No county tree-removal permit is needed on an existing single-family or duplex home site. Development parcels must permit removal of protected, Heritage, and Champion trees. Florida law also waives any permit when a certified arborist documents a tree is a danger.
Under LDC 4.07.05, protected or preserved trees shall not be removed or damaged without first obtaining a tree-removal permit or development order from the county; the Planning Director reviews plans for conformance. Protected trees include small species at 4-inch DBH, large species at 8-inch DBH, plus Heritage and Champion trees. Two big exemptions: (1) parcels with an existing single-family/duplex home need no permit, and (2) FS 163.045 preempts all local permitting for residential trees documented as an unacceptable risk by an ISA-certified arborist or Florida licensed landscape architect. Non-protected trees on development sites may be removed under a minor (4.08.00) or major (4.08.01) land-clearing permit. Mitigation planting applies to protected-tree removal on development.
Removing a protected tree required to remain under an approved site plan without a permit: $500 per inch of required mitigation, deposited into the County Tree Fund; standard LDC enforcement otherwise.
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