You generally need a tree removal permit in Hillsborough County before taking down any tree on residential property that measures 12 inches or more in trunk diameter, with a lower 5-inch threshold for street trees and certain property types. The permit costs $81.65 for parcels up to five acres, applications go through the HillsGovHub online portal, and a standard review takes about three and a half weeks. Some species are fully exempt, and Florida law creates a separate bypass for trees a certified arborist judges dangerous.
When You Need a Permit
The measurement that decides everything is diameter at breast height, or DBH, taken four and a half feet above the ground. For a typical single-family home, a yard tree at 12 inches DBH or larger requires a permit before removal. Street trees and anything in the public right-of-way trigger the requirement at just 5 inches DBH.
The lower 5-inch threshold also applies to:
- Condominium and townhome common areas
- Mobile home parks where you rent the lot
- Vacant residential lots that aren’t part of a subdivision
Townhomes on your own land follow the standard 12-inch rule for yard trees. Trees inside a wetland setback follow the same thresholds as yard trees for your property type, but anything sitting in a conservation area, wetland, or water body is handled by the Environmental Protection Commission (EPC) rather than the county’s permit desk. Contact the EPC directly in those cases.
If you remove a required street tree, you have to replace it from the county’s approved street tree list. Substituting palms means planting two palms for every tree removed.1Hillsborough County. Hillsborough County Residential Tree Removal Guide
Species You Can Remove Without a Permit
Hillsborough County exempts a list of invasive exotics and common fruit trees at any size. The list includes:
- Australian Pine (Casuarina spp.)
- Brazilian Pepper (Schinus terebinthifolia)
- Camphor Tree (Cinnamomum camphora)
- Chinese Tallow (Sapium sebiferum)
- Melaleuca or Punk Tree (Melaleuca quinquenervia)
- Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus spp.)
- Queen Palm (Syagrus romanzoffiana)
- Mango (Mangifera indica), citrus, guava, lychee, starfruit, and other exotic edible fruit trees
The full list also covers Woman’s Tongue, Earleaf Acacia, Silk Oak, Jacaranda, Chinaberry, Norfolk Island Pine, and Monkey Puzzle, among others.2Hillsborough County. Trees Exempt from Tree Removal Permits
One catch: if any of these species happens to be growing in a wetland or water body, EPC jurisdiction takes over. You need to contact the EPC before cutting, even for a species that would otherwise be exempt.2Hillsborough County. Trees Exempt from Tree Removal Permits
The Florida Dangerous-Tree Exemption
Florida Statutes Section 163.045 lets homeowners bypass the local permit process entirely for a dangerous tree. No application, no fee, no county mitigation. It applies only to single-family detached homes used for residential purposes, and the documentation rules are strict.
You need an onsite assessment from an arborist certified by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) or from a Florida-licensed landscape architect. The assessment must follow the procedures in Best Management Practices – Tree Risk Assessment, Second Edition (2017) and conclude that the tree poses an “unacceptable risk” to people or property. A tree meets that standard only when removal is the sole practical way to reduce the risk below moderate. Keep the signed report as your proof.3Florida Senate. Florida Statutes 163.045 – Tree Pruning, Trimming, or Removal on Residential Property
Two things people miss. The county cannot require replanting for a tree removed this way. And the statute does not cover mangroves, which sit under separate state protections. If someone reports the removal and you don’t have the arborist documentation ready, you lose the exemption and face the same penalties as any unpermitted removal.4The Florida Legislature. Florida Code 163.045 – Tree Pruning, Trimming, or Removal on Residential Property
How to Apply and What It Costs
Applications are only accepted through the HillsGovHub online portal. There is no in-person option.5Hillsborough County. Tree Resources Set up an account, then upload the application, supporting documents, and payment. You can track status through the portal.
The fee is $81.65 for any number of trees on a parcel of five acres or less. Parcels larger than that pay an additional $24.93 per acre. The fee is non-refundable and due at filing.6Hillsborough County. Apply for a Tree Removal Permit
You’ll need to submit:
- A scaled site plan showing property lines, structures, and existing trees, with the trees you want removed marked with an “X”
- The species, DBH, and count of trees to be removed
- Repair receipts if you’ve already fixed damage caused by the tree (optional but helpful)
- Photos of the trees from multiple angles (optional but useful for staff review)
If a tree service is filing on your behalf, the property owner must sign an authorized agent consent form. The county will not process a third-party application without it.6Hillsborough County. Apply for a Tree Removal Permit
Within 15 business days of receiving your application, a county inspector visits the property to verify measurements and conditions. You don’t have to be present if the trees are visible from outside. Expect up to about three and a half weeks from filing to a decision, delivered through HillsGovHub or the email tied to your account.6Hillsborough County. Apply for a Tree Removal Permit Measure DBH carefully at four and a half feet above ground, because the inspector will verify it.7Hillsborough County. Natural Resources Permit Application for Subdivision and Site Development Projects
A Faster Path With an Arborist Affidavit
If you attach an affidavit from an ISA Certified Arborist or an ASCA Consulting Arborist to your application, the county waives its field inspection and issues a decision within five business days. The arborist is never required for a standard review, but the time savings are meaningful on a tight timeline.6Hillsborough County. Apply for a Tree Removal Permit
For oaks 34 inches DBH or larger that haven’t been designated Grand Oaks, the affidavit route is still available, but you must also submit the county’s Tree Condition Evaluation Form.
Grand Oaks and Larger Trees
Oaks in the genus Quercus can qualify as “Grand Oaks” when they reach 34 inches DBH, rate as “good or better” on the county’s Tree Condition Evaluation Form, and score at least 175 points under the county’s Tree Point System. Grand Oaks cannot use the expedited affidavit process and always require a full county review. Expect more scrutiny and potentially significant mitigation.8Hillsborough County. Grand Oak Ordinance Standards
Any tree over 24 inches in diameter in fair or good condition that gets approved for removal will trigger mitigation. That can mean planting replacement trees, contributing to the county’s tree restoration fund, or both, depending on the species, size, and condition. The county evaluates these case by case and recommends submitting a natural resources inquiry through its online form before you apply so you know what to expect.5Hillsborough County. Tree Resources
What It Costs to Skip the Permit
Removing a regulated tree without a permit costs $65 per diameter inch of the tree. A 20-inch oak taken down illegally runs $1,300 in fines. A 34-inch Grand Oak exceeds $2,200 before any required mitigation planting. The county can also order you to replace the removed inches, DBH for DBH, with new trees.1Hillsborough County. Hillsborough County Residential Tree Removal Guide
The only after-the-fact defense is the Florida dangerous-tree exemption, and that requires the certified arborist’s signed assessment in hand before the tree comes down. Given the permit itself is $81.65 and takes a few weeks, cutting first and hoping for the best is never the cheaper option.