Landscape Permit for Tree and Palm Removal

Pursuant to Chapter 2, Article II, Section 5. C (Landscape Permit), any removal, relocation, replacement, or substantial alteration of a tree with a caliper of three (3) inches or greater and a palm with a clear wood of six (6) feet or greater are required to obtain a Landscape Permit, except for exemptions provided below:

  1. Single-Family Homes and Duplexes
    Individually platted lots containing single-family homes or duplexes located within residential zoning districts, provided that the tree or palm proposed for removal is not part of an approved mitigation plan for a Planned Unit Development (PUD) community and is not a specimen tree. Specimen trees are protected in accordance with Chapter 4, Article I, Section 4.B (Preservation Efforts);
  2. Community Gardens approved by the City;
  3. Licensed plant nurseries or tree farms 
     Where plants are replanted and grown on the premises for sale to the public;
  4. Emergencies
     During a period of emergency, such as a hurricane, tropical storm, flood, or other climate-related hazard, the Landscape Permit requirement may be waived by the Director of Planning and Zoning or designee;
  5. City-owned and operated facilities, excluding rights-of-way.

 

Mitigation Requirements

All trees or palms removed are subject to mitigation requirements pursuant to Chapter 4, Article I, Section 4. C (Mitigation of Existing Trees and Palms). Any existing trees or palms that are not preserved in place or relocated on-site must be mitigated by on-site replacement or payment in lieu of replacement (see mitigation requirements table below).

Replacement or payment in lieu of replacement is based on the condition rating (good, fair, or poor) of the tree or palm, as determined by a licensed arborist or landscape architect.

If trees or palms are removed prior to obtaining approval of a Landscape Permit and the caliper of the removed trees cannot be determined from remaining evidence, the payment in lieu of replacement will be calculated based on the removed canopy area (in square feet) using aerial imagery, photographs, or review of a tree survey.

The mitigation requirements and compliance options are shown in the table below:


Condition Rating4

Measurement 

Replacement3

Payment in-Lieu of Replacement

Payment In-Lieu of Replacement for Tree(s) and Palm(s) that were removed without a Permit

Tree

Good or Fair

Caliper Inches2

Equivalent caliper inches of trees

$250 per caliper inch

$750 per 100 sq. ft. of a tree canopy area but no less than $750 per a tree

Poor

A number of trees

Tree-for-tree basis

$200 per caliper inch

Large Canopy Palm1

Good or Fair

A number of palms

Comparable or same species on palm-for- palm basis

$1200 per palm

$600 per 60 sq. ft. of a palm canopy area but no less than $600 per a palm

Poor

Palm-for-palm basis

Small or Medium Canopy Palm

Good or Fair

A number of palms

Comparable or same species on palm-for- palm basis

$600 per palm

Poor

Palm-for-palm basis

1. Large palms are those species, such as Florida Royal, Canary Island Date, or any other palm species determined by staff, to provide similar or greater shading.

2. The cumulative caliper inches of existing trees to be removed shall be replaced on-site with an equal or greater number of caliper inches of a replacement tree or trees.

3. Trees and palms proposed for replacement shall be comparable or same species to the maximum extent possible. Replacement trees for mitigation shall not be substituted by palms; however, replacement of palms for mitigation may be substituted by trees.

4. Condition rating shall be determined by an arborist certified by the International Society of Arboriculture or a Florida licensed landscape architect.

Application Process and Fees 

The Landscape Permit for Tree and Palm Removal shall be submitted through SagesGov

Please select Building → Commercial Permit Application.

In the application form, select “COMM LANDSCAPING (TREE REMOVAL)” as the Application Type.

Commercial permit applications for tree removal are subject to a $50 application fee, plus $25 per tree or palm removal or relocation.  

Documentation

  • Landscaping Plan, Tree Disposition Plan, and/or Tree Survey depicting the location of the tree(s) or palm(s) proposed for removal or relocation;
  • Mitigation Plan depicting the location of tree(s) and palm(s) to be installed through relocation or replacement, or indicating payment in lieu of replacement;
  • Plant List including condition assessment;
  • Photographs of the existing trees and palms to be removed;
  • Boundary Survey with easements;
  • Property owner(s) or HOA written consent and Agent Authorization (if applicant is represented by an Agent).

 

Removal of Trees or Palms within Environmentally Sensitive Lands or on Parcels Greater Than 10 Acres

The removal of trees and palms within Environmentally Sensitive Lands rated A, B, or C shall be consistent with the Conservation Element of the Comprehensive Plan and Chapter 4, Article I, Section 4. B. 4. (Environmental Sensitive Lands).

For the removal of trees or palms within A-rated Environmentally Sensitive Lands, or on any site greater than 10 acres in size, the applicant is required to submit, in addition to all other required documentation above, a detailed Flora and Fauna Survey or Inventory prepared by a qualified professional biologist. A complete list of requirements is provided in  Chapter 2, Article III, Sec. 3. B. 9 (Native Florida Ecosystem Survey or Inventory).

A map identifying Environmentally Sensitive Lands within the City is available at: Environmentally Sensitive Lands Map.

Code Requirements

  • A-rated Environmentally Sensitive Lands:
    The developer shall preserve a minimum of twenty-five percent (25%) of all native plant communities on the site within one unified preserve. Preserved habitats must retain an intact canopy, understory, and ground cover.
  • B- or C-rated Environmentally Sensitive Lands, or sites greater than 10 acres:
    The developer shall preserve a minimum of twenty-five percent (25%) of all native plant communities on the site. Preserve areas may be divided into micro-preserves, provided that habitats retain an intact canopy, understory, and ground cover.
  • Overall Preservation Requirement:
    Pursuant to Objective 4.5 of the Conservation Element of the Comprehensive Plan, a minimum of seventy-five percent (75%) of the total acreage occupied by A-rated ecosystem sites shall be preserved over the long-term planning horizon.