Guides
How much does an arborist report cost in Melbourne?
For Melbourne homeowners, builders and designers, the cost depends on what the report needs to cover. A single-tree permit report costs less than an impact assessment for a building project because the scope, site assessment and documentation are different. All estimates below are Arbor Analytics' own estimates, not market averages. They include GST and exclude priority turnaround, CAD drawings and optional add-ons.
A starting point for your budget
For an initial budget, allow roughly the following for a report with standard turnaround. The bands cover different report types, so the number of trees is only part of the price:
- 1–5 trees: around $800–$1,400.
- 6–10 trees: around $900–$1,700.
- 11–20 trees: around $1,000–$2,000.
- 20+ trees: around $1,200–$2,400.
Amounts are in Australian dollars, include GST and are rounded budgeting estimates based on our standard report calculator, not fixed quotes or market averages. They exclude priority turnaround, optional add-ons and separately quoted CAD drawings. Complex sites and larger tree inventories may fall outside these bands.
A building project may need more than one report, protection documentation or construction-stage support. These bands are for an individual reporting scope, not the total arborist cost of a development.
How report purpose changes the budget
The report type has the biggest effect on price. This comparison shows the standard-turnaround estimate for 2–5 trees, including GST, for each report scope:
| Report type | 2–5 trees (inc. GST) |
|---|---|
| Council permit report (Pruning) | $800–$900 |
| Council permit report (Removal) | $1,000–$1,300 |
| Tree health and safety assessment | $900–$1,000 |
| Preliminary assessment | $1,000–$1,200 |
| Impact assessment | $1,000–$1,100 |
| Tree Protection Specification and Plan | $1,200–$1,400 |
Standard turnaround is 2–5 business days. Priority turnaround, risk assessment add-ons and CAD drawings are not included and are quoted separately. Estimates are rounded to the nearest $100.
A pruning permit report for one or two trees sits at the lower end because the scope is narrower: the arborist assesses the tree, documents its condition and prepares a recommendation for council. An impact assessment or tree protection specification costs more because it also analyses how proposed works affect the tree, what protection measures are needed and whether retention is feasible.
What moves the price up or down?
The main factors are the report's purpose, the number of trees, the site conditions and the work needed to answer the brief.
- A tree you want to remove. Ask for an assessment and written report addressing the removal application, not just a price to cut the tree down. Send the report provider any council instructions. If your application has been refused or delayed, see what council usually needs after a rejected permit.
- A concern about tree health or safety. Clarify whether you need verbal advice, a written assessment or further investigation. Ask what happens if the initial inspection cannot answer the concern.
- Building or extending near trees. Send the current plans. A preliminary assessment informs early design; an impact assessment examines a proposal. Ask separately about protection plans and any later site supervision.
- More trees or a more involved site. More assessment, photographs and documentation can increase the work. Access constraints and further investigation may also affect the scope.
- Urgency and extra deliverables. Priority turnaround, optional risk assessment and CAD drawings can add to the price. Risk assessment is already included in the calculator's health and safety assessment, so do not count it twice.
Not sure which applies? Start with which arborist report you need. Ordering the right scope matters more than finding the lowest headline price.
Five questions before accepting a quote
Make sure the quote covers the outcome you need, not just a site visit. Check these points before booking:
- What will I receive? Confirm the trees assessed, site visit, written report, photographs and any plans or drawings included.
- Does it address my brief? Have the provider check the council request or project requirements before you book.
- What is the total payable? Check GST, travel and any separately priced investigations or drawings.
- What follow-up is included? Distinguish clarification of the original report from changed plans, extra trees, repeat visits or new requirements.
- When will it be delivered? Confirm the inspection date, report timing and whether an urgent deadline changes the price.
Also check your wider project budget: application fees and lodgement, tree removal or pruning, surveying, and installing protection fencing should not be assumed to be included in a report fee. Ask for exclusions in writing.
Get a clearer price with a clear brief
Sharing the right details helps define the work from the start. Copy this and fill in what you know:
I need a report for [purpose] at [property address], covering approximately [number] trees. Attached are [photos, current plans and any council request]. My deadline is [date]. Please confirm the assessment and documents included, total price including GST, delivery timing, and any extra charges for revisions or follow-up.
Send the latest version of your plans and flag anything likely to change. If you already have a report, share it and ask whether it can be used or updated before commissioning another one.
Frequently asked questions about arborist report costs
Does the quoted price include GST?
Arbor Analytics quotes include GST. The estimates on this page are shown including GST and rounded to the nearest $100. Always confirm with any provider whether their quoted price includes or excludes GST before you compare.
Why does the same number of trees cost more for some report types?
Different report types involve different levels of site assessment, analysis and documentation. A tree protection specification with a plan, for example, typically costs more than a single-tree pruning permit report because it includes protection measures, fencing details and construction-stage requirements.
What is not included in a standard report price?
Priority turnaround, separately quoted CAD drawings and optional risk assessment add-ons are not included in the standard price. Risk assessment is already included for tree health and safety assessments. Follow-up work outside the original scope is quoted separately if needed.
Where these figures come from
Every dollar figure on this page is generated when the page is built from Arbor Analytics' own quote calculator data, the same data behind the quote form on this site. The figures are our standard-turnaround estimates for the stated report type and tree count, with GST added and rounded to the nearest $100. Priority turnaround (48 hours) and optional risk assessment are priced separately in the calculator; CAD drawings are quoted separately.
This page does not survey other providers, so it says nothing about what another arborist would charge, and it does not cover council application fees, tree removal or pruning contractor costs, surveying or protection fencing. Complex sites, large tree inventories and work outside the standard scope are quoted individually.
Sources
- Arbor Analytics quote calculator data (first-party pricing for each report type and tree count, GST rate and add-on rules), as published on this site and accessed 29 September 2026. The page is rebuilt from that data whenever it changes.
Get a quote for your property
Arbor Analytics confirms the reporting scope and provides a fixed-price quote before work starts. Include your property address, approximate tree count and the reason you need a report, and mention any plans or council correspondence.
