Do you need a tree removal permit in Port St. Lucie, FL?

For some trees. Port St. Lucie requires a permit for certain trees or certain sites, not every tree. Port St. Lucie protects trees 12 inches or more in trunk diameter and native palms with at least 10 feet of clear trunk, on public or private land. Platted single-family lots are exempt as long as the minimum single-family landscaping is kept. Other properties need a Tree Removal Permit from Planning and Zoning before removing a protected tree. Our confidence: high. Short explanation, not legal advice.

Trees with a diameter at breast height of 12 inches or greater, and native palms with a clear trunk of at least 10 feet, on public or private property. Exempt: platted single-family lots (if minimum single-family landscaping is met and kept), and non-native fruit trees such as mango, avocado and citrus.

A tree in an existing or proposed right-of-way is one of the listed reasons a removal may be approved. Utility companies may remove protected trees that endanger public safety by interfering with service in a utility easement or public right-of-way.

Removal may be approved when a tree is diseased, severely injured or in danger of falling, or creates a safety or health hazard. The Zoning Administrator or City Arborist may ask for a statement from a certified arborist or engineer.

Apply for a Tree Removal Permit with the Planning and Zoning Department using the city's application packet. Replacement is one inch of trunk diameter for each inch removed.

Removing a protected tree without a permit can bring a citation, replacement at a 3 to 1 ratio, and twice the normal application fee. Each tree removed without a permit is a separate violation.

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.