Florida Tree Ordinances
Tree removal permits, protected species, and statute citations for 34 Florida cities.
Florida tree regulation in plain terms
Florida tree regulation is split by one of the most-litigated statutes in the state. F.S. 163.045 (amended 2019) preempts cities from requiring permits or replacements when a homeowner removes a tree they present a certified arborist letter stating it's a danger to persons or property. This has gutted many city ordinances — not on paper, but in practice, since the arborist letter pathway applies to any tree that's structurally compromised.
Mangroves are the big exception. The Mangrove Trimming and Preservation Act (F.S. 403.9321-9333) applies statewide and preempts local rules — it sets its own permit regime. In hurricane-prone South Florida, mangrove work without a FDEP permit is a misdemeanor with steep fines. If you're anywhere coastal, check mangrove rules before touching shoreline vegetation.
Cities with published ordinances (34)
Boca Raton
Palm Beach County
Bradenton
Manatee County
Cape Coral
Lee County
Clearwater
Pinellas County
Coconut Creek
Broward County
Coral Springs
Broward County
Daytona Beach
Volusia County
Delray Beach
Palm Beach County
Fort Lauderdale
Broward County
Fort Myers
Lee County
Gainesville
Alachua County
Hialeah
Miami-Dade County
Hollywood
Broward County
Jacksonville
Duval County
Kissimmee
Osceola County
Lakeland
Polk County
Melbourne
Brevard County
Miami
Miami-Dade County
Miramar
Broward County
Naples
Collier County
Ocala
Marion County
Orlando
Orange County
Palm Bay
Brevard County
Pembroke Pines
Broward County
Pensacola
Escambia County
Plantation
Broward County
Pompano Beach
Broward County
Port St. Lucie
St. Lucie County
Sarasota
Sarasota County
St. Petersburg
Pinellas County
Sunrise
Broward County
Tallahassee
Leon County
Tampa
Hillsborough County
West Palm Beach
Palm Beach County
Florida statutes and primary sources
Frequent questions about Florida tree rules
Does F.S. 163.045 mean I never need a tree permit in Florida?
No — only when you have an ISA Certified Arborist or Florida-licensed arborist letter stating the tree presents a danger to persons or property. Healthy tree removal still requires whatever permit the city ordinance sets.
Do mangrove rules override my city's ordinance?
Yes. F.S. 403.9321-9333 (Mangrove Trimming and Preservation Act) preempts local mangrove rules. You need a state-level FDEP permit regardless of the city. Local rules can only be stricter with specific delegation from FDEP.
What counts as a danger tree under Florida's preemption?
F.S. 163.045 doesn't define a specific standard. Certified arborists use ANSI A300 / ISA Tree Risk Assessment methodology. A letter typically documents structural defects, decay, lean, or proximity to structures that would make the tree an immediate or foreseeable hazard.
Which cities in Florida have active tree ordinances despite F.S. 163.045?
Most (Miami, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, Gainesville) still have ordinances on the books for healthy tree removal, heritage trees, and public right-of-way trees. The preemption only covers hazard-tree removal on private residential property.
Do Florida cities recognize ISA Certified Arborists?
Yes — ISA Certified Arborist is the standard credential accepted statewide. Some cities also accept Florida Certified Landscape Contractors or F.S. 581.218-licensed arborists for specific permit types.
Need a tree report for a Florida city?
Start your free TRAQ assessment — we guide you through the specific permit your city needs.