Hawkesbury City Council tree removal rules
Everything you need to know before removing or pruning a tree in the Hawkesbury City Council area — which trees are protected, the main exemptions, and how to apply for approval. This is the authoritative summary we keep for this council; always confirm against the official source linked below.
Legal basis: State Environmental Planning Policy (Biodiversity and Conservation) 2021, Ch. 2 (Vegetation in Non-Rural Areas) + each council's Development Control Plan (DCP).
Compiled from the council's published rules and cross-checked. Always confirm with the council.
Which trees are protected in Hawkesbury City Council?
Trees about 4m tall or 50cm trunk (circumference at 1 metre above ground level) or larger are generally protected and need approval.
Trees protected if height >4m OR branch spread >3m OR trunk circumference >500mm at 1m height; heritage items and conservation areas always require consent regardless of exemptions.
When you may not need approval
- dying or dead trees with arborist justification
- immediate risk to life/property with arborist proof
- noxious weeds and specified invasive species
- fruit trees (seasonal pruning only)
- emergency removal (bushfire, emergency access)
- Council-owned/managed land with approval
- State forest/timber reserve land
- environmental weeds (bush regeneration)
- parasitic mistletoe/plants
How to apply
Application form with payment required; Arborist reports (AQF Level 5+) may be required for Significant Trees, threatened species, or Council clarification; Structural engineer reports required when structural damage is alleged.
Other rules that can override the above
- RFS 10/50 Vegetation Clearing scheme — in a designated bush-fire area you may be able to clear trees within 10m of your home (and underlying vegetation within 50m) without council approval. Check eligibility with the NSW RFS online tool; it does not override threatened-species or federal law.
- Heritage items and heritage conservation areas — trees are usually protected regardless of size and most exemptions fall away.
- Threatened species, endangered ecological communities and Aboriginal places — exemptions generally do not apply.
- Federal EPBC Act — separate Commonwealth approval can be required if removal would significantly impact a nationally listed species or community.
Do I need a permit in Hawkesbury City Council?
Fill in the tree details and we'll estimate whether you likely need council approval.
Suburbs in Hawkesbury City Council
- Agnes Banks
- Berambing
- Bilpin
- Blaxlands Ridge
- Bligh Park
- Bowen Mountain
- Bucketty
- Cattai
- Central Colo
- Central Macdonald
- Clarendon
- Colo
- Colo Heights
- Cornwallis
- Cumberland Reach
- East Kurrajong
- Ebenezer
- Fernances
- Freemans Reach
- Glossodia
- Grose Vale
- Grose Wold
- Higher Macdonald
- Hobartville
- Kurmond
- Kurrajong
- Kurrajong Heights
- Kurrajong Hills
- Leets Vale
- Lower Macdonald
- Lower Portland
- Maraylya
- McGraths Hill
- Mellong
- Mogo Creek
- Mountain Lagoon
- Mulgrave
- North Richmond
- Oakville
- Perrys Crossing
- Pitt Town
- Pitt Town Bottoms
- Putty
- Richmond
- Richmond Lowlands
- Sackville
- Scheyville
- South Windsor
- St Albans
- Ten Mile Hollow
- Tennyson
- The Devils Wilderness
- The Slopes
- Upper Colo
- Upper Macdonald
- Vineyard
- Webbs Creek
- Wheeny Creek
- Wilberforce
- Windsor
- Windsor Downs
- Wisemans Ferry
- Womerah
- Wrights Creek
- Yarramundi