Brandon's Tree Protection: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles tree protection a little differently. In Brandon, Florida, there are 2 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Heritage & Protected Trees

Hillsborough County LDC §4.01.06 protects 'grand oaks' — live oaks, laurel oaks, swamp chestnut oaks, or other native oaks with a DBH of 34 inches or greater. They cannot be removed without administrative authorization and replacement requirements apply.

Key details: Threshold: DBH ≥34 inches (oak species). Pruning: ANSI A300 + certified arborist. Replacement Cap: ≤20% DBH per Admin.

Fines for unauthorized grand-oak removal can exceed $1,000 per tree plus replacement-cost recovery.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Brandon actively enforces its heritage & protected trees requirements.

Tree Removal Permits

Hillsborough County requires a tree removal permit for most trees on developed and undeveloped land under LDC §4.01.06. The current fee is approximately $81.65 for any number of trees within a 5-acre parcel, plus $24.93 per additional acre.

Key details: Permit Fee: $81.65 base / 5-acre parcel. Grand Oak: DBH ≥34 in., admin approval required. Code: LDC §4.01.06.

Up to $1,000 per tree plus mandatory replacement; tree-protection violations are sometimes calculated by appraised tree value.

The Bottom Line

Brandon's tree protection rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Brandon is broadly strict or permissive.

These rules come from Brandon's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.