Tree Removal Permit in Jacksonville, FL
Permit Summary
Do You Need a Tree Removal Permit?
Exemptions
Florida Statutes Section 163.045 bars a local government from requiring notice, an application, approval, a permit, a fee, mitigation, or replanting for qualifying tree work on qualifying single-family residential property when the owner possesses signed documentation from an ISA-certified arborist or Florida licensed landscape architect that the tree poses an unacceptable risk and removal is the only practical means of reducing that risk below moderate. Jacksonville also has local protected-tree exemptions in Section 656.1205, but the City's current fee schedule still lists permit/verification paths for exempted protected trees and qualifying individual lots.
Protected Trees & Removal Eligibility
Protected Tree Rules
Jacksonville's tree-protection rules apply to protected trees on both private property and public property. Cutting, removing, damaging, or destroying a protected tree is regulated unless an applicable exemption applies. Exceptional specimen trees are specially identified hardwoods at least 24 inches DBH, and protected trees retained for preservation or tree credit must be protected during development.
When Removal Is Allowed
Permit approval, conditional approval, or denial is based on the Section 656.1206 criteria, including public-safety hazards; tree condition and disease; impacts on surrounding property, environmental quality, erosion, and existing vegetation; proposed landscaping; topography; necessity for proposed improvements, access, or grade changes; hardship; species and size; exceptional-specimen status; and scenic/historic-corridor considerations. For City-property tree-removal requests, Urban Forestry uses an on-site tree-risk assessment and generally does not approve removal of healthy City trees solely because of cracking sidewalks or driveways.
Replacement Requirements
Replacement Rules
When protected trees must be removed, Jacksonville requires replacement based on the total caliper inches removed using the type-specific calculations in Section 656.1206. Relocated protected trees may sometimes offset replacement inches. If the site lacks enough planting area, a monetary contribution to the Tree Protection and Related Expenses Trust Fund is required; qualifying off-site mitigation or, in limited circumstances, land conveyance may be alternatives. Florida Statutes Section 163.045 prohibits local mitigation and replanting requirements for removals that qualify under that residential risk-documentation pathway.
Arborist & Professional Requirements
Professional Requirements
For the Florida Section 163.045 residential no-permit pathway, the required on-site risk assessment must follow the statute's specified tree-risk-assessment procedures and be signed by an ISA-certified arborist or a Florida licensed landscape architect. Jacksonville Bulletin L-01-20 requires a Certified Arborist letter to be submitted with the permit application and before removal when using the City's arborist-based exemption from replacement and/or mitigation. For site-development plan review, landscape, tree-removal, tree-protection, tree-mitigation, and irrigation sheets must be signed and sealed by a Landscape Architect.
Emergency Tree Removal
Jacksonville Section 656.1205 allows verbal authorization from the Chief for a protected tree that poses an imminent danger to public health, welfare, or safety and requires immediate removal. Separately, Florida Statutes Section 163.045 provides a no-notice/no-application/no-permit pathway on qualifying residential property when the owner has the required signed professional documentation that removal is the only practical way to reduce an unacceptable tree risk below moderate.
Development & Special Areas
Development-Related Rules
A site-clearing permit is required before land clearing, grubbing, site development, or disturbance of the root system of protected trees. Site-development plans must address tree removal, protection, and mitigation, and tree-related sheets must be signed and sealed by a Landscape Architect. Tree-protection barricade, landscape, final, or other inspections may apply depending on project scope. Ordinance 2025-0102-E, enacted in 2025, amended Section 656.1206 provisions governing tree-mitigation contributions and minimum replacement-tree caliper requirements and includes a time-limited tree-mitigation contribution waiver for qualifying affordable/workforce housing development, subject to the ordinance's conditions.
Special Zone Rules
Trees in public rights-of-way and public easements require a permit for trimming, cutting, pruning, root disturbance, destruction, or removal under the City's ordinary process. City agencies, authorities, and utilities use maintenance-permit procedures, with a separate annual permit for designated scenic and historic corridors and any corridor-specific conditions. Utility work reasonably required to restore service is treated specially under the code. Florida Statutes Section 163.045 expressly does not apply to specifically delegated mangrove-protection authority under Sections 403.9321-403.9333.
What You Need Before Applying
Requirements
Determine whether the tree is protected by its DBH and location and whether it is on private property, public property, a public easement, or right-of-way. Obtain the applicable tree-removal/relocation or site-clearing approval before regulated work unless a controlling exemption applies. Jacksonville requires electronic permit submission through JaxEPICS. Protected-tree/site-clearing applications must document the site, affected protected trees, preserve areas, and the reason for proposed removal or relocation.
Required Documents
For protected-tree removal/site clearing, the City requires a site plan showing lot configuration and relevant existing/proposed improvements, utilities, easements and rights-of-way; identification of protected trees to be removed, relocated or retained by botanical or common name and DBH; preserve areas; and a statement explaining the proposed removal or relocation. JaxEPICS submissions also require the City's online application materials, including the Permission to Obtain Permits form where applicable. When relying on an arborist-based City exemption or mitigation waiver, the certified-arborist letter must be submitted with the permit application before removal. The Florida Section 163.045 no-permit pathway requires the owner to possess the signed professional risk-assessment documentation specified by that statute.