Jacksonville Beach, FL Tree Protection: Heritage & Protected Trees (2026)

Jacksonville Beach does not run a separate heritage tree registry. Its closest equivalent is the exceptional specimen tree, defined in Sec. 34-300 as a tree the City Council determines to be of unique and intrinsic value to the general public because of its size, age, historic association or ecological value, or any tree designated a Florida State Champion by the American Forestry Association. The planning and development director keeps the record of all specimen trees and their locations.

Section 34-744 does the protecting. A protected tree is any tree with a DBH of six inches or more, apart from the exemptions in Sec. 34-744(b): pine (except cedar), palms (unless planted to meet an approved landscape plan), invasive species, trees in botanical gardens or state-approved or government nurseries, and trees that pose imminent danger or are diseased or weakened. For a dangerous or diseased tree the department can require written certification of the need to remove it from a person with the expertise. After a hurricane, flood or other declared emergency the department can temporarily waive the division's requirements.

The permit must be approved before any construction, improvement, paving or surfacing permit issues under the Land Development Code. The application includes a survey showing each protected tree by common name and DBH, a statement explaining why any tree is to be removed or relocated, and a removal and replacement summary. An owner can prepare the plans for a single-family dwelling on a lot under one-half acre. Inspections happen before development plan approval, during construction and after landscaping. The department weighs safety hazards, disease, replacement landscaping, erosion and drainage, construction access, hardship to the applicant, and the species and size of the tree, including whether it is an exceptional specimen tree.

Replacement is one-third of the total DBH removed, but Live Oaks and specimen trees must be replaced with at least one inch in diameter for each inch of DBH removed. If the site cannot hold the replacements, the applicant pays market price for shade trees plus a contribution to the tree protection trust fund. Trees on a public easement or right-of-way need a separate Public Works permit.