Tampa, FL Tree Protection: Heritage & Protected Trees (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Sec. 27-284.1.2
- Grand tree list
- 23 listed species (Table 284.1.2)
- Example species
- Live Oak, Southern Magnolia, Longleaf Pine
- Coordinator discretion
- May add similar species as grand
- Measurement
- DBH via 4 standard methods
- Special case
- Camphor can reach grand status
Summary
Tampa's urban forestry code recognizes 'grand' trees, twenty-three native and non-native species listed in Table 284.1.2, including Southern Live Oak, Southern Magnolia, and Longleaf Pine, as a protected class above ordinary 'protected' trees. Removing a grand tree triggers the heaviest permit review and mitigation obligations under Sec. 27-284.2.5 and 27-284.4, and the natural resources coordinator can add species with similar characteristics.
(a)Protected trees. Any tree species that meets the definition set forth in section 27-43 of the City Code is deemed a "protected" tree.(b)Specimen trees. Any tree species that meets the definition set forth in section 27-43 and is listed in Table 284.1.2 below is deemed a "specimen" tree. A specimen tree is a protected tree.(b)Grand trees. Any tree species, which meets the definition set forth in section 27-43 and is listed in Table 284.1.2 below, is deemed a "grand" tree. The natural resources coordinator may consider additional species as "grand," which possess similar characteristics, as described in the City Tree Matrix (refer to section 27-284.3.2).
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 148).
Full Breakdown
' The grand tree list runs twenty-three species long and covers Tampa's signature canopy trees, Southern Live Oak, Sand Live Oak, Southern Magnolia, Sweetbay Magnolia, Bald Cypress, Pond Cypress, Longleaf Pine, Slash Pine, Loblolly Pine, Southern Red Oak, Bluff Oak, Durand Oak, Laurel Oak, Swamp Chestnut Oak, American Sycamore, Sweetgum, Black Gum, American Elm, Winged Elm, Red Maple, Pignut Hickory, Pecan, and, with special conditions, Camphor. 2. 1, with credit and replacement calculated from crown footprint and species rating rather than the flatter diameter brackets used for ordinary protected trees. Camphor, though listed as an invasive species, can still reach grand status under specific mitigation conditions spelled out in subsection (d)(3).
Violations & Fines
Because grand-tree status is a designation, not a permit, there's no standalone penalty for the classification itself: violations attach to what's done to a designated tree. Cutting, removing, relocating, damaging, or abusing a grand tree without the permit required under Sec. 27-284.2.5, or misclassifying a listed species to avoid its mitigation requirements under Sec. 27-284.4.1, triggers the removal-permit and mitigation enforcement of this division.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a tree 'grand' under Tampa's code?
Is a grand tree the same as a protected tree in Tampa?
Can camphor trees be designated grand in Tampa?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tampa
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Tampa to another location·View the Florida tree protection overview
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