Tree Protection in Tallahassee, FL (2026)
2 verified tree protection rules for Tallahassee, Florida, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Heritage & Protected Trees
Any patriarch tree in Tallahassee, defined as a state-designated patriarch or champion tree or an exceptional shade tree 36 inches or more in diameter, is a protected tree under Land Development Code § 5-83(d)(2)e and cannot be removed, impacted, or damaged without an approved environmental management permit, even on a single-family lot.
Tallahassee Patriarch Tree Protection Rules
Significant RestrictionsTallahassee Land Development Code § 5-83(d)(2)e
(d)Protected trees. The following trees are protected and shall not be removed, impacted or damaged without receiving an approved environmental management permit complying with the requirements of the chapter: ... (2)During development and post-development. ... e.Any patriarch tree; ... Within the Multi-Modal Transportation District top priority shall be given to preserving, protecting and deve...
Protected Tree Species
Tallahassee names the live oak its official shade tree and the dogwood its official flowering tree, then protects specific tree classes by size and type under Land Development Code Sec. 5-83(d). Patriarch trees, canopy-road trees, wetland trees and any dogwood four inches DBH or larger cannot be removed, impacted or damaged without an approved city permit.
Which Trees Are Protected in Tallahassee
Significant RestrictionsTallahassee Land Development Code § 5-83(a), (d)
(d)Protected trees. The following trees are protected and shall not be removed, impacted or damaged without receiving an approved environmental management permit complying with the requirements of the chapter:(1)Pre-development. Any tree of two inches DBH or greater.(2)During development and post-development.a.Any dogwood (Cornus florida) tree of four inches DBH or greater;b.Any hardwood or lon...
Looking for Leon County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Tallahassee city rules.
Tree Protection in Leon County →