Tree replacement requirements in Florida

Mitigation obligations across 30 verified Florida cities, ranked ascending by replacement ratio. Numbers come directly from each city's published ordinance — heritage and specimen trees typically carry higher ratios than standard protected trees.

Replacement obligations across 30 verified cities are published as text rules rather than fixed numeric ratios — see each row below for the underlying ordinance language.

Replacement obligation comparison

Sorted ascending by minimum n:1 ratio. Cities with text-only or retention-percentage rules appear last. Click a city for the full ordinance page or the ordinance link for the underlying municipal code.

Tree replacement obligations by city, sorted ascending by replacement ratio. Includes ordinance details, in-lieu fee per tree, processing time, and a link to the municipal code.
City Replacement ratio Replacement details In-lieu fee/tree Processing Code
Jacksonville Inch-for-inch mitigation (1:1 replacement DBH) for standard protected trees; 2:1 or greater for heritage trees On-site replacement preferred; payment to the Tree Protection Trust Fund allowed when on-site replacement is infeasible. — 2-4 weeks Ordinance
Gainesville Inch-for-inch mitigation; enhanced ratios for heritage trees On-site replacement with approved native species; payment to Tree Bank accepted in lieu. — 3-6 weeks Ordinance
Cape Coral Inch-for-inch replacement with approved native or Florida-friendly species On-site replacement preferred; tree fund fees accepted in lieu when on-site replacement is infeasible. — 2-4 weeks Ordinance
Port St. Lucie Inch-for-inch replacement with approved native or Florida-friendly species; enhanced mitigation for specimen trees On-site replacement preferred. In-lieu fees accepted to the city tree mitigation fund where on-site replacement is infeasible. — 2-4 weeks Ordinance
West Palm Beach Inch-for-inch replacement with approved native species; enhanced mitigation for specimen trees On-site replacement preferred; tree trust fund fees in lieu when on-site replacement is infeasible. — 2-4 weeks Ordinance
Pensacola Inch-for-inch replacement with approved species; enhanced mitigation for heritage trees On-site replacement preferred with approved native species; tree fund fees accepted in lieu when on-site replacement is infeasible. — 2-4 weeks Ordinance
Boca Raton Inch-for-inch replacement with approved species; enhanced mitigation for specimen trees On-site replacement preferred; tree fund fees accepted in lieu when on-site replacement is infeasible. — 2-4 weeks Ordinance
Coral Springs Inch-for-inch replacement with approved species; enhanced mitigation for specimen trees On-site replacement preferred; tree fund accepts in-lieu fees when on-site replacement is infeasible. — 2-4 weeks Ordinance
Daytona Beach Inch-for-inch replacement with approved species; enhanced mitigation for specimen trees On-site replacement preferred with approved native species; tree fund fees accepted in lieu when on-site replacement is infeasible. — 2-4 weeks Ordinance
Delray Beach Inch-for-inch replacement with approved species; enhanced mitigation for specimen trees On-site replacement preferred; in-lieu fees to the city tree mitigation fund accepted where on-site replacement is infeasible. — 2-4 weeks Ordinance
Fort Myers Inch-for-inch replacement with approved species; enhanced mitigation for specimen trees On-site replacement preferred with approved native or Florida-friendly species; tree trust fund in-lieu fees accepted when on-site replacement is infeasible. — 2-4 weeks Ordinance
Hollywood Inch-for-inch replacement with approved species; enhanced mitigation for specimen trees On-site replacement preferred. Tree Trust Fund accepts in-lieu fees when on-site replacement is infeasible. — 2-4 weeks Ordinance
Melbourne Inch-for-inch replacement with approved species; enhanced mitigation for specimen trees On-site replacement preferred with approved native species; tree fund fees accepted in lieu when on-site replacement is infeasible. — 2-4 weeks Ordinance
Orlando Inch-for-inch replacement with native or approved species; enhanced mitigation for specimen trees On-site replacement preferred; in-lieu fees to Tree Trust Fund when infeasible. — 2-4 weeks Ordinance
Hialeah Inch-for-inch replacement with native species; enhanced mitigation for specimen trees (2:1 or greater) On-site replacement preferred with approved native or Florida-friendly species. In-lieu payments to Miami-Dade Tree Trust Fund accepted when on-site replacement is infeasible. — 2-4 weeks Ordinance
Fort Lauderdale Inch-for-inch replacement; enhanced mitigation for specimen trees On-site replacement with approved native species; Tree Trust Fund accepts in-lieu fees. — 2-4 weeks Ordinance
Miramar Inch-for-inch replacement; enhanced mitigation for specimen trees On-site replacement with approved native or Florida-friendly species preferred. In-lieu fees to tree mitigation fund accepted when on-site replacement is infeasible. — 2-4 weeks Ordinance
Naples Inch-for-inch replacement; enhanced mitigation for specimen trees On-site replacement preferred with approved native species; tree fund fees accepted in lieu when on-site replacement is infeasible. — 2-4 weeks Ordinance
Plantation Inch-for-inch replacement; enhanced mitigation for specimen trees On-site replacement preferred; tree mitigation fund in-lieu fees accepted when on-site replacement is infeasible. — 2-4 weeks Ordinance
Pompano Beach Inch-for-inch replacement; enhanced mitigation for specimen trees On-site replacement preferred with approved native or Florida-friendly species; tree mitigation fund in-lieu fees accepted when on-site replacement is infeasible. — 2-4 weeks Ordinance
Sunrise Inch-for-inch replacement; enhanced mitigation for specimen trees On-site replacement with approved native or Florida-friendly species preferred. In-lieu fees to tree mitigation fund accepted when on-site replacement is infeasible. — 2-4 weeks Ordinance
Sarasota Inch-for-inch replacement; enhanced ratios for grand trees On-site replacement preferred with approved native species; tree fund fees accepted in lieu when on-site replacement is infeasible. — 2-4 weeks Ordinance
Tampa Inch-for-inch replacement; enhanced ratios for grand trees On-site replacement with approved native or Florida-friendly species; tree fund fees accepted in lieu. — 2-3 weeks Ordinance
Clearwater Inch-for-inch replacement; enhanced ratios for heritage trees On-site replacement preferred; Tree Trust Fund in-lieu fees accepted when on-site replacement is infeasible. — 2-4 weeks Ordinance
Lakeland Inch-for-inch replacement; enhanced ratios for heritage trees On-site replacement preferred with approved native species; tree fund fees accepted in lieu when on-site replacement is infeasible. — 2-4 weeks Ordinance
Ocala Inch-for-inch replacement; enhanced ratios for heritage trees On-site replacement preferred with approved native species; tree fund fees accepted in lieu when on-site replacement is infeasible. — 2-4 weeks Ordinance
St. Petersburg Inch-for-inch replacement; enhanced ratios for heritage trees On-site replacement preferred; Tree Trust Fund accepts in-lieu fees. — 2-4 weeks Ordinance
Tallahassee Inch-for-inch replacement; enhanced ratios for patriarch/heritage trees On-site replacement with approved native species; payment to Tree Bank accepted in lieu. — 3-6 weeks Ordinance
Pembroke Pines Inch-for-inch replacement; enhanced ratios for specimen trees On-site replacement with approved native or Florida-friendly species preferred. In-lieu fees to tree mitigation fund accepted when on-site replacement is infeasible. — 2-4 weeks Ordinance
Miami Mitigation based on DBH: typically inch-for-inch replacement with native species; specimen trees require enhanced mitigation (2:1 or greater) On-site replacement preferred. In-lieu fees paid to Tree Trust Fund when on-site replacement is infeasible. — 2-4 weeks Ordinance

How Florida replacement obligations work

Which city requires the highest replacement ratio in Florida?
Replacement ratios in Florida are published as text rules rather than fixed numeric ratios — see each row for the underlying ordinance language.
What's the typical replacement obligation when a tree is removed?
Replacement obligations in Florida are published as text rules — most reference retention percentages or assessed-value mitigation rather than fixed n:1 ratios. Check each city's row for the exact ordinance language.
Can I pay an in-lieu fee instead of replanting trees in Florida?
Most cities in Florida accept in-lieu mitigation deposits to a tree planting fund when on-site replanting isn't feasible, but the per-tree dollar amount isn't published as a flat fee — it's calculated case-by-case (often based on caliper inches or assessed value). Verify with the municipal forester.

Next steps

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