Miami-Dade County, FL Tree Protection: Heritage & Protected Trees (2026)
Key Facts
- Specimen tree threshold
- 18-inch trunk diameter or larger
- Preservation standard
- required whenever reasonably possible
- Permit needed
- even on single-family residential lots
- Replacement penalty
- doubled for removed specimen trees
- Enforcing agency
- Regulatory and Economic Resources (DERM)
- Scope
- countywide, binding on the 34 municipalities
Summary
Any tree with a trunk diameter of 18 inches or more counts as a protected 'specimen tree' under Miami-Dade County's tree ordinance, and removing one requires a Department permit even on a single-family lot. Section 24-49.2(II) forces preservation whenever reasonably possible and, when removal is unavoidable, doubles the standard tree-replacement requirement.
(II)Specimen Trees Standards.(1)Specimen trees application. Specimen trees shall be preserved whenever reasonably possible. Upon receipt of an application to remove a specimen tree, the Department shall consider the following factors in evaluating said application:(a)Size and configuration of the property.(b)Size and configuration of any proposed development.(c)Location of the tree relative to any proposed development.(d)Whether or not the tree can be preserved under the proposed plan or any alternative plan.(e)Health, condition and aesthetic qualities of the tree.(f)Whether the tree poses a threat to persons or property...(4)Removal of specimen trees. If relocation of the specimen tree is not feasible, due to the size, health, location, species or any other factor, then a permit may be issued for removal, and tree replacement shall be required.(5)Replacement requirements for specimen trees. As a condition of the issuance of a tree removal permit for the removal of a specimen tree, tree replacement requirements shall be twice those specified in Section 24-49.4(2)(c).
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 135).
Full Breakdown
Article IV of Chapter 24, the county's tree ordinance, defines a specimen tree as any tree with a trunk diameter at breast height of 18 inches or greater, with narrow exceptions for certain non-native fruit trees, non-native ficus, and most multitrunk palms. Section 24-49 makes it unlawful to remove or effectively destroy any tree, including a specimen tree, without a Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources permit, and Section 24-49(2) states flatly that 'no municipal or County official shall issue a tree removal permit that does not comply with the provisions of this section,' making the standard binding countywide rather than UMSA-only.
2(II) takes over. The Department 'shall consider' the property's size and configuration, the proposed development's footprint, the tree's location, whether it can be preserved under an alternative design, its health and aesthetic condition, and whether it threatens people or property. If preservation is not reasonably possible, the applicant must first propose an alternate plan, such as reorienting a building or adjusting lot lines, before the Department will consider relocation. 4(2)(c), with any shortfall paid into the Miami-Dade County Tree Trust Fund, plus an additional equitable contribution for the specimen tree's lost aesthetic and environmental value.
Violations & Fines
Removing, effectively destroying, or violating the conditions of a specimen-tree permit is unlawful under Section 24-49(1) and (3) and is enforced as a Chapter 8CC code violation, drawing civil penalties and required mitigation. A permit issued in violation of Section 24-49's standards is void by operation of Section 24-49(2), regardless of what the issuing official approved.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a homeowner need a permit to remove a specimen tree in their own yard?
What counts as a 'specimen tree'?
What happens if the specimen tree cannot be saved?
Can a municipality waive this permit requirement?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Miami-Dade County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Miami-Dade County to another location·View the Florida tree protection overview
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