Do you need a tree removal permit in Jacksonville, FL?

For some trees. Jacksonville requires a permit for certain trees or certain sites, not every tree. Jacksonville has a Tree Ordinance that protects healthy trees, and the city fee schedule lists permit fees for removing or relocating protected trees. Under Florida law, a single-family homeowner with a written risk assessment from an ISA certified arborist or Florida-licensed landscape architect may not be required to get a local permit. Call the city before removing a large tree. Our confidence: medium. Short explanation, not legal advice.

The fee schedule refers to protected trees defined in Section 656.1205 of the city code. We did not confirm the size and species definitions; ask the city which trees on your lot are protected.

The right-of-way is typically the strip between the street and the back of the sidewalk. Requests to remove a right-of-way tree go through 630-CITY, and a forester inspects each one. Urban Forestry approval requires a tree risk assessment showing the tree is a hazard; healthy trees are protected under the City's Tree Ordinance. If the city denies a removal, the homeowner can request a permit for city tree removal from the Building Inspection Division and pays the cost. Trees in rights-of-way beside city-maintained ditches can also be inspected on request. 630-CITY is (904) 630-2489.

Florida Statute 163.045: for a single-family detached home on a lot used for single-family residential purposes, a local government may not require a notice, application, approval, permit, fee or mitigation to prune, trim or remove a tree if the owner has documentation from an ISA certified arborist or Florida-licensed landscape architect showing an unacceptable risk, and that removal is the only practical way to reduce the risk below moderate. City Bulletin L-01-20 says a certified arborist letter used to exempt trees from replacement or mitigation must be provided with the permit application and before the trees are removed; letters sent after removal are not accepted.

The city fee schedule (Building Inspection Division, Section 320.409) lists a $0 fee for removal of protected trees on individual lots, $75 for removal or relocation of private protected trees, and $25 for exempted protected trees. Ask the Building Inspection Division how to apply; we did not confirm an application page or phone number.

HOA rules can be stricter; check yours. Read your HOA covenants or ask the board before work starts.

Your address, the tree species if you know it, the trunk width measured about 4.5 feet above the ground, photos of the whole tree, and whether it is near the street, a sidewalk or a power line. Ask if a permit is needed and how long it takes.

Some do and some do not. Ask before you sign, and get it in writing who applies and who pays the fee. In many places the property owner is the one responsible for following the rules.

No. It is a short, plain summary of public rules with links to the official sources. For a firm answer on your property, ask the city or a local attorney.

We last checked it on 26 October 2026 against the official sources listed on this page. City rules change, so check the official source or call the city before work starts.