Jacksonville, FL Tree Protection: Protected Tree Species (2026)
Key Facts
- Protected size threshold
- 3 ft circumference at breast height
- Pine exception
- Only Long Leaf Pine protected
- Palm exception
- Only Cabbage Palm protected
- Live Oak mitigation
- 1:1 dbh-inch replacement (others: 1/3)
- Residential exemption
- Single-family/mobile home lots exempt
Summary
Jacksonville exempts most pines and palms from tree protection but shields Live Oaks with extra-strict mitigation during development.
The term "protected tree" shall mean a tree with a circumference at breast height of three feet or more... a protected tree shall not include (a) any species of pine, other than the Long Leaf Pine (Pinus palustris), (b) any species of palm, other than the Cabbage Palm (Sabal palmetto), or (c) any tree currently identified as an invasive species, terrestrial weed or noxious weed by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection or the St. Johns River Water Management District.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 6 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Under City Charter Article 25, a "protected tree" is any tree 3 feet or more in circumference at breast height, but the ordinance carves out species: no pine counts as protected except the Long Leaf Pine, no palm counts except the Cabbage Palm (the state tree), and any tree listed as invasive or noxious by FDEP or the St. Johns River Water Management District is excluded outright. Live Oaks get the opposite treatment. Section 25.03(a) requires replacement on a full dbh-inch-for-dbh-inch basis for lost Live Oaks, versus just one-third that ratio for other protected species. Single-family homes and mobile homes on non-subdividable lots are exempt from the whole article under Section 25.06.
Violations & Fines
Civil enforcement action by the City or any Duval County taxpayer/resident under Section 25.05; prevailing party recovers attorneys' fees. Non-compliant developers owe mitigation via on-site replacement trees, off-site planting in Duval County, or a per-caliper-inch payment (capped at $85, recalculated yearly) to the Tree Protection and Related Expenses Trust Fund.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are palm trees protected in Jacksonville?
Do homeowners need a permit to remove a protected tree species?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Jacksonville
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Jacksonville to another location·View the Florida tree protection overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.