Bradenton, FL Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)

Under section 2.2.3.1 of the Land Use Regulations, a protected tree is a woody, self-supporting plant with a diameter at breast height (four and one-half feet above ground) of four inches that grows to at least 15 feet high at maturity in the Manatee County area. The application states the type and diameter of each tree proposed for removal and the reason. When trees come out for land development, they appear on the site plan and the tree removal application is part of the zoning permit application. The PCD director, the director of planning and community development, can require a tree survey showing the location, type and size of all trees.

Section 2.2.3.2 lists what the PCD director weighs: the condition of the tree with respect to disease, danger of falling, proximity to structures and interference with utility services; the necessity of removal to build approved improvements when alternative designs cannot avoid protected trees; topography and the effect of removal on erosion, soil retention and surface water flow; and the number of trees in the neighborhood and the effect on property values. Replacement follows Schedule 2.2.3.2, never less than one for one, and replacement trees must have a two-inch trunk diameter and a minimum canopy spread of six feet. When preservation is not possible, an applicant can pay $200.00 per required tree in lieu, and the PCD director targets where those replacement trees get planted.

The exceptions are narrow. A tree that threatens public safety can be removed without a permit if the threat is imminent, but a permit is required after the fact. Dead trees are not exempt and must be inspected before removal and replaced. A tree destroyed or harmed by hurricane or tornado needs at least two days' notice to the PCD director so an inspection can be made, and if the director does not respond within two working days the request is considered approved. Tree trimming that threatens the life of the tree or deforms the natural canopy is prohibited, and no more than one-third of a tree's crown or foliage area can be removed during the life of the tree.

Trees subject to a permit must be protected by a wooden or chain link barricade placed at the dripline, before any land alteration, and it stays until the certificate of use is issued or administrative approval is granted. Vehicle and pedestrian traffic, storage of construction materials and placement of excavated materials are barred inside the barricade.