Tree Removal Permits in Melbourne — Council Rules + Timeline
Most Melbourne councils protect trees above a certain trunk diameter, and removing a protected tree without a permit can cost $5,000+ in fines. Precision Arbor Care delivers across Melbourne with transparent pricing, full insurance, and a team that turns up when they say they will. Based in Sydenham, Melbourne VIC, we deliver safe, efficient, and reliable tree services for homes and businesses across Greater Melbourne and surrounding suburbs. Whether it’s a single tight access removal or a full block clear-out, we get the job done—safely, cleanly, and professionally, with extra care taken to protect homes, sheds, fences, and gardens. Call Rob today for a free, fixed quote.
Years of experience
About This Service
We Check the Rules, Apply for the Permit, Handle the Council
“Experienced, safety-focused tree experts who care about your property, your garden, and a clean finish.”
Precision Arbor Care We handle Melbourne tree removal permits from start to finish. We do this work every day across Melbourne, protecting lawns, garden beds, and surrounding structures—a common issue many people experience with tree work. From risk reduction and maintenance pruning to pre-construction land clearing and tidy green waste removal, our team delivers results that last, and we don’t consider the job finished until the clean-up is done properly. Call Rob now to get we’ll do your job right.
permit rules at a glance
Permit Rules at a Glance
What you need to know about this part of the work:
With years of hands-on expertise, we deliver fast and effective tree services that are carefully planned, professionally executed, and focused on minimising disruption to your home, garden, or worksite while maintaining the highest safety standards throughout every stage of the process.
Why Choose Us
We Handle the Whole Permit Process
We check your council rules, prepare the application, commission the arborist report if required, and follow up with council until the decision comes through precision, efficiency, and maximum safety. We’re experienced in tight access areas and complex removals, delivering a clean, damage-free finish—while taking extra care to avoid damage to gardens and plants, not just buildings.
Designed for long-term safety and reliability, our removals reduce the risk of falling limbs, regrowth, and unsightly stumps—leaving you with a safe, clear, usable space. Whether it’s a single tree or a full site clearing, we deliver professional results you can trust.
Tree
Tree Removal Permits — Our Process
Every permit case follows the same steps: we identify your council, check trunk diameter and species against their rules, tell you in plain English whether you need a permit, prepare and submit the application on your behalf, commission the arborist report if required, and follow up with council until the decisionse, reliable service, and a consistently high standard of clean-up for homeowners and commercial clients.
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Satisfied Customers
Need a Permit? We Sort It
Council Permit Help Across Melbourne
We deliver this work across Sydenham and every Melbourne metro suburb, we handle permit applications, arborist reports, and council follow-up so you don’t have to. We cover every council area across Greater Melbourne that keep clients coming back. With precision, safety, and a strong focus on protecting homes and gardens, we’re the trusted choice to get the job done right across Victoria.
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What Clients Say About Our Permit Service
Our clients love our work—here’s what they’re saying about Precision Arbor Care.
Related service
Stump Grinding in Melbourne
Tree removal almost always leaves a stump. Most clients want it ground out on the same visit — same crew, same disposal, no second call-out. Stump grinding adds $150-$600 depending on stump diameter and root spread, but only if you choose to add it.
See stump grinding service →What Triggers a Tree Removal Permit in Each Melbourne Council
Every Melbourne council writes its own tree-removal rules, which is why the same tree on the same kind of property gets different answers depending on the suburb. Here’s the pattern most councils share, and the few that genuinely break from it.
Most metropolitan councils trigger a permit on three things: tree species (significant or native), tree size (typically circumference ≥110 cm at 1 m height), and location (within a Significant Landscape Overlay or Heritage Overlay). If your tree hits any one of these, you’ll need an arborist report and a council application before any work can start.
Boroondara, Stonnington, and Glen Eira apply the strictest tests in the eastern suburbs. Boroondara’s Tree Protection Local Law covers any tree above 5 m in height, regardless of species or where on the property it sits. Stonnington uses a circumference test (1.4 m at 1.5 m height) but extends protection to any tree mentioned in the property’s planning permit. Glen Eira combines both tests and adds heritage overlay enforcement on streets in Caulfield, Elsternwick, and St Kilda East.
Outer-suburban councils like Casey, Cardinia, and Melton apply lighter tests but enforce them on properties over 0.4 hectares (4,000 m²) — that’s most semi-rural blocks. Native vegetation rules under the Planning and Environment Act 1987 sit on top of council rules, so even where the council says no permit, DELWP referral rules may still apply if the tree is a remnant native.
Bayside, Port Phillip, and Maribyrnong tend to wave through removals on smaller blocks but apply the Heritage Overlay aggressively. If your tree is visible from a heritage-listed street, expect a longer assessment timeline even when the species itself isn’t protected.
Three exemptions apply in nearly every council: trees that are dead (verified by a qualified arborist report), trees that pose an imminent safety risk (storm damage, structural failure), and routine pruning that doesn’t reduce the canopy by more than 20%. Get the arborist report first — councils don’t accept homeowner judgement on “dead” or “dangerous”.
We deal with council permit applications across every Melbourne metropolitan council weekly. If you’re not sure which test applies to your tree, send us a photo and the property address and we’ll tell you within the day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Melbourne?
How long does a tree removal permit take in Victoria?
How much does a tree removal permit cost?
Can I remove a tree without a permit if it’s dead?
Can a neighbour stop my tree removal permit?
Do you help with the permit application?
Other tree-removal cost & service angles
Ready when you are
Need a permit? We handle it for you
Rob calls you back the same day, we identify the council that controls your address, check the tree against their protected-species and trunk-diameter rules, and tell you in plain English whether you need a permit. If you do, we apply on your behalf, commission the arborist report, and follow up with council until the decision comes back.
No hours on hold with council, no confusing forms, no permit jargon — just a clear yes/no and a fixed-fee package if a permit is needed.
Servicing Melbourne metropolitan and outer suburbs. Email: [email protected]
