City of Canterbury Bankstown's tree rules, in plain English
In Canterbury-Bankstown, a private tree generally needs a council permit only if it is 5 m or taller, and trees within 3 m of the wall of your house, fruit trees and a long list of exempt species can be removed without asking. You can also prune up to 10% of a native tree's crown (20% for an exotic) each year without a permit. Trees on heritage, biodiversity-mapped or foreshore land are protected at any size.
What's protected
Trees 5 m or taller are protected (any size on heritage, biodiversity-mapped or foreshore land). If your tree is over the threshold and not on an exemption below, you need council's approval before pruning beyond the allowance or removing it.
No permit needed for
- Trees within 3 m of the external wall of an approved dwelling (not a granny flat, garage, shed, deck or verandah), measured from the wall to the centre of the trunk.
- Trees on the Tree Management Order exempt species list, and plants declared weeds under the Biosecurity Act.
- Recognised horticultural varieties of trees grown for fruit.
- Pruning up to 10% of a native tree's crown or 20% of an exotic tree's crown over 12 months (no branch over 150 mm, to AS 4373).
- Pruning palms to remove fruit and dead fronds.
- Dying or dead trees, and dangerous trees, but only where council is satisfied of the condition (not vandalised, not habitat, or the only reasonable option to avoid an imminent threat).
Pruning without a permit
Without a permit you may selectively prune up to 10% of the crown of a native tree, or 20% of an exotic tree, in any 12-month period, as long as no branch removed is over 150 mm in diameter and the work follows AS 4373. Allowed pruning types are deadwooding, crown thinning, selective pruning, reduction pruning, crown lifting, remedial pruning and line clearance. The allowance doesn't apply to threatened species or trees on heritage, foreshore or biodiversity-mapped land.
Fees
$115 for a tree permit application (1 to 10 trees, 2026/27), paid to council (not to us) and generally non-refundable. Council usually asks for a replacement tree to be planted when it approves a removal.
What we do for you
Tell us about the tree and we'll tell you which rule applies: exempt, pruning within the allowance, or permit. If it needs a permit we'll tell you what to put on the form and what the fee is. If council wants an arborist report, Joshua Baber writes it. Then we do the approved work, following any conditions.
Questions people ask us
What happens if I remove a protected tree without a permit?
Unauthorised tree removal is an offence under NSW planning law, with on-the-spot fines and court penalties that can run into the tens of thousands of dollars, plus replacement planting. It's never worth it: ask first.
What if the tree is dangerous right now?
A tree that is an imminent risk to life or property can usually be made safe, but councils want evidence: photos and an arborist's assessment before anything is cut, and some want to be told first. Call us before the tree is touched; once it's gone, so is your proof.
Do I need an arborist report?
Not for most applications. Councils ask for one for larger or disputed removals, dead or dangerous trees, development sites and appeals. Joshua Baber, our AQF Level 5 consulting arborist, writes them; usually on site within a week and the report about a week after.
Not sure which rule your tree falls under?
Send a photo with something for scale and tell us the suburb. We'll tell you straight.