Tree rules in Australian and New Zealand councils

Tree protection in both countries depends on the address. A rule in one council area says nothing about the next one. This page is a lookup, one row per place, built only from the official page of each council or government body. For the national picture and the other countries, read tree protection laws by country first.

Each row says what the page says is protected or needs a permit, with sizes exactly as written and in the unit the page uses. The pages change, and a size on a council page is one trigger among several: species, zones, heritage listings and building work show up on the same pages. This is not legal advice, and the office in the last column is the one that decides.

Australia: New South Wales

The state sets a frame. The NSW Planning page on vegetation in non-rural areas says Chapter 2 of the State Environmental Planning Policy (Biodiversity and Conservation) 2021 sets the rules for clearing vegetation on land zoned for urban and environmental purposes that is not linked to a development application. It says Part 2.3 allows councils to require permits to clear certain types of vegetation. Section 2.9 of the policy, on the NSW legislation site, says Part 2.3 applies to vegetation that a council development control plan declares, and that a plan may declare it by species, size or location. So the size and species triggers below come from each council, not from one state number.

Place	What its page says	Office
City of Sydney	Permission is needed before pruning or removing a tree on residential or business property, with exemptions by species, condition or pruning type. Heritage-listed trees typically need development consent; trees under the development control plan need a permit. Fee AU$98, assessment 28 days. Maximum penalties up to AU$2 million for companies and AU$500,000 for individuals.	City council, trees page
City of Sydney, exemptions	Listed species such as privet, bamboo, citrus and willow can be removed without permission unless on the significant or heritage register. Camphor laurel, liquidambar and some others are exempt only when under 10 m tall. Dead, dying or immediately dangerous trees need an arborist report at AQF level 3 or above.	City council, exemptions page
City of Parramatta	Permission may be needed for a tree or palm 5 m or more in height, and for trees mapped as Biodiversity, heritage or ecological community. A tree under 3 m high and not on Biodiversity-mapped land needs no permit. Council says it cannot approve removal for a future development.	City council, permission page
Blacktown	Permits cannot be issued in heritage or biodiversity conservation areas or for register trees; those need a development application. Minor works are maintenance pruning or deadwood to AS 4373.	City council, tree page; phone 02 5300 6000
Northern Beaches	Private-land trees are protected under the state policy, Chapter 2; a permit is needed unless an exemption applies. Exemptions on the page include a tree within two metres of an approved building and pruning of up to 10% of the canopy in a 12 month period to AS 4373. Imminent danger needs a statement from an arborist at Level 5. Fine of up to AU$1.1 million for removing, damaging or lopping without consent.	City council, private land page and trees overview page
City of Newcastle	No approval for a tree under 3 m high, or under 450 mm circumference at 1.4 m (single trunk) or 300 mm per trunk (multi-trunk). Also a tree within 3 metres of a dwelling, a building over 20 m2 or a pool, except on heritage-listed land or in a heritage conservation area where visible from the street. Most permit applications are processed within 30 days. Private tree work follows the council's Urban Forest Technical Manual.	City council, removal page

Australia: Victoria

Victoria works through planning scheme controls plus local laws. The statewide canopy tree clause, 52.37, as printed in the planning scheme ordinance (version dated September 24, 2026), says a permit is required to remove, destroy or lop an existing canopy tree in the Mixed Use, Township, Residential Growth, General Residential, Neighbourhood Residential, and Housing Choice and Transport zones. An existing canopy tree has a height of at least 5 metres and an average canopy diameter of at least 4 metres. The clause does not apply to a tree, other than a boundary canopy tree, on a site developed with an existing dwelling, and its table of exemptions lists a dead canopy tree. A boundary canopy tree has any part of its trunk within 6 metres of the narrowest street frontage or 4.5 metres of the rear boundary.

The Vegetation Protection Overlay, clause 42.02 in the ordinance, says a permit is required to remove, destroy or lop any vegetation specified in a schedule to the overlay. It has an exemption where vegetation presents an immediate risk of personal injury or damage to property, and only the part presenting the risk may be removed, destroyed or lopped. Each council schedules its own vegetation, so the council page decides.

Place	What its page says	Office
City of Melbourne	The City has no authority over trees on private property except those on its Exceptional Tree Register, protected through the planning scheme. Before a public tree is removed, a site inspection and arboricultural assessment is done.	City council, protection page
Boroondara	Significant trees on the register and canopy trees on private land are protected by the Tree Protection Local Law. A canopy tree has a trunk circumference of 110 cm or more at 1.4 m, or 150 cm or more at ground level. A permit is needed to remove canopy trees even when dead or a recognised weed species.	City council, trees page
Yarra	The General Local Law deems a tree significant at trunk diameter of 40 cm (400 mm) or more, measured at ground level or at 1.5 m, and a permit is required. Trees on the register need a permit before removal or pruning. The page says a planning permit may apply in place of a local law permit, and gives a planning phone line of 9205 5555.	City council, trees page
Stonnington	In a Residential Zone a planning permit may be needed to remove, destroy or lop a tree, even if the land has no overlays. For significant trees that need urgent work, a qualified arborist must assess the tree before council is called for approval.	City council, trees page

Australia: Queensland

Place	What its page says	Office
Brisbane	It is an offence to interfere with vegetation protected under the Natural Assets Local Law without permission, even on your own property. A permit is needed for pruning, removing or building within the root zone of a significant landscape tree. Permits are free; council says it contacts applicants within 20 business days.	City council, permits page
Brisbane, exemptions	The fact sheet lists no permit for pruning of no more than 20% of live foliage in any 12 month period (not significant landscape trees), a trunk within 3 m of an occupied dwelling on a lot up to 4000 m2 or within 6 m on a larger lot, and garden vegetation under 30 cm trunk diameter at 1.4 m. Significant landscape trees always need a permit. Council phone: 3403 8888.	City council, fact sheet
Gold Coast	The page says over 90% of trees and vegetation on the Gold Coast are on private land, and that City Plan protects trees and vegetation. Assessable vegetation is more than 4 m high, has a trunk more than 40 cm around at 1.3 m, or is mapped remnant or regrowth vegetation. A tree judged dangerous by a Council Level 5 Arborist is one listed exemption; otherwise an operational works application applies. Phone 07 5582 8708.	City council, removal page
Sunshine Coast	Vegetation clearing is operational work under the Planning Act 2017, regulated by the Planning Scheme 2014. Protected vegetation may need a permit for cutting down, damaging the trunk, or pruning to the extent that the tree is likely to die. Vegetation within 3 metres on your property side of a boundary fence may be cleared if reasonably necessary.	City council, clearing page

Australia: Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, ACT and Northern Territory

South Australia has the clearest statewide rule on paper. The State Planning Commission's 2024 announcement of the new regulations says the trunk size for regulated trees was reduced from two metres to one metre and for significant trees from three metres to two. It says only trees within three metres of a home or pool can be removed without approval, where the old regulations allowed ten metres, and that pruning of regulated and significant trees is limited to 30 percent of the canopy every five years. It also says offset fees for a regulated tree rose from AU$326 to AU$1000, and for a significant tree from AU$489 to AU$1500.

The ACT replaced its older tree law. The ACT legislation register shows the Urban Forest Act 2023 as in force, and its page for the Tree Protection Act 2005 shows a repealed law. The thresholds below are from the Act text, republication effective January 2, 2026.

Place	What its page says	Office
City of Perth (WA)	The Tree Protection Policy, adopted March 30, 2021, applies to trees in the public realm owned or managed by the City. Where a live tree is damaged or removed without authorisation the City will recoup the full tree value. Residents can request extra pruning of the street tree next to their property, assessed case by case.	City council, trees page and tree protection policy
Salisbury (SA)	A regulated tree has a trunk circumference of 1 m or more; with multiple trunks, a total of 1 m and an average of 310 mm, measured 1 m above natural ground. A significant tree is 2 m or more; with multiple trunks, a total of 2 m and an average of 625 mm. Severe pruning (over 30% of the crown), poisoning and severing large roots need development approval. Replanting expected: 2 trees per regulated tree, 3 per significant tree. Emergency work can proceed without prior approval, then an application is lodged.	City council, trees page
Adelaide Hills (SA)	Damaging a regulated or significant tree is development that requires Development Approval under the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016. The protection does not apply in the Productive Rural Landscape, Recreation, Resource Extraction and Conservation zones. Maintenance pruning of less than 30% of the crown to remove dead or diseased wood is not controlled.	City council, trees page
Hobart (Tas)	The Tasmanian Planning Scheme for Hobart includes a Significant Tree Code and a Significant Tree Register. The City does not inspect or work on trees growing from private property. Questions on private tree or vegetation removal go to its Development Appraisal Team.	City council, significant trees page and private trees page
ACT, regulated trees	A living tree on leased land is regulated if at least 8 m high or with a canopy at least 8 m wide, or with one trunk at 1.4 m of at least 1 m circumference or 318 mm diameter, or with two or more trunks averaging at least 625 mm circumference with a sum of at least 1 m. Dead native trees count at 1.88 m circumference or 600 mm diameter. Declared pests and registered trees are not regulated trees.	Conservator of flora and fauna, per the Act text
ACT, protected trees	In built-up urban areas the Act protects registered trees, regulated trees and trees on public unleased land. Intentionally damaging a protected tree carries a maximum of 500 penalty units. Damage under the Act does not include minor pruning of a regulated tree. Minor pruning covers pruning that only removes deadwood, removes no limb over 100 mm in diameter, or does not adversely affect the general appearance of the tree, among other kinds.	Conservator for regulated and registered trees; the director-general for public trees
City of Darwin (NT)	Planting on road verges must be authorised under By-Law 102(2) of the City of Darwin By-Laws 2023. Council may decide a requested verge tree will not be planted.	City council, verges page and street tree page; phone 08 8930 0300

New Zealand

New Zealand councils say the same thing in different words: a tree is protected where a district or city plan schedules it, or where a resource consent condition, covenant or consent notice on the title covers it. Auckland Council says no class or species of tree has automatic protection where a number of its vegetation rules apply, excluding the Hauraki Gulf islands, on its tree work rules page. Hutt City Council says its plan change 36 reviewed the notable trees chapter and addressed legislative changes on blanket protection of trees, by partly removing and partly amending the vegetation rules in residential areas to bring them into line with the Resource Management Act 1991. Wellington City Council says it has no authority over trees on private land unless they are listed trees.

Place	What its page says	Office
Auckland	Notable trees listed in the Unitary Plan schedule, or the Hauraki Gulf Islands district plan, cannot be cut down or removed without a resource consent. Where a district plan rule protects a tree, a resource consent is needed to cut it down, work around it, trim or prune it. Vegetation within 20 m of steep coastal cliffs or stream banks may be subject to rules; trees in a Significant Ecological Area have an additional level of protection. The council page says it may fine up to NZ$250,000 for works near a protected tree without consent.	Auckland Council, protected trees, notable trees and tree work rules
Auckland, dangerous trees	A tree can be removed without a resource consent if it falls on a house, has just fallen or split, or may cause an injury. For a protected tree needing urgent removal, the page says written advice from a professional arborist is needed and documents go to council within seven days.	Auckland Council, protected trees
Christchurch	Significant trees on private property are listed in Appendix 9.4.7.1 of the District Plan. Pruning permitted includes branches under 50 mm in diameter at the cut in the bottom third of the tree, and roots under 25 mm. Extra pruning is permitted only by or on the advice of a listed works arborist. A significant tree may be removed if it is dead, has lost structural integrity where defects cannot be rectified, or does not comply with airport protection rules, after a Tree Removal Certificate (P-024) is submitted. Other pruning, gardening or felling needs a resource consent.	City council, trees page; Duty Planner, 03 941 8999
Wellington	More than 150 protected trees are listed in the District Plan, about half on private property. A resource consent is not needed for minor trimming by an approved contractor, with approval at least 10 days before the work. A resource consent is needed for anything beyond minor trimming, for partly or completely removing the tree, or for work in its root zone.	City council, trees page; phone 04 499 4444
Hamilton	The District Plan protects more than 350 native and exotic trees with significant heritage value. Protected trees on public or private land cannot be removed; for work on private land, council says to contact it and that a resource consent is probably needed.	City council, trees page
Tauranga	Trees protected under the City Plan as significant, historic or preventing erosion may be called listed, notable or scheduled. A protected tree needs a resource consent to remove, prune or carry out construction work near it. A tree may also be protected by a consent condition or a covenant or consent notice on the title.	City council, trees page; Urban Forest team, 07 577 7000
Dunedin	Scheduled trees are listed in Appendix A1.3 of the Second Generation District Plan 2026. Before a person modifies (including emergency work) or removes a significant tree, a resource consent is required.	City council, trees page; phone 03 477 4000
Lower Hutt	A tree may be protected because it is a scheduled tree in the District Plan, because of a resource consent condition, or by a covenant or consent notice on the title. The page says to get in touch before removing, pruning or carrying out construction work near any tree.	City council, consents page; phone +64 04 570 6666

Reading these rows

Sizes use different measures: height, canopy spread, trunk diameter, circumference, at ground level, 1.0 m, 1.3 m, 1.4 m or 1.5 m. A figure from one row cannot be moved to another.
Several councils tie their dangerous-tree exemption to a named arborist qualification: AQF level 3 in Sydney, Level 5 in Northern Beaches and the Gold Coast. The qualification differs by place.
Where a page names a deciding office or a phone line, that office decides, not a rule on this page.

For protected trees on a building site, see trees and construction. For the national summaries and the other countries, see tree protection laws. For the legal side of wildlife in trees, see wildlife and the law.