Palm Bay, FL Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Palm Bay, 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
- Permit trigger
- Trees 6"+ DBH, palms 4.5'+ clear wood
- Also covers
- Land clearing on sub-1-acre residential lots
- Review time
- 7 days after application
- Exempt
- Agriculture, nurseries, immediate hazards
Summary
Removing any Palm Bay tree 6 inches DBH or larger, or a palm with 4.5+ feet of clear trunk, requires a permit first, with agricultural, nursery, and emergency-hazard exceptions.
It shall be unlawful without first securing a permit to remove, destroy, cut down, damage, or cause the removal, destruction, cutting down, or damage of any trees having a diameter at breast height (DBH) of six (6) inches or greater or palms having four and one-half (4.5) feet of clear wood or greater, as measured from the ground to the base of the first fronds. This permit is also required for any land clearing activities on all residential lots which are less than one (1) acre in area.
(A) Exceptions. Trees may be removed without a tree removal permit on the following properties:
(1) Bona fide agricultural uses, cultivation, or grazing lands;
(2) Commercial nursery sites;
(3) Publicly owned lands, provided compliance with the Municipal Tree Code or for the purpose of habitat management or restoration;
(4) Undeveloped multi-family, commercial, industrial, or institutional sites with a recently approved site plan and a valid site work permit, which has not yet received a certificate of occupancy;
(5) Developed single- and two-family lots, which meet the criteria of and provide the city with the documentation required in accordance with F.S. § 163.045;
(6) After receiving approval from the City Manager or designee, any species of trees determined to be prohibited pursuant to § 175.027(C);
(7) In the event that any tree shall pose an immediate threat to
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-41: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. 2026-13, passed 5-21-26).
Full Breakdown
Under § 175.014, cutting down, damaging, or removing any tree with a diameter at breast height of six inches or more, or any palm with 4.5 feet or more of clear wood, is unlawful without a permit. The rule also reaches land-clearing on residential lots under one acre. Applications need a fee, a recorded deed, a hold-harmless agreement, and a site sketch showing every tree's DBH and species; the city processes permits within seven days. Exceptions cover bona fide agriculture, commercial nurseries, public land under the Municipal Tree Code, and trees posing an immediate hazard, which the City Manager or designee can verbally clear on-site.
Violations & Fines
Working without a permit triggers a stop-work order and a one-week deadline to apply at double the standard fee; the city can also require a restoration plan or mitigation fee under § 175.014(D).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to cut down a tree in my Palm Bay yard?
How long does a Palm Bay tree removal permit take?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Palm Bay
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Palm Bay to another location·View the Florida landscaping rules overview
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Tree Removal & Heritage Trees in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Brevard County handle tree removal & heritage trees.