Tampa, FL Tree Protection: Protected Tree Species (2026)
Key Facts
- Protected threshold
- 5+ inches DBH (non-exempt species)
- Specimen threshold
- 24+ inches DBH
- Grand tree threshold
- 32+ inches DBH, condition A/B/C
- Automatic grand status
- Any state Champion or Challenger tree
- Listed grand species
- 24 species incl. Live Oak, Bald Cypress, Longleaf Pine
- Non-hazard removal path
- Variance hearing before board/commission/council
- Governing section
- City Code Sec. 27-43; Sec. 27-284.2.5
Summary
Tampa classifies trees by trunk diameter: any non-exempt species 5+ inches DBH is 'protected,' 24+ inches is a 'specimen' tree, and 32+ inches (or any state-designated Champion/Challenger tree) is a 'grand' tree, the code's highest protection tier, defined in Section 27-43.
Protected tree: Any mitigation tree; any mangrove species; any cypress species; and, any non-"exempt" tree species that measures five (5) inches or greater DBH. ... Specimen tree: A species of tree and its root system, with crown spread, and DBH of at least twenty-four (24) inches, which are of the identity, size, and character set forth in section 27-284.1.2. ... Grand tree: A species of tree and its root system, with crown spread, and DBH of at least thirty-two (32) inches, and a condition rating of "A", "B", or "C," as set forth in section 27-284.1.1, which are of the identity, size, and character, as set forth in section 27-284.1.2. Any tree designated as a Challenger or Champion tree by the State of Florida is considered a grand tree.
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
Tampa's Land Development Code builds tree protection around measured trunk size rather than a list of protected species alone. Section 27-43 defines a 'protected tree' as 'any mitigation tree; any mangrove species; any cypress species; and, any non-"exempt" tree species that measures five (5) inches or greater DBH' (diameter at breast height). Cross the 24-inch DBH line and the tree becomes a 'specimen tree'; cross 32 inches and, with a condition rating of A, B, or C, it becomes a 'grand tree': the code's top tier, and any tree the State of Florida designates a Champion or Challenger is automatically a grand tree regardless of measured size.
2 lists two dozen qualifying grand-tree species, almost all Florida natives: Southern Live Oak, Bald Cypress, Longleaf Pine, Southern Magnolia, Sweetgum, Laurel Oak, Sand Live Oak, Swamp Chestnut Oak, and others. ' Removing a grand tree for a construction conflict (as opposed to a documented hazard) generally requires a variance granted at a public hearing before the applicable board, commission, or city council, with mailed notice to owners within 1,320 feet for accessory-structure cases, rather than a simple staff sign-off.
Violations & Fines
Unpermitted grand-tree removal is a standalone unlawful act under Section 27-284.2.5(c), separate from the general protected-tree offense in Section 27-284.2.4. Filing for a demolition permit within two years of a tree-removal approval creates a 'rebuttable presumption that the tree removal permit was fraudulently obtained,' which can revoke the permit and trigger after-the-fact enforcement. Mitigation for a lawfully or unlawfully removed grand tree is mandatory under Sections 27-284.4 through 27-284.4.2, and each day without required mitigation is charged as a separate violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size tree counts as 'protected' versus 'grand' in Tampa?
Is my Southern Live Oak automatically protected at any size?
Can city staff approve removing a grand tree, or do I need a hearing?
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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