Tree Protection in Miami-Dade County, FL (2026)

3 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 6 cities in Miami-Dade County, Florida.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Miami-Dade County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Heritage & Protected Trees

Any tree with a trunk diameter of 18 inches or more counts as a protected 'specimen tree' under Miami-Dade County's tree ordinance, and removing one requires a Department permit even on a single-family lot. Section 24-49.2(II) forces preservation whenever reasonably possible and, when removal is unavoidable, doubles the standard tree-replacement requirement.

Miami-Dade County Specimen Tree Protection Rules

Significant Restrictions

Miami-Dade County Code § 24-49.2(II)

(II)Specimen Trees Standards.(1)Specimen trees application. Specimen trees shall be preserved whenever reasonably possible. Upon receipt of an application to remove a specimen tree, the Department shall consider the following factors in evaluating said application:(a)Size and configuration of the property.(b)Size and configuration of any proposed development.(c)Location of the tree relative to ...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Protected Tree Species

Miami-Dade County requires a DERM permit before anyone trims, cuts, or alters a mangrove tree anywhere in the county, and bans top pruning of mangroves in coastal band communities outright, with only a power-line exception.

Mangrove Tree Protection in Miami-Dade County

Significant Restrictions

Miami-Dade County Code § 24-48.16

It shall be unlawful for any person to top prune or authorize, allow, suffer or permit the top pruning of mangrove trees in a coastal band community, except for specified trimming activities exempt from permitting requirements pursuant to Section 403.9326, Florida Statutes... No class I permit shall be approved or issued for the top pruning of coastal band mangrove trees except for that top pru...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Parkway Planting

Miami-Dade requires street trees along roadways at no more than 35 feet apart on center, with a 2-inch caliper, 12-foot height and four feet of clear trunk at planting.

Miami-Dade County Street Tree Spacing Rules

Some Restrictions

Miami-Dade County Code § 18A-6(C)(2)

Street tree size and spacing. Street trees shall be of a species typically grown in Miami-Dade County which normally mature to a height of at least twenty (20) feet. Street trees shall have a clear trunk of four (4) feet, an overall height of twelve (12) feet and a minimum caliper of two (2) inches at time of planting, and shall be provided along all roadways at a maximum average spacing of thi...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗