Safety Harbor adopted its Grand Tree Ordinance on December 20, 2021, granting heightened protection to qualifying heritage species at least 26 inches DBH that meet a species-specific point-scoring threshold.
The Grand Tree Ordinance, adopted December 20, 2021, supplements Article X by recognizing exceptional heritage specimens. To qualify, a tree must have a minimum 26-inch DBH, a condition rating of at least 3.5, and belong to a designated species: live oak, sand live oak, southern magnolia, sweetbay magnolia, bald cypress, pignut hickory, southern red cedar, American elm, longleaf pine, or slash pine. Each species has a minimum point threshold (for example, 145 points for live oak; 120 for southern magnolia) using a scoring matrix evaluating size, condition, and historical value. Designated Grand Trees receive enhanced protection limiting removal to imminent-hazard situations.
Unauthorized removal of a Grand Tree carries elevated civil penalties, mandatory in-kind replacement, and possible mitigation payments scaled by trunk size.
See how other cities in Pinellas County handle heritage & protected trees.
See how Safety Harbor's heritage & protected trees rules stack up against other locations.
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