Bay County requires a permit only to remove a protected oak (30-inch trunk) in the Urban or Suburban Service Area. Single-family homes are exempt, and pines are unprotected. Every tree is inspected before removal; the fee is $20.
Under Land Development Regulations Section 1911, a Planning and Zoning permit is required before removing a protected oak in the Urban or Suburban Service Area, and every tree is inspected before approval. Only species of Quercus with a 30-inch trunk diameter qualify as protected; pine trees can be removed without a permit regardless of size. Single-family dwellings are exempt when the tree sits in the building footprint, and utility, right-of-way, agricultural, and nuisance-tree removals are also exempt. The permit fee is $20, and no formal permit is needed for diseased, storm-weakened, or hazardous trees, common after Hurricane Michael.
Removing a protected oak in a service area without the required permit violates the Land Development Regulations and can bring code enforcement action. Single-family and pine removals carry no county penalty.
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