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Strata managers and committees deal with trees in a different way from private homeowners. One overgrown canopy can trigger safety risks, blocked access, root damage, insurance concerns, owner complaints, and council approval issues in the same week. That is why strata tree management in Sydney is really a risk and compliance job, not a once-off gardening task.
For Plateau Trees, this topic sits right in the middle of the company’s core offer: risk reduction, compliance support, reliable delivery, and practical guidance for strata properties across Sydney.
If your scheme has trees near roofs, driveways, paths, powerlines, or boundary fences, a structured review is worth doing before the next storm.
Key Takeaways
- Strata tree management in Sydney is about safety, shared responsibility, approvals, and clear communication, not just pruning.
- In NSW strata schemes, common property maintenance sits with the owners corporation unless a by-law shifts that duty.
- Permit rules differ across Sydney councils. Do not assume one suburb’s rule applies in another.
- A programmed tree plan cuts down reactive spending, owner disputes, and emergency call-outs.
- Keep residents informed early. Complaints about views, roots, leaf drop, blocked light, or hazard concerns can escalate fast when the committee has no written plan.
Common Tree Issues in Strata – Roots, Views, Hazards
Most strata tree problems start small. A few branches brush a roof. Roots lift a path edge. A resident raises a complaint about blocked views. A storm hits, then the tree becomes an urgent safety issue.
Common strata issues include:
- branches over roofs, balconies, visitor parking, or shared paths
- roots affecting paving, retaining walls, drains, or driveways
- deadwood and canopy weight over high-use areas
- blocked sightlines near vehicle access points
- resident complaints about light, leaf litter, fruit drop, or views
- uncertainty about whether a tree is on common property or inside a lot boundary
This matters more in NSW storm season than many committees realise. ABC reported in January 2025 that 65% of NSW SES call-outs since October had involved trees. In February 2025, ABC reported nearly 20,000 storm-related calls in NSW since the start of October. Those figures do not mean every tree is dangerous. They do show why deferred maintenance can turn into a budget and safety problem fast.
When concerns appear early, committees can reduce risk by acting on the signs to call an arborist before a tree becomes a storm response issue. For strata schemes managing shared access areas, car parks, and pedestrian zones, planned reviews are often more practical than waiting for damage to force urgent work. This is where dedicated strata tree services become part of site risk management rather than a reactive maintenance expense.
The cost angle is real too. The Insurance Council of Australia said extreme weather caused almost $3.5 billion in insured losses from 264,000 claims across Australia in 2025. Committees do not control the weather, yet they can control how exposed their property is before major rain, wind, or hail events arrive.
A practical first step is a site-based hazard assessment that ranks trees by risk, access issues, required approvals, and timing.
Who is Responsible – Strata vs Lot Owners
Responsibility is one of the biggest sources of delay in strata tree matters.
In NSW, the owners corporation is responsible for maintenance and repair of common property, and owners are responsible for their own property. The Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 sets out the owners corporation’s duty to maintain and repair common property, and the common property memorandum can help clarify who maintains certain items if adopted in the scheme’s by-laws.
That means the first question is simple:
Where is the tree?
- On common property: the owners corporation usually manages the work.
- Inside a private lot: the lot owner may be responsible, subject to the scheme’s by-laws and any council approval rules.
- Affecting common property from a private lot: responsibility may still involve the lot owner, the owners corporation, or both, based on the by-laws and the exact location of the tree and damage.
This is where strata schemes can overlap with private ownership. A tree inside a courtyard or on an exclusive-use section of a lot may still affect drains, fences, access, or neighbouring common areas. In those cases, the boundary between committee action and lot owner action can become blurred. For private residents dealing with similar site issues on non-strata land, residential tree services often follow a different approval and responsibility pathway.
NSW strata by-laws can be changed by special resolution, and those by-laws can deal with maintenance obligations tied to common property rights. NSW has also introduced reforms aimed at stronger accountability for common property repairs and maintenance.
For strata committees, this creates a practical rule:
Do not approve tree work until you confirm the tree location, the by-laws, and who will carry the cost.
A written arborist assessment helps here. It gives the committee something objective to table at a meeting, attach to minutes, and use in owner communication.
Navigating Council Permits and Conditions
Sydney permit rules are not uniform. Each council has its own controls, exemptions, forms, and conditions. That is why a strata committee should avoid casual assumptions such as “we can trim 10% anywhere” or “dead branches never need approval”.
Here are a few current examples:
| Council Example | What the Source Says |
|---|---|
|
City of Sydney |
Tree removal and some pruning require a permit. The council publishes specific pruning exemptions tied to roads, footpaths, buildings, and service lines. |
|
Northern Beaches Council |
Trees and vegetation on private land are protected under the Biodiversity and Conservation SEPP framework, with permit pathways and listed exemptions. Council guidance says permission is usually required for pruning or removal over certain thresholds, though some exempt species and limited works may proceed without a permit. |
|
Willoughby City Council |
In most cases, a permit is needed. Its published controls include size thresholds and replacement planting conditions when removal is approved. |
|
Inner West Council |
The council publishes permit pathways, FAQs on exempt pruning, and notes that strata consent is needed when applying to remove a neighbour’s tree in a strata setting. |
Committees that need to get council approval for tree removal should treat permit preparation as an administrative task that needs evidence, site details, and a clear reason for the proposed work. For general NSW guidance, Service NSW also provides information on removing trees on your property, which can help committees and owners understand the approval process before applications are lodged.
For strata schemes, permit preparation usually runs smoother when the committee has:
- a site plan
- photos
- tree locations marked clearly
- reasons for the work
- resident complaint history where relevant
- an arborist report if the council requests one
If removal is being considered, budget questions usually follow quickly. A committee that understands likely tree removal costs can make better decisions about staging, quotations, and owner approval rather than waiting until urgent works leave little room for comparison.
If the tree is close to access roads, utilities, car parks, or high-use pedestrian areas, get the hazard review done before you lodge the permit. It saves rework.
Setting Up a Programmed Maintenance Plan
Reactive tree work is expensive in strata. It creates rushed decisions, upset owners, and uneven spending across the year.
A better model is a strata tree maintenance plan with set review dates, priority rankings, and clear approval pathways. That approach suits committees that need to manage risk, costs, and communication across multiple owners rather than treating every issue as a separate incident. In practical terms, ongoing strata tree services can help committees move from ad hoc call-outs to a documented maintenance cycle.
A practical plan usually includes:
- Annual or six-monthly tree inspections
- Hazard ranking by location and use
- Permit-required items separated from exempt maintenance
- Pruning cycles by species and site conditions
- Storm-season readiness checks
- Root-zone monitoring near paths, drains, and retaining walls
- Budget bands for routine works versus urgent works
- Owner communication templates for upcoming jobs
This approach fits the current NSW strata setting too. NSW says all schemes must complete annual reporting, and more than 1.2 million people live in strata homes across the state. For larger schemes, that scale alone is a reason to document tree decisions properly.
Template Annual Tree Plan Checklist
- Confirm which trees are on common property
- Review by-laws and prior tree resolutions
- Identify urgent hazards
- Record owner complaints and repeat issues
- Check permit status for proposed works
- Schedule routine pruning and deadwood removal
- Inspect paths, drains, walls, kerbs, and parking areas for root impacts
- Note trees close to roofs, balconies, lighting, and service lines
- Set communication dates for residents
- Keep photos, quotes, approvals, and close-out records together
If your scheme does not have this list in place, that is a strong sign a site audit is overdue.
Handling Complaints and Keeping Owners Informed
Tree complaints in strata are rarely just about trees. They are usually about visibility, fairness, safety, mess, cost, or delay.
The most common triggers are:
- “The roots are damaging common property.”
- “This tree blocks my outlook.”
- “Branches are hanging over my balcony.”
- “The tree looks unsafe.”
- “Why are we paying for removal?”
- “Why has nothing happened since the last storm?”
The committee does not need to solve every complaint on the spot. It does need a process.
A simple complaint workflow looks like this:
- Log the issue with date, lot number, photos, and exact location.
- Confirm if the tree is on common property or within a lot.
- Check whether the issue is a safety risk, a maintenance issue, or a by-law dispute.
- Get an arborist opinion where risk, structural impact, or permit questions exist.
- Tell owners what happens next and when they can expect an update.
- Record the decision in committee or general meeting minutes.
A short resident update often cuts friction better than a long debate. State the issue, state the next step, state the timing. Where a complaint points to canopy decline, deadwood, branch failure risk, or sudden tree movement, committees should refer back to the common signs to call an arborist and act before owner concern turns into an emergency response.
Final Words
Good strata tree management in Sydney is about keeping people safe, keeping the scheme compliant, and giving committees a clear basis for action. When responsibility is checked early, permits are handled properly, and maintenance is programmed, the property runs with fewer surprises.
The strongest approach is one that combines inspection, risk ranking, approval support, and scheduled follow-up work. That gives strata managers and committees a clearer path from complaint to action, with records that owners can understand and approve.
Contact Plateau Trees for Strata Tree Management in Sydney
If your scheme has overhanging limbs, visible decline, repeated owner complaints, or trees close to paths and buildings, now is a good time to act.
Book a strata tree audit and get a maintenance plan that owners can approve.
Got Questions?
Frequently Asked Questions
Know more about us
Does a strata scheme need council approval to prune or remove a tree in Sydney?
In many cases, yes. Approval rules vary between councils across Sydney, and the type of work matters. Minor pruning may be exempt in some council areas, but larger pruning or removal often needs formal approval. Strata committees should confirm the local rules before booking work, especially where the tree sits near boundaries, footpaths, buildings, or public land.
Who pays for tree work in a strata property?
That depends on where the tree is located and what the strata by-laws say. If the tree is on common property, the owners corporation will usually be responsible for the cost. If the tree is within a private lot, the lot owner may be responsible. In some cases, shared impacts can make the issue less clear, so it helps to review the strata plan, by-laws, and arborist advice before making a decision.
What are the signs that a strata tree may be unsafe?
Common warning signs include dead branches, visible cracks, fungal growth, sudden leaning, root movement, canopy decline, hanging limbs, and branches touching structures or access areas. Trees near driveways, walkways, play areas, and parking spaces should be checked quickly if any of these signs appear. Early action can reduce the chance of injury, property damage, and urgent storm response work.
How often should a strata property have its trees inspected?
Many strata properties benefit from an annual inspection, though some sites need more frequent checks. A scheme with large trees, high pedestrian traffic, recurring complaints, past storm damage, or trees close to buildings may need inspections every six months. A programmed review schedule helps committees budget for maintenance and deal with risks before they escalate.
What should a strata tree maintenance plan include?
A useful plan should list tree locations, identify common property trees, note site risks, track complaints, set inspection dates, separate routine maintenance from urgent works, and record permit needs. It should also include photo records, work history, and a priority list for action. This gives strata managers and committees a clearer framework for approvals, budgeting, and owner communication.