An investigation by Fairfax Media revealed trees were being stripped from areas from Palm Beach to Pittwater, Mosman and Sutherland Shire. Councils and residents also raised concerns the RFS was using out of date maps to determine bushfire-prone areas.

After weeks of complaints, the RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons announced it would make changes to the way the so-called 10/50 rule was being applied in built-up areas and bring forward a formal review of the code to start this month.

The 10/50 vegetation clearing code of practice allowed people in NSW living within 350 metres of designated bushfire-prone areas to clear trees on their property, within 10 metres of a home, without seeking approval.

Shrubs could also be removed within 50 metres of a home. It made no distinction between bushland and urban areas.

The RFS has now reduced the distance from 350 metres to 150 metres for "category two" bushfire-prone land.

Councils will also have the ability to reclassify smaller parcels of vegetation from category one "high risk" to category two, reducing the area where trees and vegetation can be cut down without approval.

Since the introduction of the code on August 1, waterfront property owners have felled trees to improve their property and views.

Tree-lopping companies advertised discount rates for streets banding together to clear unwanted trees

The Nature Conservation Council chief executive Kate Smolski said the reduction in area only applied to category two bushfire-prone land.

"The vast majority of areas affected by the 10/50 rule are adjacent to category one bushfire-prone lands, so the changes have not removed the risks to trees in most urban bushland areas," she said.

"People will be justifiably angry when they realise the changes do not address their legitimate concerns."