Tree Removal permit in Orlando, FL
It depends — some tree removal work in Orlando needs a permit, some doesn't.
You need a Tree Removal Permit to take down a tree with a trunk 10 inches or more in diameter measured at breast height, unless section 163.045 of the Florida Statutes exempts your tree. Trees the Parks Official has designated as Specimen or Historic are protected wherever they stand, and any healthy tree with a trunk 30 inches or more across counts as Historic. If a permit is issued you may be told to replace the tree with equal caliper inches of new trees, or to pay the money value instead.
| Permit needed? | Depends on size |
|---|---|
| Where the line falls | From 10 |
| Fee | The Parks Official sets a tree removal permit fee schedule, approved by City Council. What you pay depends on the tree's species, size, and health. The fee can be waived if the Parks Official finds the tree's health, structure, or location makes it a hazard, or that it is an invasive exotic species. The code gives no dollar amounts. |
| Review time | Not in the ordinance |
| Code section | Sec. 65.640; fees and penalties in Sec. 60.209 |
| Based on | Orlando City Code, Ch. 65, Part 6F (Tree Permits) and Ch. 60, Part 2B (Tree Removal and Protection) |
How to pull the permit
- Put together a site plan showing where the work goes, with dimensions.
- Apply through the Orlando 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
The fee schedule includes set money penalties for removing a tree unlawfully, adopted by City Council resolution, and the Code Enforcement Board may apply them.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orlando | — | Depends | From 10 |
| Kissimmee | 12 mi | Depends | You usually need a Tree Removal Permit to take down a pro… |
| Deltona | 34 mi | Yes | You cannot cut, move, remove, or destroy any regulated tr… |
| Melbourne | 42 mi | Yes | You need a tree removal permit before you take down a tre… |
| Tampa | 81 mi | Depends | You need a permit to remove a protected or grand tree, ev… |
| Port St. Lucie | 94 mi | Depends | You need a tree removal permit to take down a protected t… |
Other work in Orlando
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?
Orlando 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.