Pompano Beach, FL Tree Protection: Protected Tree Species (2026)
Key Facts
- Specimen tree threshold
- 18 inch DBH, 60%+ condition
- Historical tree threshold
- 75+ years old
- Excluded species
- Most Ficus, non-native fruit trees, multi-trunk palms
- Named invasive species excluded
- 8 species, e.g. Melaleuca, Brazilian Pepper
- Fee for unpermitted removal
- Application fee doubled
- Enforcing office
- Development Services Director
Summary
Pompano Beach protects trees by size and species rather than a blanket list: any tree with a trunk diameter of 18 inches or more at breast height, in condition of 60% or better, is a protected "Specimen Tree" under City Code § 155.5204, and removing one requires a Tree Permit from the Development Services Director.
Tree, Specimen Any tree which has a DBH of eighteen (18) inches or greater with a condition rating of sixty percent (60%) or greater in accordance with the condition rating guidelines as specified in the Guide for Plant Appraisal, 9th edition, as amended; with the exception of the following:
• Non-native fruit trees that are cultivated or grown for the specific purpose of producing edible fruit, including, but not limited to: mangos, avocados, or citrus.
• Species of the genus Ficus except F. aurea (strangler fig), F. laevigata (short leaf fig), F. rubiginosa (rusty fig or rusty leaf fig), F. jacquinifolia;
• All multi-trunk palms.
• Trees that are in poor condition or form as determined by Development Services Director.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-122: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through 2026-35, passed 7-29-26).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 155, Article 9, Part 5 (Terms and Uses Defined) sets the species and size line for protection. A "Specimen Tree" is any tree with a DBH of 18 inches or greater and a condition rating of 60% or greater under the Guide for Plant Appraisal, 9th edition. jacquinifolia, all multi-trunk palms, and any tree the Development Services Director finds in poor condition or form are excluded even if they meet the size threshold. The code separately designates "Historical Trees", trees at least 75 years old or tied to a historic event or Pompano Beach's heritage, as protected regardless of size.
5204(C)(1)(e) lets the Development Services Director approve a Tree Permit for removal of an invasive tree specifically because its complete removal is the goal. 5204(C)(2), if a protected tree sits within a Natural Forest Community, the Director must also find that habitat for species on the state's Official Lists of Endangered and Potentially Endangered Fauna and Flora has been identified and preserved before authorizing removal. Owner-occupied single-family and duplex lots of one acre or less get a narrower exemption from the permit requirement, but that exemption still does not reach specimen or historical trees, meaning the species/size test controls even on small residential lots.
Violations & Fines
Removing, effectively destroying, or engaging in "Tree Abuse" (hatracking, overlifting, girdling, or bark stripping past one-third of the trunk circumference) against a Specimen or Historical Tree without an approved Tree Permit is a code violation enforced by the Development Services Director. If a protected tree is removed before a permit is obtained, § 155.5204(B)(3) doubles the application fee for the after-the-fact Tree Permit, and the Director can still require replacement trees valued to match the removed tree's appraised worth under § 155.5204(E)(1)(b)(ii), payable into the Tree Canopy Trust Fund if on-site replanting space is not available.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a tree "protected" in Pompano Beach?
Can I remove an invasive tree without a permit?
Does owning a small residential lot exempt me from tree protection?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pompano Beach
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Pompano Beach 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.
Protected Tree Species in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Broward County handle protected tree species.