Residents across Sydney's inner west will be free to raze trees on their properties with limited restrictions from council after a last-minute amendment was adopted by councillors.

The adoption of the amendment was labelled an "ambush" by Greens councillors, who argued it could lead to a "tree massacre" across the area.

Residents of Sydney's inner west face fewer restrictions to cutting trees down on their own properties, under a new council policy. Credit:Nick Moir

The Inner West Council had been scheduled to adopt a draft policy on Tuesday night which would have retained greater restrictions on landowners felling trees on their property. That policy had already been on public exhibition.

But independent Victor Macri presented amendments that he had previously worked on with Labor mayor Darcy Byrne.