Tree Removal permit in Kissimmee, FL
It depends — some tree removal work in Kissimmee needs a permit, some doesn't.
You usually need a Tree Removal Permit to take down a protected tree, and the city's landscaping chapter is built around that permit system. In the public right-of-way it is unlawful to cut, trim, or remove any tree measuring four inches or more in diameter at breast height without a permit. On your own residential lot, state law (Florida Statutes 163.045) lets you remove a tree without a city permit only if a certified arborist or licensed landscape architect documents that the tree is a danger. Where a permit is issued, you may be required to replace the tree, unless that state exemption applies.
| Permit needed? | Depends on size |
|---|---|
| Where the line falls | You usually need a Tree Removal Permit to take down a pro… |
| Fee | The code text in view names no dollar amount for a tree removal permit. Kissimmee publishes its fees at https://www.kissimmee.gov/Home. |
| Review time | Not in the ordinance |
| Code section | Sec. 14-8-5 (Tree removal permit); Sec. 14-8-3 (Intent); Sec. 38-139 (right-of-way trees) |
| Based on | Kissimmee Land Development Code, Ch. 14-8 (Landscaping) |
How to pull the permit
- Put together a site plan showing where the work goes, with dimensions.
- Apply through the Kissimmee building department.
- Pay the permit fee when the permit is issued. Work done before that isn't covered.
- Book each inspection listed on the permit as the job reaches that stage.
If you skip it
Kissimmee's code doesn't set a specific fine for this work. In practice the department can issue a stop-work order, and unpermitted work tends to surface during a sale, when the buyer's inspector or the title company asks for it.
Nearby cities, same job
Rules stop at the city line. If your lot is near a boundary, or you work across several towns, this is where they differ.
| City | Distance | Permit? | Where the line falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kissimmee | — | Depends | You usually need a Tree Removal Permit to take down a pro… |
| Orlando | 12 mi | Depends | From 10 |
| Deltona | 43 mi | Yes | You cannot cut, move, remove, or destroy any regulated tr… |
| Melbourne | 48 mi | Yes | You need a tree removal permit before you take down a tre… |
| Tampa | 69 mi | Depends | You need a permit to remove a protected or grand tree, ev… |
| St. Petersburg | 84 mi | Depends | removal of a protected tree or palm |
Other work in Kissimmee
Questions people ask
My tree removal is right at the limit. Does that count?
The exemption has to fit exactly — if the code says a size or height, being at or under it keeps you exempt, and going a single inch over doesn't. When you're close to the line, measure before you buy materials, and call the department if the number is borderline.
I already built it without a permit. What now?
Kissimmee can issue a stop-work order and require you to apply after the fact, sometimes with an extra fee. Work that was covered up may have to be opened for inspection. Full walkthrough here.
Does unpermitted work cause problems when selling the house?
Often, yes. A buyer's inspector or the title company may flag it, and lenders can balk at financing a home with open or missing permits. What to do about it.