Tree removal in Fremantle: good to know
| Tree on private land | Verge tree | |
|---|---|---|
| Size that matters | Any of: 8m tall, a 6m average canopy, or a trunk 1.5m around at 1.4m up | Any size |
| Where the policy applies | Development Areas, Industrial land and residential land coded R30 and below | Everywhere in the City |
| Removing or lopping | Development approval for a regulated tree | Council approval; doing it without one can bring an infringement notice |
| What you'll need | An arborist report from an AQF 5 arborist | A request to the City |
Tree removal permits in Fremantle
Applications need an arborist report from someone with a Diploma of Horticulture (Arboriculture) at AQF 5, or equivalent. That's a consulting arborist, not just someone who cuts trees. See arborist reports.
The City says views, disliking the tree, birds, leaf or bark drop, and effects on gardens, solar panels or pools aren't weighed. If one of those is your main reason, expect a hard road. If a removal is approved, two replacement trees go in, each at least a 30-litre pot and able to grow into a regulated tree.
Questions go to the Duty Planner. The City's Significant Tree Register is paused while it assesses the new policy, so nominations sit on file for now. Our WA permits page covers the state rules around it.
Tree removal in Fremantle: what's local
Sand and limestone trees
Fremantle sits at the mouth of the Swan River on limestone hills the Nyungar people call Booyeembara. Florabase records both tuart and WA peppermint in Fremantle, two trees at home on sand over limestone.
The Fremantle Doctor
The afternoon sea breeze usually arrives between noon and 3pm. Winter cold fronts are the bigger test for limbs, so pruning loose branches in autumn, before storm season, makes sense.
Tight West End streets
The West End is a grid of late Victorian and Edwardian streets, so access shapes the job. A removal between old buildings usually comes down in small pieces, which takes more time and more people.
Where the borer was first found
The polyphagous shot-hole borer was first detected in Perth next door at East Fremantle in August 2021. If you see small round holes or sawdust-like frass on a trunk, report it before anyone prunes. See tree pests and diseases.
Trees and power lines in Fremantle
Stay 8 metres back from a damaged line and treat it as live. Call Western Power, and 000 first if someone is hurt or there's fire. Never prune toward a line yourself.
Hiring an arborist in Fremantle
Put a tape around the trunk at 1.4 metres and check your lot's zoning code before anything else. If the tree meets any part of the test and you're in a covered area, allow time for an AQF 5 arborist report and a development application, and work out where two replacement trees could go. A quote that includes the report and the application saves a second round of calls.