Permit for protected tree removal; application; required documentation; standards and criteria for decision; inspections; petition for review.
Tampa City Code § 27-284.2.4
in effectSec. 27-284.2.4. - Permit for protected tree removal; application; required documentation; standards and criteria for decision; inspections; petition for review.
(a) Applicant, in general. An application for protected tree removal shall be applied for by the property owner or a person licensed, or otherwise authorized by the city, to remove and plant trees in the city. If no specific licensing requirements are established, then one of the licensed professionals described in section 27-284.2.1(b) must be designated as the applicant on such an application made to the city.
(b) Application contents. Building permits shall not be issued without approved tree removal permits, where applicable. All applications for a tree removal permit shall include a tree survey, as defined in section 27-43. Arborist verification may be performed by the natural resources coordinator, or designee, or other arborist.
(c) Protected tree removal, in general. No person shall cut down, remove, relocate, damage, destroy, or in any manner abuse any protected tree in the city, until such work is authorized by a permit issued by the PDD. Removal of a protected tree without a permit is an irreparable or irreversible violation. An application for protected tree removal shall be granted by the natural resources coordinator or designee, when it is determined that criteria in Table 284.2.4 below have been met:
Table 284.2.4 General Standards for Approval of Protected Tree Removal [1, 2]
An application for tree removal shall be granted up to the limits set forth in section 27-284.3.1, Table 284.3.1. In determining the specific trees to be permitted for removal as part of that requirement, one (1) or more of the following general review criteria conditions must be demonstrated for each tree proposed for removal:
General Review Criteria
Tree Removal Zone (TRZ) for small lots | Only on TRZ eligible lots, a protected tree that has all or the majority of its trunk, determined at DBH, within the TRZ may be removed if the footprint of a proposed principal structure/building, or addition of heated floor area to an existing principal structure/building, conflicts with the protected tree's protective root zone (as shown on the construction plans of the related building permit).
Other construction activity impact(s) [3, 4] | 1. Protected tree is located in an area where a proposed building, structure, above/underground utility line or extension thereto, will be placed; and, minimum protective tree radius cannot be provided; and, development cannot be reasonably reconfigured to preserve the subject tree(s)[3]; or
2. Protected tree is located in an area where a building, structure, or underground utility line currently exists, and minimum protective radius cannot be provided, and/or cause serious damage to an existing building (refer to Table 27-284.2.5); or
3. The protected tree is diseased or injured to the extent it is irreversibly or irreparably damaged; or
4. The protected tree creates a visibility conflict on a public street or right-of-way and cannot be pruned to correct the conflict; or
5. The protected tree is required to be removed to remove unhealthy or damaged vegetation; or
6. The protected tree is required to be removed for an approved infrastructure improvement or structure [4]; or
7. The protected tree prevents necessary vehicular access to a proposed use, building, structure, or addition thereto; and, protective tree radius cannot be provided; and, development cannot be reasonably reconfigured [3]; or
8. The protected tree is located in an area where fill will be placed on a parcel pursuant to a development order and/or a grade-fill excavation permit has been issued by the city and the applicant has demonstrated it is not reasonably practical to utilize arboricultural techniques to preserve a protected tree; or
9. The protected tree or trees will prevent the comprehensive implementation of the bona fide agricultural use.
Notes:
[1] Refer to section 27-43 for defined terms.
[2] Refer to Table 284.3.1 for tree preservation (retention) requirements and section 27-284.4.1 for tree mitigation (replacement).
[3] Reasonable reconfiguration for protected tree(s) includes:
i. altering the proposed placement/height of any building or structure, or reducing the structure size (area/volume) to meet minimum tree protection zone(s), provided that:
1. The structure location is not adjusted more than that dimension allowed by a design exception to a yard,
2. There is no change in the number of stories proposed for the structure, and
3. The internal flow or function of the structure is not adversely altered by the reconfiguration.
ii. altering the proposed placement/height of any utility, onsite or within existing right-of-way, to meet minimum tree protection zone(s), provided that such alteration does not impact utility function or safety;
iii. altering the proposed placement/size of any vehicular access to meet minimum tree protection zone(s), provided such alteration does not render the function, visibility, and/or safety of the access as noncompliant with applicable city technical standards. Provision of minimum tree protection zone(s) may be considered a factor in granting (an) alternative design exception(s) to setbacks/yards, height, and/or vehicle access standards (refer to sections 27-60 and 22-319).
[4] No more than thirty (30) percent of the protected trees on a parcel shall be removed for infrastructure improvements for a new subdivision.
(d) Tree removal zone (natural resources coordinator). Protected trees may be removed after application to the natural resources coordinator.
(1) Applications for protected tree removal within the tree removal zone shall be filed, in association with a building permit, with the natural resources coordinator. Applications shall be submitted on forms provided by natural resources coordinator, and shall include the following information:
a. A tree survey, as defined in section 27-43. Arborist verification may be performed by the natural resources coordinator, or designee, or other arborist;
b. A site plan, drawn to-scale, depicting the proposed principal building(s)/structure(s) (new construction and/or building additions thereto), along with:
1. The applicable setbacks/yards for the principal building(s), structure(s), and/or addition(s) thereto;
2. The tree removal zone ("TRZ");
3. The location of the existing protected, specimen, and grand trees located on or within twenty (20) feet of the boundary of the parcel, as shown on the tree survey;
4. Any easements, curb cuts, underground facilities, or other encumbrances that would prevent the shifting of the proposed principal building(s), structure(s), and/or addition(s) thereto, on the property.
(2) The natural resources coordinator, or designee, shall review the application and determine whether the proposed principal building(s), structure(s), and/or addition(s) thereto, may be placed within the buildable area of the parcel, without any alteration or reconfiguration of the proposed primary building(s)/structure(s), in order to prevent the proposed primary building(s)/structure(s) from encroaching into the protective root zone(s). The natural resources coordinator, or designee, shall grant a tree removal permit for all trees with the majority of the trunk within the tree removal zone when the proposed principal building(s), structure(s), and/or addition(s) thereto, cannot be placed within the buildable area without encroaching on protective root zone(s) of protected tree(s).
(e) Tree mitigation (replacement), in general. Unless otherwise exempt in this division, removal of any protected tree from any public or private lands or right-of-way, is subject to the tree mitigation (replacement) requirements set forth in sections 27-284.4 and 27-284.4.1. It is a violation to fail to mitigate as required, and each and every day that a person fails to mitigate as required will constitute a separate violation.
(f) Protected tree damage or destruction. If a protected tree is unlawfully damaged but not destroyed, then the property owner or the person responsible shall hire an ISA Certified Arborist to take appropriate corrective action and restore the tree. If the protected tree cannot be restored or is unlawfully destroyed, and parts thereof remain, the tree shall be completely removed from the site and mitigated for according to sections 27-284.4 and 27-284.4.1.
(Ord. No. 2019-54, § 33(Exh. A), 5-18-2019)
Source: City of Tampa, Code of Ordinances and Charter and Related Laws (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/fl/tampa/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH27ZOLADE_ARTVISURE_DIV4NARETRLAWEUPHA_SD2GEPEPR_S27-284.2.4PEPRTRREAPREDOSTCRDEINPEREFetched: 10/28/2026