When is a Tree Permit Required In Sarasota County?
Before doing any trimming or uprooting, it’s vital that a property owner check if a tree removal permit is needed in Sarasota, Florida. Performing any work, even on your own property, without needed permits can mean a hefty fine and having to pay to undo that work – costing even more time and money. It’s always recommended that a property owner check with the Sarasota County Clerk for local regulations before taking on any repairs or home improvement projects. Click here read more about Environmental Permitting and Projects in your area.
What are the Tree Permit Requirements in Sarasota?
Sarasota County does not require a permit to trim or prune trees on private property, as long as the tree is not located in a Canopy Road Protection Zone. If the tree is located in a Canopy Road Protection Zone, you will need a permit even for trimming that tree.
A tree permit IS required for removing or relocating trees, even on your private property. The county reviews your request for the permit and may note the tree’s impact on your property and soil. The county might also require alternatives to removal. For example, root pruning, stem walls, or diversion of the tree’s root system.
A tree permit is also typically issued only if the tree poses a hazard to traffic or buildings in the area. A permit might also be granted if the tree prevents access to your lot or poses a reasonable interruption of the development of that lot.
Sarasota County might also issue a tree permit if that tree is diseased or has been damaged/weakened as the result of a storm, injury, fire, or age. If the tree has lost most or all its value or poses any type of danger, the county will review your permit request.
Where to Find Other Tree Permit Requirements for the Greater Sarasota Area
If you live in the City of Sarasota, Town of Longboat Key, or City of Venice, contact these jurisdictions for their local tree permitting requirements:
- City of Sarasota Neighborhood Development Services
- Town of Longboat Key Building Division
- City of Venice Tree Regulations
How to Find Tree Code Exemptions
The Trees Code provides certain exemptions and it is highly recommended that you contact a County Environmental Specialist to determine whether a permit is required. This goes for removing any native trees with a trunk diameter greater than four inches or palms with a clear trunk greater than eight feet.
What Qualifies As A Grand Tree
Native mature trees meeting the parameters for Grand Tree designation are an important part of our local canopy. They provide value to the public because of their age, size, and ecological worth. Sarasota County has standards for protecting and managing Grand Trees to maintain their value. New developments are to be designed to avoid impacts to Grand Trees.
Does your tree qualify as a Grand Tree? Grand Trees are determined by adding points calculated for the diameter, height and spread of a tree together. If the sum equals or is greater than the defined point total for your tree species, it is considered a Grand Tree.
To determine if you have a Grand Tree on your property, contact a County Environmental Specialist at 941-861-5000.
Tree Pruning
There are many reasons to prune trees, including removing dead branches, improving structure of the tree, and reducing risk. Sarasota County does not require permits for trimming of trees on private property, however a permit is required if trimming is within a Canopy Road Protection Zone or within a Right-of-Way. For the health of your trees, it is recommended that you consult with a certified arborist when considering the pruning of trees located on your property.
Canopy Roads and Where To Find Them
A canopy road is a county-owned and maintained roadway with a minimum of 50 percent overhead canopy coverage comprised predominantly of native tree species. Segments of roadway can be nominated by the public or the Sarasota Tree Advisory Council to be designated by the Sarasota County Commission as a “Canopy Road.”
There are approximately 24 miles of designated canopy road within the unincorporated portions of the county.
Why Tree Preservation Is Important
As communities continue developing, the construction and renovation of buildings, roads, parking lots and other infrastructure is required to accommodate this growth. The value of a healthy tree canopy is often overlooked and greatly underestimated in the interest of short-term costs. For this reason, tree preservation, protection, and tree replacement regulations are necessary. The purpose of these regulations is to balance the need to provide space for community growth with the need to protect natural tree and plant communities and to replace trees lost to development.
