Tree removal permit rules in Sarasota County, FL — sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances — list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Removing most trees in unincorporated Sarasota County requires a Tree Permit under Code Section 54-584 unless an exemption applies. Florida law (F.S. 163.045) lets homeowners remove a documented hazard tree with an arborist letter and no permit.
Chapter 54, Article XVIII prohibits Tree Removal, Tree Relocation, and irreparable injury to a Tree or Grand Tree 'Unless otherwise exempted or authorized in a Tree Permit' (Sec. 54-584). Section 54-586 requires a Tree Permit before removal and directs the county to protect Grand Trees. Exemptions in Section 54-585 cover invasive/exotic species (Brazilian Pepper, Melaleuca, Australian Pine, etc.), declared emergencies, and bona fide agricultural land. State law preempts local permitting for removing a residential tree that a certified arborist or licensed landscape architect documents as an unacceptable danger.
Removing a protected tree without a required Tree Permit is a violation; the county can require an after-the-fact permit, mitigation (replacement planting), and daily fines under F.S. ch. 162.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Sarasota County, FL
Sarasota County parks are day-use areas that generally open around 6:00 a.m. and close at sunset unless posted otherwise, and county beaches close at sunset....
Sarasota County, FL
Sarasota County's outdoor-lighting standards cap light spilling onto neighbors: illumination at the property line may not exceed 0.2 footcandles on adjacent ...
Sarasota County, FL
Sarasota County's Marine Turtle Protection Ordinance restricts beachfront lighting during the May 1 to October 31 nesting season on Casey, Lido, Manasota and...
Sarasota County, FL
In unincorporated Sarasota County, garage-sale and other temporary signs may not be placed in the county right-of-way or on any public street. Signs must go ...
Sarasota County, FL
In unincorporated Sarasota County, political signs up to 16 square feet may be placed on private property in residential districts, with the total not exceed...
Sarasota County, FL
Sarasota County has no separate tiny-home category. A permanently placed tiny house on a foundation is treated as a single-family dwelling and must meet zoni...
See how Sarasota County's tree removal & heritage trees rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.