Anyone wanting to carry out work in relation to trees must refer to Control B4.22 Preservation of Trees or Bushland Vegetation in the Pittwater 21 Development Control Plan (DCP), and should consult Council for information before proceeding. This includes proposed works on trees covered by Control B4.22 that are overhanging from a neighbouring property.

As per the control, some tree species are exempt, trees listed as exempt can be removed without consent from Council. Trees may be pruned by up to 10% once in every 12 calendar months in accordance with AS4373-2007 Pruning of Amenity Tree without council consent. However, for removal and other work, an application must be completed.

 For more detailed information on applying to remove or prune a tree on private property refer to Tree Application, Fees & Charges.

What tree work will Council approve?

Council will only approve work to trees following appropriate assessment of the tree. Only then will appropriate work be determined in accordance with Australian Standards 4373.

Consent may be granted to the following:

• Qualified Aborist report to accompany all applications for removal of significant trees.
• Removal of unsuitable or hazardous trees.
• Crown thinning for views and solar access, selective pruning, and weight reduction of limbs.
• Maintenance pruning to remove dead, diseased, dying, defective branches.
• Selective pruning to remove branches causing conflict, ie building encroachment.
• Root pruning of trees to ameliorate damage to built & natural structures.
• Pruning for service lines.
• Crown lifting for pedestrian or vehicular access.
• Pruning for vehicle sight lines, signage, and RTA requirements.
• Removal of trees in conflict built structures where all engineering alternatives have been considered.
• Minimum work to make trees safe.

What tree work will Council refuse to approve?

Council will not approve the following work:

• Tree removal/lopping without owner's signature/owners agent on application.
• Removal of trees for views.
• Removal of trees for solar access, leaf, fruit or sap drop, bird or bat droppings, damage to sewer pipes/built structures unless all engineering alternatives have been considered.
• Removal of healthy and stable trees.
• Pruning of trees contrary to Australian Standards 4373.
• Any pruning work outside what a particular species will tolerate, eg figs if pruned by more than 10% can be predisposed to sunburn.
• Tree work for emotive reasons.
• Removal of trees inhibiting grass or garden growth.
• Removal of trees for allergies unless tree can be medically linked to allergy.
• Alteration of soil levels within the drip line of a tree.
• Removal of trees found to be causing damage to minor ancillary structures such as footpaths and driveways.
• Requests for topping of trees.