Tree removal permits in the Illawarra
| Wollongong | Shellharbour | Kiama | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where the rules live | DCP 2009 Chapter E17, in force since 1 July 2023 | The Shellharbour Development Control Plan | DCP 2020 Topic 2.4, in force since 4 April 2020 |
| Height | More than 5 metres | 5 metres or more | 5 metres or more |
| Trunk | 30cm or more across, at ground level | 30cm or more across, at natural ground level | 200mm or more across, 1 metre above the ground |
| Also caught | Pruning branches more than 10cm across; dead or dying trees | Any tree with hollows; dead trees under the same rules | A branch spread of 3 metres or more |
| What you lodge | Application for Tree Permit | Vegetation Removal Application | Tree Management Application |
| How long | Around 28 working days | Aims for 30 working days | Inspection, then a written decision |
Why the same tree can land differently
Picture a broad old tree, 4 metres tall with a wide, low canopy. In Kiama the 3 metre spread test catches it. In Shellharbour, a nesting hollow would bring it in. In Wollongong it comes down to the trunk at ground level and any environmental or heritage protection on the land. Whatever the council, ask them before anything is cut.
All three work under the same NSW framework: Chapter 2 of the Biodiversity and Conservation SEPP, each council's DCP, and NSW's 2026 changes that brought dead and dying protected trees under the permit rules. The NSW permit page and our Wollongong permit page go further.
Tree removal in the Illawarra: what's local
The backbone of the region
NPWS says the escarpment runs about 50 kilometres south from Royal National Park and spans the Wollongong, Shellharbour and Kiama council areas. Behind Wollongong it's a 500-metre-high wall of cliffs, steep slopes and gullies with little level ground.
Rainforest relics in gardens
The escarpment holds the Sydney basin's largest area of rainforest, with figs, red cedar and cabbage tree palms. Kiama's DCP treats mature figs and cabbage palms as reminders of that rainforest, which is why they get extra attention there.
Wet ground, steep blocks
Rainfall of about 1,600 mm a year adds to the escarpment's instability, and NPWS ranks erosion and landslips among its greatest threats. On a slope, ask the arborist how the tree will come down and what will be left holding the soil.
One electricity network
Endeavour Energy runs the lines across the Illawarra. For a fallen line it says to stay 8 metres away and phone Endeavour Energy straight away.
Storm damage and fallen trees in the Illawarra
Keep everyone clear of fallen trees and wires. Call 000 if someone is in danger and the NSW SES for a tree on the house. Leave any branch touching a wire alone: SafeWork NSW says the whole branch, leaves included, may be live.
Stump grinding in the Illawarra
For council detail, our Shellharbour and Kiama pages go street level, and the Wollongong hub covers the city. After a removal on sloping ground, stump grinding in Wollongong explains the options.
Hiring an arborist in the Illawarra
Find your council on the rates notice, then measure your tree against that council's test, not a neighbour's or an old website's. All three want an application in before work starts. And since NSW's 2026 changes cover dead and dying protected trees, a dead trunk isn't a reason to skip the call.