Do you need a permit?
It depends on the tree
If your tree is on an individual lot with an occupied single-family home or mobile home, Jacksonville exempts you from its tree protection rules — the exemption is written into the City Charter by voter referendum. Everyone else needs a permit, and the trigger is small: 6 inches DBH within 20 feet of the street, 8 inches within 10 feet of any other property line, or 11.5 inches anywhere else on the lot.
Size threshold
A "private protected tree" is any tree 6" DBH or more within 20 feet of a street right-of-way, 8" DBH or more within 10 feet of any other property line, or 11.5" DBH or more elsewhere on the lot (Sec. 656.1203(bb)(1)). An "exceptional specimen tree" is any hardwood 24" DBH or greater.
What's protected in Jacksonville
- Private protected trees (6" near the street, 8" near other property lines, 11.5" elsewhere)
- Exceptional specimen trees — any hardwood 24" DBH or greater
- Public protected trees — City land, other government land, or land under a City easement
- Trees in a designated scenic and historic corridor
Fees, penalties, and the ordinance
- Fee
- The city fee schedule lists removal of protected trees on individual lots at $0.00, removal or relocation of private protected trees at $75.00, and a permit fee for exempted protected trees at $25.00.
- Penalties
- Work without a permit costs twice the regular fee plus replacement trees totalling twice the caliper inches otherwise required. Exceeding the permitted caliper inches costs triple. If a site is cleared so thoroughly that the Chief cannot determine how many protected trees were removed, Sec. 656.1208(c)(4) sets a trust fund contribution of $50,000 per acre or fraction thereof.
- Ordinance
- Jacksonville Ordinance Code Chapter 656, Part 12 (Secs. 656.1204-656.1208), plus City Charter Article 25 (approved by referendum 11-7-2000)
Worth knowing
- City Charter Sec. 25.10 is blunt: "No owner of any single-family dwelling or mobile home that is exempt under Section 25.06 of this article shall be limited in any way in connection with the removal of any tree that is located on such property."
- The exemption has two conditions: the lot must not be capable of further subdivision, and the dwelling must be occupied or capable of occupancy in compliance with applicable law.
- Palms other than Cabbage Palm, and pines other than Long Leaf Pine, are exempt when more than 20 feet from a street right-of-way and 10 feet from any other property line.
- Exempt outright: Pond Willow, Chinese Tallow, Paper Mulberry, Chinaberry, Camphor, Wax Myrtle, Golden Raintree, Cherry Laurel.
- A tree posing imminent danger requiring immediate removal is exempt, and the Chief may give verbal authorisation.
What we could not confirm
We would rather tell you what we don't know than guess. Call the office below to confirm these before you cut.
- — Whether a homeowner claiming the single-family exemption must still file a zero-dollar exemption permit. Sec. 656.1205(b) says an applicant claiming an exemption "must obtain a permit," while Sec. 656.1205(d) says the owner of an occupied single-family dwelling shall under no circumstances be required to obtain one. The fee schedule carries a $0.00 line for exactly this case. Call before you cut.
- — Whether Jacksonville recognises the Fla. Stat. 163.045 arborist exemption — "163.045" appears nowhere in Chapter 656 Part 12, in Charter Article 25, or on the city tree pages.