Tree pruning permits in Adelaide
South Australia's law treats tree-damaging activity on a regulated or significant tree as development, and the list includes cutting branches, topping and lopping. The SA Law Handbook says excessive pruning can count. So a heavy cut-back on a big gum is a different thing in Adelaide than in most other cities.
The rules describe a narrow kind of pruning that sits outside approval: no more than 30% of the crown (the leafy top), aimed at dead, diseased or risky branches, and at least 5 years after the last such prune. City of Onkaparinga says approved pruning should be no more than 30% of the crown every 5 years. Pruning for a view, more sun on the solar panels or a tidier shape is a different matter, so check with council before anything comes off.
If you're not sure your tree is regulated, measure the trunk 1 metre above natural ground. At 1 metre around or more, inside the overlay, it's regulated. The SA permits page sets out the sizes and the overlay.
Tree pruning in Adelaide: what's local
Lopping is on the list
Topping and lopping are named as tree-damaging activity in SA. Australia's pruning standard, AS 4373, also calls lopping and topping unacceptable, because stubs heal badly and regrowth is weakly attached. Our lopping vs pruning guide shows the difference.
Lines over the street
SA Power Networks keeps the clearance zone around public lines, including private trees hanging over the road reserve. Its own trimming cycle runs yearly where bushfire risk is high, and every third year in other areas.
Lines to your house
City of Burnside says owners must keep planted or nurtured vegetation clear of the powerlines supplying their property. SA Power Networks says to use a qualified tree trimming contractor for private lines.
Council street trees
Street trees belong to the council. The City of Adelaide alone looks after more than 40,000 street and Park Land trees, so talk to your council about a street tree rather than trimming it.
Branches from next door
In SA you can usually cut back branches that cross onto your land, unless it's a significant tree. You pay for it, you can't go onto your neighbour's land, and the cuttings stay theirs; they can be put back over the fence if that causes no damage.
Trees and power lines in Adelaide
Don't prune, pull or shake anything that's touching a powerline. Call SA Power Networks. If a branch has brought a line down, stay at least 10 metres from the line and anything it's touching, and call 000 if there's fire or anyone is hurt.
How tree pruning works in Adelaide
| Careful maintenance | Heavy cut-back | |
|---|---|---|
| What comes off | Dead, diseased or risky branches | Live limbs, often for a view or light |
| How much | A small share of the crown | A large share, or the top |
| On a regulated tree | Check with council: the rules describe a narrow 30% case | Likely to count as tree-damaging activity, so approval first |
| How the tree copes | Wounds close over, crown stays balanced | Stubs, decay and weakly attached regrowth |
Tree pruning in Adelaide: what you can do yourself
You can
- Small twigs and suckers you can reach with both feet on the ground, with secateurs, loppers or a pruning saw
- Measure the trunk at 1 metre to know where you stand
- Photograph dead or split branches for the council and the arborist
- Put a concern about a neighbour's dangerous tree in writing, and keep a copy
Leave to an arborist
- Anything on a tree with a trunk near the regulated size
- Branches over the roof, the driveway or the street
- Any work near service lines or street lines
- Deadwooding and crown thinning in big gums
Hiring an arborist for tree pruning in Adelaide
We'd ask the arborist to list exactly what they'd take and roughly what share of the crown that is, then show that list to the council before agreeing to anything on a regulated tree. If the answer is that it needs approval, it's far cheaper in stress to wait for it than to deal with a complaint afterwards.