Tree Protection in Jacksonville Beach, FL (2026)
2 verified tree protection rules for Jacksonville Beach, Florida, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Heritage & Protected Trees
In Jacksonville Beach, no one can cut down, damage or destroy a protected tree (6 inches DBH or more) without a site clearing and tree removal permit from the Planning and Development Department. Whether a tree is an exceptional specimen tree is a listed permit factor, and specimen trees must be replaced inch for inch.
Jacksonville Beach Exceptional Specimen Tree Removal Rules
Significant RestrictionsJacksonville Beach Code § 34-744
(a) Site clearing and tree protection requirements. No person, directly or indirectly, shall engage in site clearing or cut down, remove, damage or destroy, or authorize the removal, damage or destruction of any protected tree as defined in the LDC ... without first having obtained a site clearing and tree removal permit pursuant to section 34-744 (d). ... g. The species and size of the trees p...
Protected Tree Species
Jacksonville Beach protects trees by size, not by a named species list: a protected tree is any tree with a DBH of six (6) inches or more. Section 34-744(b) carves out pine other than cedar, palms not planted for an approved landscape plan, invasive species, nursery and botanical garden stock, and hazardous or diseased trees.
Jacksonville Beach Protected Trees and Exempt Species
Some RestrictionsJacksonville Beach Code § 34-744(b)
(b) Exemptions to site clearing and tree protection standards. The following protected trees are exempt from the site clearing and tree protection requirements of section 34-744 (a): (1) Any of the following species or sub-species of trees are not protected trees under this division: Pine, except cedar trees. Palm trees, unless planted to meet a requirement of an approved landscape plan. (2) In...