Gulfport, MS Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Gulfport, MS, sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances, list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Key Facts
- Permit required
- Sec. 8-5(a), before removal or alteration
- Fee, improved lot
- $25 first tree, $10 each additional
- Fee, unimproved lot
- $35 first tree, $15 each additional
- Review time
- 14 working days or deemed approved
- Permit validity
- 180 days after issuance
- Criteria
- 12 factors weighed under Sec. 8-7
Summary
Removing, relocating or substantially altering a protected tree anywhere in Gulfport requires a permit from the tree protection advisor under Code Sec. 8-5. Site plans must accompany any building permit application, review takes up to fourteen working days, and the advisor weighs disease, hazard, drainage and neighborhood tree-density factors under Sec. 8-7 before approving or denying removal.
It shall be unlawful for any person, without first obtaining a permit to do so as herein provided, to remove, cause to be removed, relocate or substantially alter or trim, or to effectively remove as a result of damaging or destroying any protected tree or to change the residual density on a lot or site. It shall be unlawful for any licensed tree surgeon, tree contractor, service company or general contractor to remove, cause to be removed, relocate or substantially alter or to effectively remove as a result of damaging or destroying any protected tree covered by the terms and provisions of this article or to change the residual density on a lot or site without first having in its possession a proper permit authorizing the removal of said tree.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 68).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 8-5(a) makes it unlawful to remove, relocate, substantially alter, trim or effectively destroy a protected tree, or change a lot's residual tree density, without a permit; a second violation by a licensed tree surgeon or contractor triggers a six-month revocation of that company's city privilege license after investigation by the tree protection advisor. Sec. 8-5(c) requires a tree site plan filed with any building permit application, showing every protected tree's location, species and disposition; the advisor must approve or deny within fourteen working days of submittal or the plan is deemed approved.
Sec. 00 on unimproved lots, and a granted permit must be picked up within fourteen business days and expires 180 days after issuance. Sec. 8-7 lists twelve criteria the advisor must weigh, including disease or hazard, necessity for reasonable economic use, erosion and drainage impact, neighborhood tree density and property values, and wildlife habitat effects. Sec. 8-8 lets the advisor condition approval on relocating or replacing removed trees, at a minimum two-inch caliper, ten-foot nursery stock, replaced on a sliding scale up to five trees for a removed tree over twenty-five inches, or payment into the city's tree mitigation trust when on-site replacement is not feasible.
Violations & Fines
Removing a protected tree without a permit is a separate offense per tree under Sec. 8-18, punishable under the Code's general penalty, Sec. 1-9, by a fine up to $1,000.00, up to 90 days in jail, or both, with each day of continued violation a new offense. A licensed tree surgeon or contractor faces a six-month city privilege-license revocation on a second offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Gulfport
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