How Much Does An Arborist Report Cost? [2024]

You might have any number of reasons why you want to remove a tree from your property.

It might pose a danger from falling branches or stand between you and your home extension. A tree in your back yard might block your view or not fit in with your landscaping plans. Whatever the reason may be, you can't remove a tree without council permission and to get that permission, you will need to submit an arborist report.

Does your tree need council approval?

How do you know if your problem tree needs council approval? It depends on a number of factors, including:

• The size and height of your tree
• What the tree species is
• If it is dead or alive (dead trees don't require approval)
• Where the tree is located on your property (Trees within 3m of your home’s foundations can generally be removed without council approval)
• If it falls under the 20/50 rule for fire hazard

Ultimately however your local council will have its own regulations, so check with them first - and never assume.

What is an arborists report?

Councils throughout Australia require an arborist report because part of their job is to protect Australia's beautiful natural environment. If tree removal was not regulated, native and rare tree species would be needlessly removed, spoiling the environment for everyone. An arborist is trained to know local council regulations surrounding tree removal and knows how to identify trees that can legally be removed versus those that should be preserved.

An arborist report is a complex document that typically address a list of 15 or more issues. Aside from basic information such as the applicant's name, address and contact details, other issues need to be covered that only a trained arborist is qualified to accurately address. Just some of them include:

• A site map
• The scientific name of the tree to be removed
• The height, canopy spread, trunk diameter and other details about the tree
• Information about diseases, pests and other abnormalities present in the tree
• Arguments in favour of or against alternatives to full tree removal

In addition, details about the arborist who prepares the report, including proof of their qualifications, must be included in the report. As a rule, councils do not recommend arborists, but they do look more favourably on reports prepared by arborists who have Level 5 diplomas in arboriculture and/or membership in recognised professional associations such as Arboriculture Australia.

What trees can I remove?

Each council has their own regulations regarding tree management called Tree Preservation Orders (TPO), which set out the rules around tree maintenance and removal. But safe to say that you should check before you prune or remove a tree from your residential or business property. You will generally need a permit, or if it is a heritage tree you may need development consent.

For example the City of Sydney Council has an exemption, where no permit or development consent is required, “if your tree is dead, dying or is an imminent risk to human life or substantial property”. You must however be able to prove this or face the prospect of a fine or legal action. There are also some trees for which no permit or permission is required in their jurisdiction, including species of bamboo, citrus trees and rubber trees to name a few. Other trees can be pruned or removed if they are under a certain height, in this case 10 metres tall.

How much does an arborist report cost?

Arborist reports start at $450 and can be as costly as $2,000 for a full impact assessment. The cost in council fees associated in lodging your tree permit can additionally be around.

• $75-$100 for one to five trees
• $20-$25 for each additional tree
• $35 as an archiving fee

There is also different types of arborist reports such as an arboricultural impact assessment, standard report, and specific reports for root structures etc. 

The bulk of the cost of the report will go to the arborist, who will have to visually inspect your tree or trees, draw the site map and prepare the report. Arborists usually charge an hourly fee, but if tree reports are part of their regular job, they may have set fees for their reports.

In terms of the tree removal itself the average price of tree removal ranges from $300 to over $10,000, with an average of $1,000. The wide range in the price reflects the variety of factors which come into play, specifically the size of your tree, how easy access is and the proximity of the tree to buildings or any overhead utility lines.

Learn more: How Much Does an Arborist Cost?

Comparing quotes from arborists

To find out exactly how much your report will cost, get quotes from arborists who serve your local area.

When you begin to get quotes from arborists, ensure you understand what’s been included and excluded. Is the use of equipment included? How many arborists will be needed? Can they prepare and submit an arborist report to council on your behalf? Also ensure the arborist is fully insured, with workers compensation and public liability. They should also be fully qualified and be happy to provide references or examples of work.