Short answer: inside Tampa city limits, you need a permit to remove any tree 5 inches or more in diameter at 4.5 feet above the ground, unless it's an exempt invasive species. The permit is $120 per property on the 2026 fee schedule. Grand trees (32 inches and up) cost $155 to $620 and healthy ones need public notice. You apply online in Accela, and removals usually come with replacement planting or a tree-fund payment.
First: are you actually in the City of Tampa?
This page covers the City of Tampa only. Plenty of properties with a Tampa mailing address are in unincorporated Hillsborough County (much of Carrollwood, Town 'n' Country, Citrus Park, Lutz, Brandon and Riverview), and Temple Terrace and Plant City run their own programs. Look up the parcel on the Hillsborough County Property Appraiser site and check the jurisdiction before you apply anywhere. County rules are in our main permit guide.
Which trees need a permit
Tampa measures trunk size as DBH, diameter at breast height: the trunk's diameter 4.5 feet above existing grade. A quick field check is to measure the circumference with a tape and divide by 3.14. A trunk about 16 inches around is right at the 5-inch line.
| Tree | Removal | Pruning |
|---|---|---|
| Under 5″ DBH (not mangrove, cypress or a mitigation tree) | No permit | No permit |
| Exempt invasive species, any size (list below) | No removal permit | No permit |
| Protected tree: non-exempt species 5″ DBH or larger | Permit required | Permit only at 24″+ |
| Mangroves, cypress, and trees planted as mitigation | Permit required at any size | Ask the city first |
| Grand tree: 32″+ DBH grand tree species in fair or better condition, or a state Champion/Challenger tree | Permit plus public notice; a healthy one may need Variance Review Board or City Council approval | Permit required |
Grand tree species include southern live oak, laurel oak and slash pine, which are also the big trees most Tampa lots have. A 24″+ tree is classed as a specimen tree and carries heavier replacement requirements, so expect large oaks to drive the mitigation bill even when they're under the grand tree line.
Permit fees (2026)
| City of Tampa fee | Per property |
|---|---|
| Protected tree removal / evaluation | $120 |
| Grand tree removal / evaluation, hazardous | $155 |
| Grand tree removal / evaluation, not hazardous | $620 |
| Grand tree pruning evaluation | $120 |
The same amounts apply to residential and commercial property. Florida's building permit surcharge (2.5% of the permit, $4 minimum) is added on top. The permit fee doesn't include tree removal itself or any replacement trees or tree-fund payment, which is often the larger cost.
How to apply, step by step
Register in Accela
Create an account on the City of Tampa Accela Citizen Access portal. The city publishes a step-by-step guide for registration and the "Tree Removal and Pruning Permit" application.
Inventory the trees
List each tree you want removed or pruned with its species, DBH and condition, and mark it on a simple site plan or sketch of the lot. Photos of each tree help the forester.
Apply and pay
Submit the Tree Removal and Pruning Permit application with your plan and pay the fee. If the job is part of a new home, addition or pool, skip this step: the trees go on the building permit site plan instead.
Forester review
A Natural Resources forester reviews and inspects before the permit is released, and sets any mitigation. You can also hire an ISA Certified Arborist to inspect and submit a report for review.
Remove the trees
Once the permit is issued, keep it on site while the work is done. Grand tree removals that aren't hazardous go through public notice first, so plan extra time.
The city doesn't publish a standard turnaround time. Applications with complete tree information and clear photos move faster; grand trees take the longest.
Building a house, addition or pool?
You don't need a separate Tree Removal Permit. Tampa reviews construction-related removals under the Building Permit (BLD): mark each tree as a removal on the site plan. If you find more trees have to come out after the building permit is issued, file a Building Plan Revision (REV) listing them. Don't let anyone start clearing for the pad until those removals are approved.
Replacement trees and the tree fund
Every permitted removal is subject to mitigation. Tampa calculates it from each tree's size, type and condition, credits you for trees you keep, and turns the net into required replacement trees. The rules worth knowing:
- Bigger and healthier trees count for more, so a 26″+ oak carries far more mitigation than a 10″ tree.
- Trees you keep earn credits that offset removals.
- At least 60% of replacement trees must be native species, and palms are replaced one for one.
- If there isn't reasonable room to plant on site, you can pay into the city's tree trust fund instead.
The forester sets the final number during review. Ask for the mitigation estimate before you commit to removing a large tree, because keeping one good oak can sometimes cover the replacement for several smaller removals.
Trees you can remove without a permit
Invasive and unprotected species don't need a removal permit at any size. The city's list of common ones in Tampa:
- Brazilian pepper
- Australian pine
- Chinese tallow
- Melaleuca (punk tree)
- Earleaf acacia
- Chinaberry
- Cherry laurel
- Mimosa / woman's tongue
- Silk oak
- Eucalyptus
- Lead tree
- Ear tree
- Rosewood
- Monkey puzzle
- Surinam cherry
- Wild cherry
- Citrus
- Male mulberry
- Queen palm
Camphor is a special case: no public notice is needed to remove it, but mitigation can still apply. If you aren't sure what a tree is, get it identified before you cut. Misidentifying a laurel oak as "junk" is an expensive mistake.
Dangerous trees: the Florida 163.045 exemption
State law limits when Tampa can require a permit for a risky tree. Under Florida Statute 163.045, no permit or notice is needed if all three of these are true:
- The tree is on residential property: a single-family detached home on a lot used for single-family purposes.
- An ISA Certified Arborist or Florida-licensed landscape architect does an on-site assessment following the ISA Tree Risk Assessment best management practices and signs it.
- The assessment finds the tree is an unacceptable risk, meaning removal is the only practical way to bring the risk below moderate.
Get the signed report before the tree comes down and keep it. "It looked dangerous" without the paperwork is not an exemption. This doesn't cover commercial property, vacant lots or multifamily sites.
Street trees, power lines and city lots
- Trees in the city right-of-way or alley: you need permission from Parks & Recreation Forestry, (813) 274-5744.
- Branches near power lines: TECO Line Clearance handles non-emergency trimming, (813) 228-1010. Downed lines: TECO emergency, (813) 228-1111.
- Overgrown city-owned lot next door: Neighborhood Enhancement, (813) 274-5545.
What happens if you skip the permit
Tampa calls unpermitted removal of a protected tree an irreversible violation and fines it accordingly. The city's record fine, upheld in court, was $234,427.50 against a tree company for cutting 28 protected trees near Gandy Boulevard. Owners and contractors can both be cited, and replacement requirements still apply after the fine. Neighbors report unpermitted cutting through the city's tree hotline, (813) 258-8733.
City contacts
| Tree permit questions | (813) 274-3100, option 1 · treequestions@tampagov.net |
| Construction Services | 2555 E. Hanna Ave., Tampa, FL 33610 · Mon–Fri 8:00–4:30 |
| Natural Resources Planning | (813) 274-3187 |
| Report illegal tree removal | (813) 258-8733 (258-TREE) |
| Find an ISA Certified Arborist | treesaregood.org |
Clearing a lot with protected trees?
Most of our Tampa calls come with a permit question attached. Before we quote, we'll walk the lot, flag the trees that look like they're over 5″, the likely grand trees and the invasives you can take out now, so you know what to put on the application and what the clearing will cost around the trees that have to stay. Once your permit is issued, we'll clear to it.
Tampa tree permit FAQ
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in the City of Tampa?
Yes, if the tree is 5 inches or more in diameter at breast height (4.5 feet above the ground) and it isn't on the city's exempt list of invasive species. Mangroves, cypress and any tree planted as mitigation are protected at any size. You apply online through the city's Accela portal.
How much is a tree removal permit in Tampa?
On the city's 2026 fee schedule, a protected tree removal/evaluation is $120 per property. A grand tree (32 inches or larger) costs $155 if it's hazardous and $620 if it isn't. A 2.5% state building permit surcharge ($4 minimum) is added on top. Replacement trees or a tree-fund payment can cost more than the permit itself.
What is a grand tree in Tampa?
A tree of a grand tree species with a trunk at least 32 inches in diameter and a condition rating of A, B or C (excellent, good or fair), or any tree Florida lists as a Champion or Challenger tree. Live oaks, laurel oaks and slash pines are common examples. Removing a healthy grand tree requires public notice and may need a Variance Review Board, City Council or other public decision.
Can I remove a dangerous tree without a permit?
Possibly. Under Florida Statute 163.045, the city can't require a permit for a tree on a single-family residential lot if an ISA Certified Arborist or Florida-licensed landscape architect does an on-site assessment, using the ISA tree risk assessment standard, showing the tree is an unacceptable risk and removal is the only practical fix. Get the signed report before the tree comes down and keep it.
Do I need a separate tree permit if I'm building a house or pool?
No. In the City of Tampa, trees removed for a construction project are reviewed under the building permit. Mark each tree as a removal on the building permit site plan. If you find more trees need to come out after the building permit is issued, submit a plan revision.
Do I need a permit to trim a tree in Tampa?
Only for big trees. Pruning trees 24 inches in diameter or larger needs a permit; trees 23 inches or smaller don't. Grand tree pruning evaluations are $120 on the 2026 fee schedule.
Which trees can I remove without a permit in Tampa?
Trees under 5 inches in diameter and the species the city lists as invasive or unprotected, including Brazilian pepper, Australian pine, Chinese tallow, melaleuca (punk tree), earleaf acacia, chinaberry, mimosa, silk oak, eucalyptus, citrus, male mulberry and queen palm. When in doubt, call the city before cutting.
What happens if I remove a protected tree without a permit?
The city treats it as an irreversible violation subject to fines, and both the property owner and the tree company can be on the hook. Tampa's largest fine to date was $234,427.50 against a tree service for cutting 28 protected trees near Gandy Boulevard.
Official sources
- City of Tampa — Tree Removal Information
- City of Tampa — Homeowners: tree permits
- City of Tampa — Arborist & Contractor Information
- City of Tampa — 2026 Trade Permit Fee Schedule (PDF)
- City of Tampa — Definitions and Guide to Measuring DBH (PDF)
- City of Tampa — Tree & Landscape Technical Manual (PDF)
- Florida Statutes § 163.045 — Tree pruning, trimming, or removal on residential property
- WTSP — Tampa's record tree removal fine
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Thresholds, fees and procedures change; confirm with the City of Tampa before removing any tree. Blue Moon Construction is a clearing contractor, not a permitting agency or certified arborist.