Lithgow City Council tree removal rules
Everything you need to know before removing or pruning a tree in the Lithgow 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 Lithgow City Council?
Lithgow City Council generally does not require council approval to remove trees on private property — its tree controls don't apply to private land. Other laws (native vegetation, heritage, threatened species) may still apply, so confirm with the council.
Lithgow's Tree Preservation Order was amended to exclude private property, so you generally don't need council approval to remove a tree on your own land — but native vegetation, heritage and threatened-species rules can still apply.
When you may not need approval
- Dead, dying or dangerous trees that are an imminent risk to people or property (most councils require a qualified arborist's report — keep photos and the report).
- Minor pruning within Australian Standard AS 4373-2007 (often up to ~10% of the canopy in a year) — council-dependent.
- Certain listed weed or exempt species, and trees under the council's size threshold.
- Trees within a set distance of an approved dwelling — but the distance varies by council and many councils have no such exemption.
How to apply
No council permit is generally required to remove a tree on private property; native vegetation clearing and other laws may still apply.
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 Lithgow City Council?
Fill in the tree details and we'll estimate whether you likely need council approval.
Suburbs in Lithgow City Council
- Bell
- Ben Bullen
- Blackmans Flat
- Bogee
- Bowenfels
- Brogans Creek
- Capertee
- Clarence
- Cobar Park
- Corney Town
- Cullen Bullen
- Dargan
- Dark Corner
- Doctors Gap
- Dunville Loop
- Ganbenang
- Glen Alice
- Glen Davis
- Good Forest
- Hampton
- Hartley
- Hartley Vale
- Hassans Walls
- Hermitage Flat
- Kanimbla
- Lidsdale
- Lithgow
- Little Hartley
- Littleton
- Lowther
- Marrangaroo
- McKellars Park
- Meadow Flat
- Megalong Valley
- Morts Estate
- Mount Lambie
- Mount Marsden
- Newnes
- Newnes Plateau
- Oakey Park
- Palmers Oaky
- Portland
- Pottery Estate
- Round Swamp
- Running Stream
- Rydal
- Sheedys Gully
- Sodwalls
- South Bowenfels
- South Littleton
- State Mine Gully
- Sunny Corner
- Tarana
- Upper Nile
- Upper Turon
- Vale of Clwydd
- Wallerawang
- Wirraba
- Wolgan Valley
- Wollangambe
- Wollemi