Coral Gables, FL Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Coral Gables, FL, sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances, list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Key Facts
- Citation
- Sec. 82-3, Code of Ordinances
- Permit required from
- City manager and tree preservation agency
- Covers
- Trees, shrubs, orchids, vines in ROW
- Penalty basis
- Sec. 1-7 general penalty, per tree
- In effect since
- 1925, last amended 2023
Summary
Coral Gables bans cutting, pruning, breaking, stapling, piercing or otherwise defacing any tree, shrub, orchid or vine in a public street, right-of-way or park without a written permit from the city manager and tree preservation agency.
No person shall, without a written permit from the city manager and the tree preservation agency, cut, prune, break, incline, injure, staple, pierce, affix any item to, remove or in any other way deface any living tree, shrub, orchid, or vine, in a public street, city right-of-way, or park, or cut, disturb or interfere in any way with the roots of any tree, shrub, orchid, or vine in a public street, city right-of-way, or park. (Code 1958, § 34-1; Code 1991, § 27-1; Code 2006, § 82-1; Ord. No. 6, § 1, 8-3-1925; Ord. No. 2014-12, § 2, 5-27-2014; Ord. No. 2023-29, § 2(Exh. A), 9-26-2023)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Fee Schedule: Supplement 2 | Zoning Code: Supplement 1 | Code of Ordinances: Supplement 25 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Under Sec. 82-3 of the city code, no one may cut, prune, break, incline, injure, staple, pierce, affix any item to, remove or otherwise deface a living tree, shrub, orchid or vine in a public street, city right-of-way or park, or disturb its roots, without first getting a written permit from the city manager and the tree preservation agency. The rule dates to a 1925 ordinance and was last amended in 2023. Violations are punished under the general penalty schedule in Sec. 1-7, with the city's tree preservation agency also authorized to pursue civil remedies and injunctive relief under Sec. 82-2 for damage to public trees.
Violations & Fines
Each defaced or damaged tree counts as a separate offense punishable under Sec. 1-7; the tree preservation agency can also sue for damages and injunctive relief under Sec. 82-2.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I trim the tree in front of my Coral Gables house?
What counts as defacing a tree under Sec. 82-3?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Coral Gables
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Coral Gables to another location·View the Florida landscaping rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Miami-Dade County handle tree removal & heritage trees.