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Arborists and tree removal in New South Wales

Three power networks, 10/50 areas and council-by-council rules.

Find your NSW city below, and check with your council before any tree is cut, because in NSW each council's development control plan decides which trees are protected.

Tree job in New South Wales?

What needs doing?

If anyone is in danger, call 000. For storm damage to your home, call the SES. Then tell us the job.

Only one local arborist gets your number.

A worker in a helmet, earmuffs and a visor feeding a leafy branch into a wood chipper on a grass verge

Which part of NSW are you in?

NSW has three electricity networks, and knowing yours matters the moment a branch gets near a line. Ausgrid covers Sydney, the Central Coast and the Hunter, so Newcastle is Ausgrid country too.

Endeavour Energy runs Greater Western Sydney, the Blue Mountains, the Southern Highlands, the Illawarra around Wollongong and the South Coast, with Shoalhaven (Nowra) on its list. Beyond that, Essential Energy's network covers 95 per cent of the state, Tamworth included. On the North Coast or inland and not sure? The network's name is on your power bill.

What does NSW protect?

NSW Planning says you generally need council permission to clear trees, even on your own land, and each council's development control plan (DCP) says which trees that covers. Since NSW's 2026 changes, protected dead and dying trees need a permit too, and the risk exemption only applies once the council confirms it in writing.

Tree removal permits in NSW has the state rules and penalties, with council pages from there.

Does the 10/50 rule cover your block?

Only where the RFS online tool says your address is in a 10/50 entitlement area, and the RFS says to check it on the day you clear. In those areas the code allows clearing trees on your property within 10 metres of a home, and shrubs (not trees) within 50 metres, under strict conditions.

It never covers trees around power lines, and it only works on your own land. The 10/50 rule guide sets out the conditions.

After a storm in NSW

If anyone is trapped or injured, call 000. The NSW SES takes calls when a fallen tree blocks a door, driveway or road, or a tree looks like it may fall on the house. Don't try to remove trees or branches yourself after a storm, and keep at least 8 metres, about 2 car lengths, from fallen powerlines.

Why east coast lows bring NSW trees down

Between the Hunter and the Illawarra, east coast lows are the big tree storms. The Bureau of Meteorology says they can bring damaging to destructive winds with heavy rain. In the June 2007 Pasha Bulker storm, gusts of more than 120km/h uprooted trees, and rain that had already soaked the ground loosened their roots.

So a tree that starts leaning after days of rain deserves attention. If the soil at the base has cracked or lifted, we'd keep people out from under it and have an arborist look before the next blow.

Cities in New South Wales

Tree removal in SydneyHow Sydney's councils differ on tree removal, plus the local trees, storms, bushfire edges and power lines.Tree removal in NewcastleNewcastle's tree rules, the neighbouring councils, storms on saturated ground and who to call about lines.Tree removal on the Central CoastCentral Coast Council's tree rules, 10/50 on bush blocks, storms and lakes, and who to call about lines.Tree removal in WollongongWollongong's tree permit rule, steep escarpment blocks, rain and landslip, and who handles power lines.Tree removal in Port MacquariePort Macquarie-Hastings' low permit threshold, koala habitat, rural land and Essential Energy lines.Tree removal in NowraShoalhaven's 5 metre test, the Planning Portal, rural land, bushfire maps and Endeavour Energy.Tree removal in the Southern HighlandsWingecarribee's TREX, Vegetation Clearing Permit and DA routes, arborist levels and Endeavour lines.Tree removal in Coffs HarbourCoffs Harbour's native vegetation tests, the significant tree register, RU2 land and Essential Energy.Tree removal in LismoreLismore's tree form, heritage DAs, camphor laurel on fences and creek banks, and Essential Energy lines.Tree removal in TamworthWhat to ask Tamworth Regional Council, rural land, private poles and Essential Energy's pruning.Tree removal in BallinaBallina's Chapter 2a permit, what the Portal application needs, rural land and camphor laurel.Tree removal in OrangeOrange's 300 mm trunk rule, gums protected at any size, heritage areas and street trees.Tree removal in Byron BayByron Shire's declared vegetation, koala habitat trees, hollows, creek setbacks and camphor laurel.

Every suburb

Suburbs and tree services in New South Wales

Your suburb's page has its council's tree rules, the trees that grow there and who to call about power lines. Not listed? Tell us your postcode with the job, and we pass it to a local arborist near you.

Sydney71 suburbs

Newcastle12 suburbs

Central Coast5 suburbs

Wollongong3 suburbs

Gold Coast1 suburb

Canberra1 suburb

Nowra

Tree permits in New South Wales, council by council

Arborists and tree removal in New South Wales: common questions

Who trims a tree near the power line to my house in NSW?

Usually you, for a tree on your property. Ausgrid says owners clear their own tree's growth up to the boundary, and Endeavour Energy says owners keep trees a safe distance from the service line. Pruning within three metres of a line is for qualified, authorised contractors, so leave that part to them.

Need an arborist in New South Wales?

Pick the job and give your postcode, and a local arborist calls you.

Tree job in New South Wales?

What needs doing?

Only one local arborist gets your number.

More on Arborists and tree removal in New South Wales

The NSW 10/50 vegetation clearing ruleTrees within 10 m, shrubs within 50 m, the RFS tool on the day, and what 10/50 never covers.Trees near power linesStreet lines, the line to your house and private poles: who clears what, and which network to call.A tree came down in a storm000 and the SES first, then photos, your insurer, the council and the arborist, in that order.Storm damage and fallen treesAfter a storm: 000, the SES, power lines, what an arborist does next, insurance and permits.

Where this information comes from

Tree rules change, so check with your council before anything is cut. How we write and check these pages.