Galston sits in the Hills Shire, where pruning a protected tree usually needs council approval first. Trees Down Under guides Galston owners through the permit with a free tree inspection and same-day quoting, so book an inspection or call 0475 463 597.
Often, yes. Galston sits within the Hills Shire, where pruning or removing a protected tree usually needs council approval before any cutting starts. That is the protected tree ordinance in practice: if the tree qualifies, you apply first and cut second.
Healthy trees are covered too, along with trees under preservation orders or in conservation areas. Most councils also require a permit for any pruning beyond minor maintenance on a protected tree, including work done for a better view, because a blocked view does not exempt a tree from protection.
Pruning or removing a protected tree without authorisation can bring severe consequences. Once a branch or tree is gone, it cannot be put back, so checking first is far easier than fixing a mistake.
Whether a particular tree needs approval depends on its height, trunk size, species and location on your block. Some trees fall under clearing entitlements or hazard exemptions, and others stay protected.
Trees Down Under can assess the tree on your property and tell you where it stands with Hornsby Shire Council and the Hills Shire rules, so you know the position before anyone picks up a saw.
In the Hills Shire, a tree counts as protected if it stands over 5 metres tall or has a trunk wider than 300mm. Galston sits within this area, so those figures apply to most backyard trees. These are the core tree pruning permit requirements, and they apply to pruning as well as removal.
Hills District guidance can be tighter. It points to trees over 3 metres tall, over 30cm in trunk diameter, or with a canopy spread over 5 metres as needing council approval before any tree management work begins.
Trunk size is taken as diameter at breast height, known as DBH. The tree diameter measurement is made at 1.4 metres above ground level, not at the base where the trunk flares out.
A tape wrapped around the trunk at that height gives the circumference, and the diameter is worked out from it. Sloping ground and multi-stemmed trees can change where and how it is measured, which is where an arborist helps.
Review the Hills Shire Council tree rules before any cutting, and treat the tree before removal as protected until confirmed otherwise.
Heritage trees, significant trees and those that contribute to biodiversity corridors or wildlife habitat carry stricter protection than ordinary protected trees. Council approval is needed even when a tree blocks a view, so a good outlook is not grounds to prune.
Our team starts with a free tree inspection at your Galston property. An arborist checks the tree’s size, health and whether it may be heritage-listed or habitat-forming, then explains what Hornsby Shire Council is likely to require.
From there, the work is handled for you:
For more detail, see the Hornsby Shire Council tree management guidance.
A permit may not be needed if the work falls under the 10/50 or 10/30 vegetation clearing entitlement, which applies to some private property. Height and diameter limits depend on local government rules, so the property needs checking before anyone picks up a saw.
Light maintenance, such as removing small dead branches, usually falls into a separate category from pruning that changes a protected tree’s shape or size. Most Sydney councils still require approval for anything beyond minor work on protected trees.
Hazard tree removal for dead, dying or dangerous trees often qualifies for exemption from prior approval, but proof of the hazard is required. A written arborist assessment is the usual way to show it. Check Hornsby Shire Council or The Hills Shire Council for the rules that apply to your address.
If a tree does not qualify under an entitlement, the law may protect it, and you must apply to council before pruning or removing it. A free tree inspection from Trees Down Under confirms which category your tree falls into.
A tree removal permit or pruning approval is applied for online through council. Galston homeowners lodge with the Hills Shire or Hornsby Shire Council, depending on the property boundary. Approval is needed before any pruning or tree removal begins on a protected tree.
An arborist report records species, trunk diameter at 1.4 metres, health and any structural risk. It gives council the evidence to assess your request, which can reduce back-and-forth.
Tree removal fees vary by council, so check the current schedule before lodging. Approval may also come with tree replacement requirements, such as planting a new tree on the property, and the approved work has to match those conditions exactly.
Trees Down Under has operated since 2005, drawing on two generations of arboriculture knowledge. Every job is led by AQF Level 3 to 5 certified arborists, and the business is fully licensed, insured and Cm3 certified.
We work with every local council in Sydney, so permits don’t have to be a headache. The report and the paperwork need to be right from the start.
Joseph Khoury, Director & Founder, Trees Down Under
A regular health check shows whether a tree is sound, declining or becoming a hazard. That record matters when council asks why work was needed, because proof of a hazard is usually required for dead or dying trees.
Correct cuts keep a tree’s structure balanced and remove weak or overextended limbs before a storm does it for you. Minor maintenance is often allowed, but anything beyond that on a protected tree can still need approval, so check council requirements first.
Trees Down Under covers the services Galston properties commonly need alongside a permit, from tree pruning Sydney residents book for view and clearance work to full removal once council approval is in place.
Related services include:
Each service has its own page with further detail.
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Thank you for considering Trees Down Under for your Galston tree pruning permit. The next step is a free tree inspection and same-day quote, where an AQF Level 3-5 certified arborist checks what your trees need before any work is planned.
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