Miami protects all trees on private property 4+ inch DBH under City Code Chapter 17 and overlays Miami-Dade County Specimen Tree rules for trees 18+ inch DBH or designated species (live oak, mahogany, gumbo limbo). Removal requires a tree-removal permit, replacement plantings, and county review for Specimen Trees.
Miami City Code Chapter 17 (Tree Protection) requires a permit before removing or relocating any tree on private property with a 4-inch DBH or larger, or any palm taller than 8 feet of clear trunk. Miami-Dade County Code Chapter 24-49 layers on top, designating Specimen Trees – any tree 18 inches DBH or larger and certain native species (Live Oak, Mahogany, Gumbo Limbo, native palms) at any size – which require additional county review. Removal applications must include a survey showing all trees over 4 inch DBH, an arborist report for Specimen Trees, and a replacement plan using approved Florida-friendly species. Mitigation is calibrated by canopy area lost; cash payment into the Tree Trust Fund is allowed where on-site replanting is infeasible.
Unauthorized removal of a protected tree carries city fines up to $500 per day plus appraised value mitigation under §17-23. Specimen Tree violations under Miami-Dade Code §24-49 add civil penalties up to $1,000 per inch DBH removed (often $20,000+ for a mature live oak) plus mandatory 3:1 replanting. Repeat violations can be charged as second-degree misdemeanors.
Miami, FL
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Miami, FL
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Miami, FL
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Miami, FL
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Miami, FL
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Miami, FL
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Miami-Dade County.
See how other cities in Miami-Dade County handle heritage & protected trees.
See how Miami's heritage & protected trees rules stack up against other locations.
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