A tree removal permit in Tampa is not a formality. The city protects most trees of 5 inches or more, reviews every removal with a forester, and can require replacement trees or a payment into its tree fund. At the same time, Florida law gives owners of single-family homes a route around local permits for trees that pose an unacceptable risk. This guide walks through both, then covers the counties around the city. It is general information, not legal advice: confirm your situation with the city or county before any tree comes down.
Tree Service Tampa FL is a free phone line, not a tree company, and it does not apply for permits. Calling (689) 407-5379 connects you with an independent, locally owned tree service company, which can tell you how it handles permits for its jobs.
First, find out whose rules apply
A Tampa mailing address does not mean the City of Tampa regulates your tree. Carrollwood, for example, is an unincorporated community governed by Hillsborough County, and Temple Terrace is its own city. Confirm which government covers your lot before you start; if you are unsure, call the city or county office listed below.
| Where the tree stands | Who decides | Starting point |
|---|---|---|
| Inside Tampa city limits, private lot | City of Tampa Natural Resources | Permit for trees 5 inches DBH or more, invasive species excepted |
| Tampa street right of way | City of Tampa Parks forestry | Permission before pruning; permit at 24 inches or more |
| Unincorporated Hillsborough County | Hillsborough County Development Services | Generally 12 inches DBH or more on a lot with a home; check the county's Residential Tree Removal Guide |
| Unincorporated Pasco County | Pasco County | Permit for trees 5 inches DBH or more, with exemptions |
| Unincorporated Pinellas County | Pinellas County | New tree code in effect since Jan. 23, 2026 |
| Zephyrhills, St. Petersburg, Clearwater and other cities | That city | Call the city before any removal |
City of Tampa rules at a glance
From the city's tree resources pages and its posted fee schedule.
- 5 inchesTrees at or above this diameter at breast height need a removal permit, except invasive species
- 4.5 feetHeight above existing grade where the trunk diameter is measured
- 32 inchesGrand tree size; removal of a healthy grand tree may need a public decision
- $120Protected tree removal evaluation fee per property, before the state surcharge
Review and mitigation
Every removal permit is reviewed by a Natural Resources forester before it is released. Instead of waiting for a city inspection, an owner can hire a City of Tampa Self-Certified Private Arborist to inspect the tree and submit a report for review. All removals are subject to mitigation based on the size and health of the tree and how many trees stay. If there is no room to replant, the owner can pay into the tree fund.
Grand trees
Grand trees of 32 inches or more need special circumstances. A hazardous grand tree has a $155 evaluation fee. A grand tree that is not hazardous carries a $620 fee and may need a Variance Review Board, City Council or other public process, with public notice before removal. In one recent case, Tampa City Council denied a developer's appeal to remove grand oaks.
Applying for a City of Tampa permit, step by step
- Measure the trunkWrap a tape around the trunk 4.5 feet above the ground and divide by 3.14 to get the diameter. Note each tree's species and location.
- Photograph the treeTake clear pictures of the whole tree, the base and any damage or decay. If a company or arborist is involved, ask for its written assessment.
- Open the Accela portalLog in to the city's online permitting portal, start a new Building Permit record, choose Natural Resources and then Tree Removal Pruning Permit.
- Describe the workEnter the site address, the applicant, a description of the removal and a row of details for each tree that needs a permit.
- Wait for reviewA Natural Resources forester, or a self-certified private arborist's report, determines whether the permit is released and what mitigation applies.
- Keep the permit on handMake sure the tree company has a copy before work starts.
Questions about an application go to the City of Tampa at (813) 274-3100 or treequestions@tampagov.net. Many tree companies apply on the owner's behalf; ask whether the permit fee is in the quote, and see the tree removal cost guide for how fees fit into the total.
The Florida law that can replace the permit
In 2019 the Legislature passed HB 1159, which created Florida Statute 163.045. In 2022, SB 518, effective July 1, 2022, changed its standard from a tree that presents a "danger" to one that poses an "unacceptable risk." As the statute now reads:
- A local government may not require a notice, application, approval, permit, fee or mitigation to prune, trim or remove a tree on residential property if the owner has documentation from an ISA certified arborist or a Florida licensed landscape architect that the tree poses an unacceptable risk to persons or property.
- The documentation must be an onsite assessment done under the ISA's Best Management Practices: Tree Risk Assessment, Second Edition (2017), signed by the arborist or landscape architect.
- A tree poses an unacceptable risk if removal is the only practical way to reduce its risk below moderate.
- Residential property means a single-family detached home on a lot actively used for single-family living.
- The local government may not require the owner to replant.
The City of Tampa has published how it applies the law. The only way it can tell a legal removal from an illegal one is if the owner provides the documentation, so the city asks owners to send it in to avoid a notice of violation. If the paperwork lacks either an onsite assessment or a signature, the city says a notice of violation may be issued, and it reports misuse of the exemption to the ISA or the state licensing agency.
The statute speaks to local governments. It says nothing about homeowners associations, so check your HOA's covenants and architectural rules separately before a tree comes down.
Check the company yourself. Florida has no statewide license for tree trimming or tree removal, so a truck and a business card prove very little. Ask the company for a certificate of general liability insurance sent by its insurance agent, proof of workers' compensation coverage, and the ISA certification number of its arborist. A company that sprays or treats trees for hire needs a pesticide license from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. You can confirm an ISA certification with the ISA's credential lookup (opens in a new tab).
County rules around Tampa
Unincorporated areas follow county code. Cities inside each county may have their own.
Hillsborough County
The county says you may need a permit to remove a tree from a residential or non-residential lot, and points owners to its Residential Tree Removal Guide to check whether a tree needs one. On a residential lot with a home on it, the county generally requires a permit for trees 12 inches DBH or larger. The application fee is $81.65, plus $24.93 per acre over 5 acres. Permits go to trees that are unhealthy or causing damage that cannot be fixed another way. Oaks of 34 inches or more in good condition can qualify as Grand Oaks, which have stricter rules for pruning and removal.
Pasco County
Pasco's Land Development Code requires a tree removal permit for trees of 5 inches DBH or more, with exceptions. On single-family lots, palms and pines other than longleaf pine are exempt unless they are part of an approved landscape or replanting plan, and the county's residential checklist says non-native trees are exempt. Inside Zephyrhills, the city's own rules apply: its FAQ says a permit is required on non-residential property, and its Planning Department is at 813-780-0006.
Pinellas County
A new tree code in Chapter 58 of the County Code took effect Jan. 23, 2026. The county's tree permits cover unincorporated Pinellas, including Belleair Bluffs and Belleair Shore. On homesteaded single-family lots that are actively lived in, only trees larger than 24 inches DBH are protected. Many other properties need a permit for trees 4 inches or more and palms taller than 6 feet. Questions: (727) 464-3480 or treepermit@pinellas.gov. St. Petersburg, Clearwater and the other cities set their own rules.
Trees on the street and near lines
The City of Tampa prunes street trees for clearance over roads and sidewalks, removes deadwood over 2 inches thick and keeps signs, signals and streetlights clear. To prune a right-of-way tree, you need permission from the city's Parks Department forestry division first, and a permit if the tree is 24 inches or larger. Call (813) 274-5744 for right-of-way pruning or a tree blocking a street or sidewalk.
Trees near power lines follow the utility's rules. Tampa Electric trims around its pole-to-pole lines, while the service drop to the house is the owner's responsibility; it asks for two weeks' notice at 813-635-1500 to disconnect the drop for safe tree work. If a tree has a line down, stay away, call 911 and then the utility.
A short checklist before any tree comes down
- Confirm whether the lot is inside Tampa, another city or an unincorporated area
- Measure the trunk at 4.5 feet and note the species
- Decide whether you are applying for a permit or relying on a signed risk assessment under 163.045
- If using the exemption in Tampa, send the documentation to the city
- Check HOA rules separately
- Get the permit question and fee written into the company's quote
For the removal itself, see tree removal in Tampa, and if a city tree, a utility or insurance might pay, read who pays for tree removal.
Have a tree that may need a permit? Call the free line and describe it. The local company you are put through to can look at it and explain how it handles the permit.
How this line works: Tree Service Tampa FL is a free phone line, not a tree service company. It does not trim, remove, quote or schedule tree work and holds no license or arborist certification. Calls are transferred to independent, locally owned tree service companies in the Tampa Bay area. Those companies may pay Tree Service Tampa FL a referral fee. You never pay the line. How it works.