Tree removal permit rules in Palm Beach County, FL — sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances — list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Residential tree removal in unincorporated Palm Beach County is preempted by FL FS §163.045 when an ISA-certified arborist documents the tree is a danger. Outside that exemption, PBC ULDC Art. 14 applies to commercial sites, preserve areas, and protected species.
Under FL FS §163.045, PBC may not require a permit, fee, or mitigation for residential tree removal documented as hazardous by an ISA-certified arborist or Florida-licensed landscape architect. Documentation should be retained by the homeowner. Commercial and multifamily parcels remain subject to PBC ULDC Article 14 mitigation requirements (typically 1:1 caliper inch replacement for non-hazard removals). Mangroves require Florida DEP permits. Native species on environmentally sensitive lands or in PBC ERM-protected preserves cannot be removed without ERM authorization. Specimen trees over 24-inch DBH on commercial sites trigger heightened mitigation. Penalties for unauthorized removal on regulated sites are 1,000 dollars per inch of DBH plus replacement.
Unauthorized removal on commercial site: PBC ULDC penalty up to 1,000 dollars per DBH inch plus replacement. Mangrove violations: FL DEP penalties under FS §403.9329.
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See how Palm Beach County's tree removal & heritage trees rules stack up against other locations.
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