Trees Down Under helps Hills Shire homeowners work out whether a tree needs council consent, then prepares the application, arranges the arborist report and carries out the removal. It starts with a free tree inspection and same-day quoting, so you know where you stand.
Often, yes. Under the Hills Shire’s tree management guidelines for private land, tree removal consent is required when a tree is over 3 metres tall, has a trunk wider than 30cm, or has a canopy spread greater than 5 metres. These tree canopy spread regulations and trunk limits work together, so a tree can trigger the rules on one measure alone.
For trunk diameter, the measurement is taken at 1.4m above ground, which is where many homeowners go wrong. A tree on private land is not exempt by default, and species, zoning and heritage, biodiversity or bushfire overlays can all change the answer. The rules sit within the wider tree preservation order system in NSW, and you can read the current requirements on The Hills Shire Council website.
We work with every local council in Sydney – permits don’t have to be a headache.
Joseph Khoury, Director & Founder, Trees Down Under
That is the part Trees Down Under takes off your hands.
Some trees carry stricter rules than the standard size thresholds, so approval may be needed even for a tree that looks small or sits wholly on private land. Trees Down Under checks each tree against these extra protections before any application is lodged.
Heritage-listed trees and trees of cultural significance, and trees that form part of a biodiversity corridor or wildlife habitat, face tighter controls. The same applies to native species within mapped vegetation zones, and to properties covered by heritage, biodiversity or bushfire overlays.
Assuming no approval is needed can carry serious legal and financial consequences. In denser suburbs such as Castle Hill and Norwest, neighbours are more likely to notice and report unapproved work, and tree disputes between neighbours often start this way. Before any tree removal, Trees Down Under confirms which controls apply to the property.
Some trees do not need council consent, but the rules are narrow and easy to misread. Exempt trees in The Hills Shire include dead or dangerous trees, exempt species such as Camphor Laurel, Cocos Palm and Liquidambar, trees within 3 metres of an approved dwelling or garage, and smaller trees under 5 metres tall with trunks under 200mm wide.
Tree pruning consent requirements follow similar logic, so check before cutting back a large canopy as well as before removal. Trees Down Under’s AQF Level 3-5 certified arborists, based in Dural since 2005, check each tree against these exemptions before any work begins. A dangerous tree assessment and arborist report for tree removal give you a clear record of why a tree qualifies.
Always confirm with a qualified arborist or the council before cutting. Pennant Hills properties may fall under Hornsby Shire Council, which has different thresholds.
The work only starts once consent for the tree removal has been confirmed. Before any cutting begins, the crew checks the approved scope against the conditions on your consent.
Large trees and those with tight access are handled with crane-assisted removal, and the crane fleet is owned by Trees Down Under, so there is no extra fee for it. Here is what the quote covers:
Disposal is part of the price, so there is no separate bill for garden waste removal afterwards.
The free tree inspection carries no call-out fee, and it is how an arborist gives you a firm, honest price based on the actual tree and site. Same-day quoting is offered, subject to availability.
If a tree has come down or been damaged in a storm, the 24/7 emergency line is on 0475 463 597.
Trees Down Under offers several arborist services alongside permit help, across the Hills District and wider Sydney.
Regular health checks and proper pruning keep trees sound and help owners stay within preservation requirements.
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Thank you for taking the time to read through the permit rules for your tree. Working out where you stand with The Hills Shire Council is the hardest part, and the team at Trees Down Under is happy to take it from here.
Affordable tree removal. Prompt & safe removal.
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