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

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Threshold
24-inch DBH hardwood
Governing section
Ordinance Code § 656.1203(bb)(3)
Replacement ratio
1:1 caliper inches
Density penalty
2x mitigation over 2/acre removed
Owner-occupied exemption
Single-family/mobile home lots exempt

Summary

Jacksonville's zoning code singles out large hardwoods 24 inches DBH or greater as "exceptional specimen trees," stripping away most removal exemptions and requiring a permit and 1:1 replacement even where an ordinary protected tree would not.

(bb)Protected tree includes all of the following:...(3)Exceptional specimen tree means any hardwood tree with a DBH of 24 inches or greater.

Source: Jacksonville Code of Ordinances Chapter 656 Zoning Code, Part 12 — Landscape and Tree Protection RegulationsView official code

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

Under Sec. 656.1203(bb)(3), any hardwood tree with a diameter breast height of 24 inches or more is an "exceptional specimen tree." Sec. 656.1205(d) excludes these trees from nearly every exemption available to ordinary protected trees (including the platted-residential-subdivision exemption), so a City permit is required before one can be cut down. Removal requires 1:1 caliper-inch replacement under Sec. 656.1206(g), and if more than an average of two exceptional specimen trees per acre are removed on a site, the mitigation doubles. Single-family and mobile-home homeowners on occupied lots remain free of the permit requirement for their own protected trees, including exceptional specimen trees, per Sec. 656.1205(d).

Violations & Fines

Unpermitted removal is a civil infraction (Sec. 656.1204) and, if uncorrected, a class D offense under Sec. 656.1208(i); fines run per DBH inch removed, double for repeat violations, or a flat $50,000/acre if the site was clear-cut and inches can't be counted.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a tree an "exceptional specimen tree" in Jacksonville?
Any hardwood tree with a diameter breast height (DBH) of 24 inches or greater, per Ordinance Code § 656.1203(bb)(3).
Do I need a permit to remove one on my own house lot?
No. Sec. 656.1205(d) keeps the owner-occupied single-family/mobile-home exemption even for exceptional specimen trees.
What happens if I remove one without a permit on a development site?
You owe 1:1 caliper-inch replacement, a civil fine per DBH inch, and it can escalate to a class D criminal offense if uncorrected (§ 656.1208).

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Jacksonville

Noise Ordinances: Construction HoursSome RestrictionsProtected Tree SpeciesSome RestrictionsParkway PlantingSignificant RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Vehicle NoiseSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Driveway RulesSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Retaining WallsSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Neighbor Fence RulesSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Material RestrictionsSome Restrictions

All Jacksonville rules

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