Jacksonville, FL Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Jacksonville, 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
- Governing sections
- Ordinance Code §§ 656.1205–656.1206
- Protected tree threshold
- 6" DBH near lot line, 11.5" elsewhere
- Permit review time
- 10 working days after application
- Homeowner exemption
- Single-family, mobile-home lots exempt
- Violation penalty
- Class D offense, per tree removed
Summary
Jacksonville requires a permit before cutting down any protected tree, six inches DBH near a lot line and up, though owner-occupied single-family and mobile-home lots are exempt from the permit requirement entirely.
No person, organization, society, association or corporation, or any agent or representative thereof, directly or indirectly, shall cut down, remove, damage or destroy, or shall authorize the cutting down, removal, damage, or destruction of any protected tree, as defined in Section 656.1203(bb) hereof... without first having obtained a permit as herein provided.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 6 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Ordinance Code Sec. 656.1205 bans cutting, removing, damaging or destroying any protected tree without a permit. A protected tree is any tree with six inches DBH within 20 feet of a street right-of-way, eight inches DBH within ten feet of any other lot line, or 11.5 inches DBH anywhere else on the lot. Sec. 656.1206 requires a site plan and statement of reasons filed with the Chief, who decides within ten working days. Removed live oaks must be replaced inch-for-inch with live oaks; other protected species at one-third the caliper removed. Owner-occupied single-family and mobile-home lots that cannot be further subdivided are exempt from the permit requirement entirely, even for exceptional specimen trees.
Violations & Fines
Removing a protected tree without a permit is a class D offense; each tree removed, damaged or destroyed is a separate violation, plus fines and mandatory tree replacement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in my Jacksonville yard?
What counts as a protected tree in Jacksonville?
What happens if I remove a protected tree without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Jacksonville
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Jacksonville 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.