748 9999
Species you can remove without a permit in Strathfield
Commercial fruit tree varieties are exempt. The full exempt species list sits in Appendix 2 of the DCP, so confirm anything not shown here. Heritage items, heritage conservation areas and Significant Tree Register listings override the exemptions.
Exempt only under a height limit
None in this encyclopedia.
Species that need a permit
Suburbs we cover in Strathfield
Licensed arborists working across Strathfield every week.
Common questions
Do I need council approval to remove a tree in Strathfield?
Trees with a height greater than 4m or a girth greater than 0.5m measured 1m above ground level. Works within 5m of the base of a protected tree also need consent. 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 Strathfield?
Removal of dead branches to AS 4373-2007, clearances to gutters and clearance for pedestrian movement.
Can I remove a dead tree in Strathfield without a permit?
Deadwood pruning is exempt in any tree.
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.