Don’t get caught cutting down trees without a permit! The City of Jacksonville can enforce penalties for unapproved tree removals. To preserve and enhance the quality of life for Duval County residents, the City has requirements for protecting trees. You may be wondering if you need City of Jacksonville tree removal permits for your project. We know how challenging it can be to decipher code requirements. As professional landscape architects, our job is to understand and follow code requirements on our client’s behalf.
We provide an overview of the current City of Jacksonville tree protection and conservation codes in this article. Since codes are frequently updated, it’s best to involve a professional when determining the need for a site work permit or tree removal permit for development with the City of Jacksonville.
You may contact us for a free consultation if you need assistance when determining your need for a permit.
As Florida Registered Landscape Architects, we can apply for site work permits and tree removal permits on your behalf.
What is a “Protected Tree?”
The City of Jacksonville defines a “protected tree” as a tree with a DBH (Diameter-at-Breast-Height) of 11.5 inches or more. Protected trees may also include smaller trees if they were planted by a developer for conservation credits or mitigation plantings or if they are considered a “Private Protected Tree” or a “Public Protected Tree.”
“Private Protected Tree”
A “Private Protected Tree” is any of the following:
- Any 6-inch DBH or more tree located within 20 feet of a street right-of-way.
- Any 8-inch DBH or more tree located within 10 feet of a property line.
- Any tree that is 11.5-inch DBH or more located elsewhere on the lot
“Public Protected Tree”
“Public Protected Trees” are trees located on City-owned land or lands owned by other Government organizations, trees on land with a City or Government easement, and trees located on lands where the City or other Government agency can exert control, such as rights-of-way, park, public areas, and easements. Defined as follows:
- Any 6-inch DBH or more tree located within a City or Government right-of-way.
- Any 6-inch DBH or more tree located on any lot within 20 feet of a street right-of-way.
- Any tree that is 8-inch DBH or more located on any lot with 10 feet of a property line
- Any tree that is 11.5-inch DBH or more located elsewhere on the lot.
Protected trees do not include any species of Pine, other than Long Leaf Pine. They also do not include any species of Palm, other than Cabbage Palm, or any trees identified as Invasive Species. There are additional exempted trees within the code that have specific qualifications. This may be found in Section 656.1205.
These regulations generally do not apply to development occurring on bona-fide agricultural sites, cemeteries, existing single-family residential lots, land within a City easement, and land within a City Right-of-Way. There may be circumstances when these regulations will be applicable on these sites in special circumstances. Discuss your project with the City or a professional landscape architect.
Tree Protection, Conservation, and Mitigation
These requirements apply to all other development sites where land is being cleared for construction. During construction, “protected trees” shall be conserved on site as much as possible.
In the event trees are removed or destroyed as part of the land clearing, the developer must “mitigate” or plant replacement trees. The City of Jacksonville Tree Removal Permits process uses a ratio that calculates the inches removed and the inches replaced depending upon tree species.
Tree Mitigation and Planting Ratios
All live oaks (Quercus virginiana) removed must be replaced at a 1:1 ratio with new live oaks. This means that if you remove a 20-inch DBH live oak, you must plant 20 inches of new live oak trees. The developer may choose to plant (5) 4-inch caliper live oaks for a total of 20 inches of replacement trees. The minimum size for any replacement tree is a 2-inch caliper. So in this example, the developer could choose to plant (10) 2-inch caliper trees.
For any other species of protected trees that are removed, the ratio is 3:1. This requires that one-third of the removed trees be replaced. For example, if an 18-inch DBH Sycamore tree is destroyed, the developer must plant 6 inches of new trees.
What if all the required new trees don’t fit on the site?
Sometimes development sites do not have adequate space to locate the required replacement trees on-site. In that case, the developer may choose to plant the trees at another approved location in Duval County.
Alternatively, they may also pay a monetary contribution to the City of Jacksonville’s Tree Protection Fund.
This Fund is used to install trees around the City, including street trees, and at City Parks. This plays a vital role in continuously replacing aging or dead trees throughout the city resulting in a strong future tree canopy throughout the City.
Do I need a Tree Removal Permit?
Unless projects are located on an exempt site, City of Jacksonville tree removal permits are required before any land clearing, grubbing, disturbance to roots, or any change to a developed site. Permits are issued after an application and site drawings are submitted for review by the City of Jacksonville. The City will inspect the site, review the application and justification for removal, and review the mitigation proposed for compliance. Upon approval, a permit will be issued and construction may begin.
Tree Protection during Development
All “protected trees” shall be protected from injury during construction. The City of Jacksonville provides specific requirements for tree protection measures, including tree protection barrier fencing. The importance of tree protection when building around trees is critical for the long-term survival of trees.
Closing Thoughts
The City of Jacksonville’s tree removal permit process is reasonable compared to other cities around Florida. While it may seem daunting to decipher the code, the requirements provide for a beautiful city today and into the future. Look for a future article on replacement tree planting strategies!
If you have a current project that can’t wait, please contact us for a free consult.