Lane Cove facts that change a plumbing job
Mostly apartments
At the 2021 Census, 62.4% of the suburb's occupied homes were flats or apartments, 30.3% separate houses and 7.0% semis or townhouses. 37.3% were rented.
A permit for any sizeable tree
Lane Cove Council needs a permit to prune or remove a tree 150mm across at 1m above ground, or more than 4 metres tall.
No 10% allowance
Unlike some councils, Lane Cove doesn't let you prune up to 10% of a tree without a permit.
Your stormwater, even on Council land
Owners maintain private stormwater pipes on their block, plus any pipes on Council land that form part of their drainage. Council looks after 93km of its own pipelines.
Roots don't break good pipes
Lane Cove Council's view is plain: roots won't force their way into intact pipes and drains, unless the tree was planted right on top of them. The pipes belong to the property owner, who has to keep them in good condition.
Council may ask for a plumber's report before it looks at a tree, and it expects repairs to be explored before a healthy tree is removed. In practice that means a CCTV drain inspection and a written report come first. Our tree roots page explains what a plumber looks for.
Stormwater that crosses Council land
Your stormwater line may run under a footpath or reserve before it reaches the kerb or a Council pipe. Lane Cove Council says those sections are still yours to maintain if they're part of your property's drainage. A stormwater plumber can trace where your line actually goes.
Leaks between the street and the house
Your drinking water pipes are yours from where they connect to Sydney Water's system through to the taps. The short section between the main and your meter is different: Sydney Water may repair it, up to one metre inside your boundary, and it maintains the meter. If water is leaking in a public space, report it to Sydney Water. For leaks on your side, see leak detection in Sydney.
In an apartment
With six in ten homes being units, a lot of Lane Cove jobs involve a strata manager. Generally the owners corporation covers pipes in boundary walls and under floors, and each owner covers fixtures and internal wall pipes. Photos and the plumber's written notes settle most arguments about who pays.
What we would do
For a blockage that keeps coming back near a tree, get a camera inspection and ask for a written report with photos before anything else. Lane Cove Council may ask for it anyway, and it shows whether a reline, a section replacement or a clean will do. Don't prune roots or branches until you've checked the permit rules. Then we'll match you with a drain specialist who can do the inspection.