Tree Protection in Sarasota, FL (2026)
3 verified tree protection rules for Sarasota, Florida, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Heritage & Protected Trees
City of Sarasota bans removing 'grand trees', large, healthy Live Oaks, Sand Live Oaks, Slash Pines, Longleaf Pines, and Southern Red Cedars, absent a narrow city-approved exemption.
Grand Tree Protection in City of Sarasota
Significant RestrictionsSarasota Zoning Code § VII-310(a)
A tree is considered a grand tree if it is determined to have a good or moderate suitability rating by a city arborist, based on the definitions found under the suitability ratings below and is either a Live Oak (Quercus virginia) or Sand Live Oak (Quercus geminata) that has a DBH measurement of 24 inches or greater; or is a Slash Pine (Pinus elliottii), Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris) or South...
Protected Tree Species
Almost any tree 4.5 inches DBH or larger, plus listed palms and mangroves, counts as a City of Sarasota 'protected tree' requiring a permit before removal.
Protected Tree Definition in City of Sarasota
Significant RestrictionsSarasota Zoning Code § II-201 (definition of "Protected tree")
Protected tree: Any self-supporting live woody plant of at least four and one-half inches in diameter measured at DBH (which is approximately equivalent to a circumference of at least 14¼ inches), either a dicotyledon or monocotyledon of a species which has a main stem or cluster of main stems and commonly exceeding ten feet in height and having an average mature spread or crown of greater than...
Parkway Planting
Planting a tree, shrub, or other plant besides grass in a City of Sarasota street or alley right-of-way within 50 feet of an intersection needs the city engineer's written permission first.
Sarasota Right-of-Way Planting Permit
Some RestrictionsSarasota City Code § 35-2
No person shall plant or place, and subsequently keep, maintain or cultivate, any shrub, tree or other plant, except grass, in any portion of the right of way of any public thoroughfare, including an alley, within the city, lying within fifty (50) feet from the nearest boundary, meaning the edge of the right-of-way, of its intersection with any other public thoroughfare, including an alley, wit...
Looking for Sarasota County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Sarasota city rules.
Tree Protection in Sarasota County →