Service
Arborist Reports in Brisbane
A written assessment of your tree by an AQF Level 5 arborist — the document councils ask for when you apply to prune or remove protected vegetation.
Covers one site visit and one tree. Additional trees quoted per tree.
Who this is for
- Homeowners applying for a council permit to remove or prune a protected tree
- Anyone told by council that their application needs supporting evidence
- Property owners with a tree they believe is dead, dying or dangerous
- Body corporates and property managers documenting tree condition
What you get
- On-site inspection and Visual Tree Assessment (VTA) of each tree
- Species identification, dimensions, age class and health rating
- Structural condition assessment and identification of defects
- Annotated photographic record
- Site plan showing tree locations
- Clear recommendations, justified against your council’s criteria
- A written report formatted for lodgement with your council
Standards applied
Reports are prepared against the standards and instruments assessors expect to see referenced.
- AS 4373-2007 Pruning of amenity trees
- Brisbane City Council Natural Assets Local Law 2003
Arborist Report — questions
How much does an arborist report cost in Brisbane?
Reports start at $660 inc. GST for a standard single-tree assessment. Cost rises with the number of trees, site complexity, and whether the report has to address a development application. You get a fixed quote before any work starts — no hourly surprises.
How long does an arborist report take?
Typically 2-3 business days from site visit to finished report. If your application deadline is tighter than that, ask about a rush turnaround when you enquire.
Will the council accept the report?
Reports are written to the standard your council expects and cite the specific local law or planning scheme provision your application sits under. Brisbane City Council requires reports on significant landscape trees to be prepared by an AQF Level 5 arborist — that is the qualification behind every report we issue.
Do I need a report if the tree is already dead?
Often not. Dead trees are an exempt activity under Brisbane’s Natural Assets Local Law. But the exemption only holds if the tree genuinely meets the definition, and the burden of proof sits with you if council questions it afterwards. A short report is inexpensive insurance against a penalty that can run into thousands.
What is the difference between an AQF Level 3 and Level 5 arborist?
Level 3 is the practical qualification for climbing and tree work. Level 5 is the diploma-level consulting qualification, and it is the minimum councils accept on a report. A Level 3 arborist can remove your tree; a Level 5 arborist can write the assessment that gets it approved.
Related
Often needed alongside this
Arboricultural Impact Assessment
The report councils require when construction encroaches on the root zone of protected trees — what your build does to each tree, and what has to change.
Read more →Tree Risk Assessment
A structured evaluation of how likely a tree is to fail, what it would hit, and what the consequences would be — documented so your decision is defensible.
Read more →Tree Health & Soil Diagnostics
Most declining trees are a soil problem wearing a canopy symptom. This is the diagnostic work that finds the actual cause before you spend money treating the wrong thing.
Read more →Get started
Request a quote for arborist report
Tell us the property and what council has asked for. You will get a fixed price and a realistic timeframe — same business day.
- No obligation and no pressure
- Honest answer if you don't need the report
- Fixed price, quoted before any work begins
Enquire — Arborist Report
Tell us what you need and you will hear back same business day. No obligation, and a fixed price before any work starts.
Not sure what you need?
Describe the situation and you will get a straight answer about which report your council actually requires — including when the answer is that you do not need one.