St. Petersburg designates Grand Trees as any protected tree 30 inches DBH or larger (except Laurel Oaks) under Section 16.40.060.5, requiring permits for removal and major pruning.
St. Petersburg Land Development Regulation Section 16.40.060.5 elevates protected trees that reach 30 inches diameter at breast height (DBH) to Grand Tree status, with the Laurel Oak species excluded. Grand Trees may not be removed without a tree removal permit demonstrating unacceptable risk, decline, or unavoidable construction conflict, and any pruning of branches 8 inches or larger in diameter requires a permit. Replacement obligations are scaled to the Grand Tree's diameter, often through on-site replanting with multiple replacement caliper inches, payment-in-lieu deposits to the Tree Fund, or a combination. The City's Urban Forestry program publishes the current handout at stpete.org for owner reference.
Removal without a permit triggers an after-the-fact permit ($1,000), payment-in-lieu of replanting (up to $5,355), plus a code fine ($500), totaling up to $6,855 per Grand Tree.
St. Petersburg, FL
Industrial and commercial operations in St. Petersburg must meet the Chapter 11 plainly-audible standards at zoning boundaries, with stricter limits where in...
St. Petersburg, FL
St. Petersburg restricts leaf blower use to 8 a.m.-8 p.m. weekdays and Saturday and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sundays and holidays, and prohibits blowing yard debris in...
St. Petersburg, FL
Loud exhausts, modified mufflers, and car stereos audible at 25 feet or more are prohibited under FL 316.272 (state law) and St. Petersburg Code Chapter 11. ...
St. Petersburg, FL
St. Petersburg restricts amplified music and vehicle stereos under Chapter 11, banning sound plainly audible 50 feet from a vehicle and tightening downtown e...
St. Petersburg, FL
St. Petersburg enforces quiet hours from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. under Chapter 11, with 'plainly audible' distance standards rather than decibel readings for resid...
St. Petersburg, FL
St. Petersburg enforces Florida Building Code Section 424.2.17 and Florida Statute Chapter 515 requiring 4-foot pool barriers, self-latching gates, and appro...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Pinellas County.
See how other cities in Pinellas County handle heritage & protected trees.
See how St. Petersburg's heritage & protected trees rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.