Council Permit for Tree Removals in Willoughby
What Willoughby Council requires before you remove or prune a tree on private land, which species are exempt, and the sizes that trigger a permit.
When Willoughby Council needs to approve the work
A long lived perennial plant greater than 3m in height, or that will reach 3m at maturity, with one or relatively few main stems.
Pruning without approval
Selective pruning of up to a total of 10% of an individual tree's canopy over a five year period. Keep records of the work. AS 4373 applies.
Trees close to a building
No published proximity to building exemption. Apply the pruning and species exemptions instead.
Dead and dangerous trees
Confirm with Council before removing a dead tree on private land.
Worth knowing
The 10% allowance is measured over five years, not twelve months. That is the strictest maintenance pruning allowance of any council on this list.
Rules last checked September 2026 against Council's published pages. Official sources: Council tree rules · Vegetation Management Guidelines Volume 2 · Council enquiries 02 9777 1000
Species you can remove without a permit in Willoughby
The guidelines list 27 exempt and undesirable species plus anything declared a biosecurity risk. The Canary Island Date Palm limit is measured on trunk height, not overall height.
Exempt only under a height limit
Species that need a permit
Suburbs we cover in Willoughby
Licensed arborists working across Willoughby every week.
Common questions
Do I need council approval to remove a tree in Willoughby?
A long lived perennial plant greater than 3m in height, or that will reach 3m at maturity, with one or relatively few main stems. 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 Willoughby?
Selective pruning of up to a total of 10% of an individual tree's canopy over a five year period. Keep records of the work. AS 4373 applies.
Can I remove a dead tree in Willoughby without a permit?
Confirm with Council before removing a dead tree on private land.
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.