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

Section 6.8.11 lets the state, Broward County, the City of Lauderhill, a Commission-recognized historical preservation society, or any property owner request historical tree designation for a tree or group of trees. The request must state the tree's exact location, the current owner's name and address, affected utilities, and the reasons for the designation. Once the City receives the request, it must immediately notify the affected landowner and utilities by certified mail, and the tree cannot be removed until the Commission acts on the request. The Commission must schedule a public hearing within 60 days of receiving the request, notifying the property owner of the time, date, and place if that owner did not make the request.

The Commission may designate a tree only if it meets one of two criteria: the tree relates to an event in modern or historic history, or any event in the known history of the human race, and either sits on historically significant property linked to that person or event or is uniquely tied to Lauderhill's heritage; or the tree has extreme age, defined as a minimum of 75 years old. Once designated, removing a historical tree without first obtaining Commission approval violates the General Prohibitions in Section 6.8.5(a), and historical trees are excluded from the owner-occupied single-family exemption that otherwise lets residential owners remove trees after written City approval under Section 6.8.6(e)(1).