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

Sec. 78-682 first lets city council officially designate historic or archaeological sites, and lists the MacArthur Banyan Tree, in the median of MacArthur Boulevard just north of Northlake Boulevard, as one so designated. Sec. 78-683, adopted by Ord. No. 3-2003, builds a dedicated protection regime around that single landmark: the tree is actually two banyans grown together, the older dating to roughly 1881 and planted at its current site in April 1961 by city founder John D. MacArthur, with the second planted a few years later.

Subsection (b) establishes the MacArthur Banyan Tree Historic Overlay Protection Zone, covering the area within 200 feet of the tree's drip line in the median approximately 150 feet north of Northlake Boulevard. Subsection (c) bars any clearing or development within that zone unless approved by city council, and an application must include a comprehensive impact analysis prepared by a qualified environmental consultant or arborist, which the city may verify at the applicant's expense with an independent review. Pruning the tree is prohibited unless the city expressly authorizes it, and 'kill or damage' is defined broadly to include removing the tree, damaging its trunk or root structure through drainage, water table, road or grade changes, or letting its branches contact a structure, vehicle or utility facility.

Road widening within the zone is barred unless it can be shown the tree will not be killed or damaged, any permitted road work must use pervious concrete unless the city engineer approves otherwise, and no utilities may be run above or below ground within the tree's crown or root zone. Development within the zone must also provide a gateway design on both sides of MacArthur Boulevard using hardscape and landscaping.