Permit for tree pruning; application; standards and criteria for decision; required documentation; inspections.
Tampa City Code § 27-284.2.3
in effectSec. 27-284.2.3. - Permit for tree pruning; application; standards and criteria for decision; required documentation; inspections.
(a) Applicant, in general. An application for tree pruning shall be applied for by an arborist or person licensed, or otherwise authorized by the city, to prune trees in the city. If no specific licensing requirements are established, then one (1) 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. If any person other than the property owner will perform pruning work, the application shall include an affidavit in the form provided by the city executed by each such person guaranteeing all pruning work shall be in accordance with ANSI standards. Building permits shall not be issued without tree pruning permits, where applicable. All applications for a building permit shall include an accurate tree survey, which accurately locates and identifies species and DBH for all existing protected and grand trees located on a parcel, and any protected or grand trees located within twenty (20) feet of the boundary of that parcel.
(b) Tree pruning, in general. No person shall prune any of the following until such work is authorized by a permit issued by the PDD:
(1) Any limb of a grand tree;
(2) Any limb of a specimen tree that is located within, on, or over any public right-of-way or private property, which limb measures four (4) inches or greater in diameter, as measured twelve (12) inches from the base of the limb; and
(3) Any limb of a protected tree that is located within, on, or over any public right-of-way, which limb measures four (4) inches or greater in diameter, as measured twelve (12) inches from the base of the limb.
Unless specifically allowed by the natural resources coordinator or designee, in accordance with the standards set forth in Table 284.2.3, any pruning of protected or grand trees shall be performed in accordance with the Technical Manual.
(c) Review of applications for tree pruning. The natural resources coordinator or designee shall determine if the application is complete. If it is determined that the application is not complete, the applicant shall be notified of the application deficiencies. The natural resources coordinator or designee shall take no further action on the application until all deficiencies have been corrected. Once the natural resources coordinator or designee determines the application is complete, a field inspection of the site may be conducted to determine whether the application shall be approved. A field inspection may also be conducted to confirm pruning was performed in accordance with the permit and this section. All pruning shall be done in accordance with this section and Table 284.2.3, as follows:
Table 284.2.3 General Standards for Tree Pruning
(1) Specific Review Criteria & Conditions
An application for tree pruning of limbs on a protected or grand tree shall be granted by the city if consistent with ANSI A300, including:
a. Limb(s) are diseased or injured;
b. Limb(s) are in danger of falling too close to an existing utility facility or existing structure;
c. Limb(s) create a sight obstruction on a public right-of-way; or,
d. Removal of limb(s) is(are) approved by the natural resources coordinator or designee, in order to remedy a hazard, in lieu of removing the tree.
(2) Tree Pruning Standards
All protected and grand trees shall be pruned in a manner consistent with the "American National Standard for Tree Care Operations, ANSI, A300, current edition." The natural resources coordinator may allow variations from this standard, if:
a. The purpose of the variation is to preserve the tree canopy, thereby reducing the amount of pruning that would be otherwise be required under "American National Standard for Tree Care Operations, ANSI, A300, current edition;" and,
b. The variation will not materially and adversely affect the health of the tree being pruned.
NOTE(S):
All pruning work, on any tree in the city, shall be in accordance with ANSI standards, and all work described in section 27-284.2.3(b) shall be supervised or conducted by a properly certified or licensed company or person.
(Ord. No. 2019-54, § 33(Exh. A), 4-18-2019)
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_S27-284.2.3PETRPRAPSTCRDEREDOINFetched: 10/28/2026