Tree Replacement Requirements: Pinellas Park vs St. Petersburg
How do tree replacement requirements rules compare between Pinellas Park, FL and St. Petersburg, FL?
Pinellas Park and St. Petersburg have similar restriction levels.
Pinellas Park, FL
Pinellas County
When removing protected trees, Pinellas Park requires replacement plantings under Section 18-408. Property owners must replace removed inches with new trees from the city's approved species list or pay into the tree mitigation fund.
View full Pinellas Park rules →St. Petersburg, FL
Pinellas County
St. Petersburg requires replacement caliper inches or Tree Fund payment-in-lieu when permitted protected tree removals occur, with steeper mitigation owed for Grand Trees.
View full St. Petersburg rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Pinellas Park | St. Petersburg |
|---|---|---|
| Code reference | LDC Sec. 18-408 | Sec. 16.40.060.5 |
| Replacement basis | Inch-for-inch DBH | - |
| Preferred species | Florida natives | - |
| Fee in lieu | Tree mitigation fund payment | - |
| Invalid replacements | Invasive species ineligible | - |
| Mitigation method | - | Replanting or Tree Fund |
| Grand Tree fee | - | Up to $5,355 |
| Approved species | - | City list required |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Pinellas Park FAQ
How many trees must I plant after removal?
Replacement is calculated on an inch-for-inch DBH basis. Removing one 12-inch protected tree typically requires planting trees totaling 12 inches DBH using approved species.
Can I pay a fee instead of replanting?
Yes. When site constraints prevent on-site replacement, Pinellas Park allows a payment in lieu to the tree mitigation fund, used for public tree planting.
What species qualify as replacement trees?
Approved species emphasize Florida natives like live oak, southern magnolia, bald cypress, and slash pine. Invasive species are never eligible as replacements.
St. Petersburg FAQ
How many trees do I have to replant in St. Petersburg?
Replacement is calculated by caliper inches, scaled to the removed tree's DBH. Larger trees, especially Grand Trees, require multiple replacement trees or substantial Tree Fund payments.
Can I pay a fee instead of replanting in St. Pete?
Yes. When on-site replanting is impractical, you can deposit payment-in-lieu into the City Tree Fund. Fees scale with diameter and can exceed $5,000 for a single Grand Tree.
Compare other topics
See how Pinellas Park and St. Petersburg compare on other ordinance categories.
Want to add a third city?
Use our full comparison tool to compare up to three cities.
Open Comparison Tool