Trees

Private property 

You must get a permit before pruning a tree on private property, unless the tree is: 

• No higher than 3m, and is no more than 300mm wide at a height of 1m above the ground 
• A weed listed on the NSW Government’s WeedWise website 
• A fruit tree.  

 Fruit trees exempted from a permit include, but are not limited to: 

• Berry fruit 
• Cacti 
• Citrus fruit  
• Melons 
• Plantation fruits 
• Pome fruit 
• Stone fruit 
• Tropical fruit.

Public land 

You can report a tree on Council land that is causing concern or may need attention by pressing the Report it online button below, and we will assess the tree. Don’t attempt to prune or tend to the tree yourself. 

Report it

You can also report it by: 

• Calling: 1300 581 299 
• Visiting our Customer Service Centres.  

We will only prune public trees if they don’t meet the following clearance standards: 

• Prevent pedestrian footpath access at 2.5 metres high 
• Prevent vehicle access to centre of the road for up to 4.5 metres 
• Branches overhanging within 2 metres of a property.

Pruning near power lines

Contact Ausgrid to request pruning a public tree that is obstructing main or residential power lines. Clippings from trees near powerlines will be collected within 48 hours after work is completed, contact Ausgrid if pruned branches are left longer than two days. 

You can request tree pruning from Ausgrid by: 

• Calling: 13 13 88 
• Visiting Ausgrid’s website 

We will assess tree(s) at the location provided in your tree pruning request and determine if it requires pruning.  
 
We will drop a calling card in your mailbox with details and information about our decision if the tree is located at the front of your property. 

Private property 

You must get a permit before removing a tree on your property, unless it is: 

• No higher than 3m, and is no more than 300mm wide at a height of 1m above the ground 
• A weed listed on the NSW Government’s WeedWise website 
• A fruit tree.  

Fruit trees exempted from a permit include, but are not limited to:  

• Berry fruit 
• Cacti 
• Citrus fruit  
• Melons 
• Plantation fruits 
• Pome fruit 
• Stone fruit 
• Tropical fruit. 

Public property 

You can report if a tree on Council land  is causing concern or may need attention by pressing the Report it online button below, and we will assess the tree. Don’t attempt to prune or tend to the tree yourself. 

Report it

You can also report it by: 

• Calling: 1300 581 299 
• Visiting our Customer Service Centres.  

We will remove a tree if: 

• Structurally unsound and determined unsafe 
• Has an excessive pest or pathogen attack 
• Has come to its natural end of lifecycle. 

We will not remove a public tree if: 

• Poisoned. It will instead be pruned to provide habitat to local wildlife 
• Producing leaf litter and shedding organic matter like leaves, flowers, fruit, seeds or small amounts of deadwood, which are considered a natural environmental process. Small amounts of dead or cut branches can also be placed in your green or red bins, or kept for any of our scheduled clean-up services 
• It has caused damage to private infrastructure 

We will assess tree(s) at the location provided in your request and determine if it requires removal.

We will drop a calling card in your mailbox with details and information about our decision if the tree is located at the front of your property. We may also attempt to email or call you if there is no opportunity to leave a calling card.

We will plant two new trees in the same location or close by, if we determine the tree requires removal which is part of our Community Strategic Plan. 

You may need a permit if you wish to prune a neighbour’s tree, but we recommend speaking with your neighbour first as we must get their approval before we can grant a permit  

Apply for a permit by filling out the  below form, and bring a copy to one of our Customer Service Centres.  

Apply to prune or remove a tree. 

Disputes 

Trees can cause issues for neighbouring houses especially if they cause damage, obscure views, or block sunlight. 

The best way to resolve a dispute is by discussing the matter with your neighbour and agreeing on the best course of action. Bayside Council does not have authority to act or mediate in disputes between neighbours. 

Seek advice from the Community Justice Centre if an agreement about a disputed tree can’t be made between neighbours.

An application may be lodged with the Land and Environment Court for resolution under Trees (Disputes between Neighbours) Act 2006, once all other attempts to resolve the matter are exhausted.  

Tree vandalism is unlawful destruction, damage or injury to trees on public and private land.  

Anyone caught vandalising a tree can be charged with a serious criminal offence and may be fined, which can start from $3,000, and go up to $1 million dollars if deemed severe by the Land and Environment Court.  

Tree vandalism includes: 

• Pruning or removing a private tree without a permit  
• Pruning or removing a public tree 
• Poisoning a tree. 

We will investigate all instances where a suspected tree poisoning has been reported, and any affected trees will have a ‘POISONED’ sign spray painted to the trunk.  

Trees that are poisoned and don’t recover will be pruned instead of removed to provide support for the local wildlife.  

Two new trees will be planted near the poisoned tree to maintain our tree canopy which is a part of our Community Strategic Plan.

You can help protect our trees by reporting potential vandalism. 

Report it

You can also report it by: 

• Calling: 1300 581 299 
• Visiting our Customer Service Centres.  

Supply as much information as possible about the: 

• Location of the tree 
• Damage to the tree
• Anyone you might have seen near the tree at the time. 

Pest management on private property is the landowner’s responsibility, it is recommended licensed pest controllers are used to ensure plants and animals are protected. 

We will investigate reports of pests found on public land to determine if they are a risk to public safety, however under no circumstances will we spray any insecticides on Council trees.

Contact us if you have encountered any of the insects listed below and reasonably believe they pose a risk to public safety. 

Wasps 

Wasps may build nests under ground, and in holes found  in walls and retaining walls.  

We will inspect a reported wasp nest and determine if they are an invasive or native species. We may consider pest control if we determine they’re a risk to public safety 

Bees 

Bees are vital to our ecosystem and food security, and normally don’t sting humans or animals when left alone. 

We will relocate a hive if the bees are considered a risk to public safety.  

White ants and termites 

White ants and termites play an important role in nature by feeding on fallen trees and branches, but they can cause damage to the structural integrity of a healthy tree.  

We will inspect and monitor trees with white ants and termites, and removing the tree if required.  

Report it

You can also report it by: 

Calling: 1300 581 299 

Visiting our Customer Service Centres.