Dunedin city councillor Richard Walls has confirmed consent was given for the tree to be removed.
The tree was the subject in November of a council resource consent hearing, which marked the second attempt by the affected residents to gain official permission to remove it.
Peter and Ruth Denton and Murray and Sylvia Little complained the tree damaged driveways, dropped debris and caused "huge stress and anxiety".
They wanted to fell the 27m Sequoiadendron giganteum, an application that attracted 23 submissions in support, three against and one that was neutral.
The committee of Crs Walls, Fliss Butcher and Andrew Noone heard the tree also dropped debris on surrounding properties, including on a nearby service station, where it was a safety issue, and those living beneath it had serious concerns for their safety in case it was toppled by high winds.
It was healthy and could potentially grow to 90m.
Cr Walls visited the residents late last week with the news.
Mr Denton said he was pleased with the outcome.
"As far as we're concerned, it's common sense."
He would wait until after the Christmas break to begin planning to fell the tree.
He had no idea how much the exercise would cost.
The two couples would share the cost.
Cr Walls said trees were "a very personal thing", but there had been little opposition to removing the redwood.
"It's a great tree, but we all realise it's in the wrong place."
