Miami-Dade Tree Removal Permit Guide (2026)

Thinking about removing a tree in Miami-Dade County? Stop before anyone touches a chainsaw. Tree removal here is regulated by Chapter 24 of the Miami-Dade County Code (the county’s Environmental Protection ordinance), and many cities and villages layer their own, often stricter, rules on top. Removing a protected tree without a permit can lead to significant fines and mandatory replanting — and “my landscaper said it was fine” is not a defense the county accepts.

This guide explains, in plain English, when you need a permit, what’s exempt, how the process works, and how the rules change from one municipality to the next. It’s general information, not legal advice — always confirm the current rules with your local permitting office, and note that requirements are updated from time to time. Grove Tree Service & Landscaping has navigated these regulations for customers since 1981, and our ISA Certified Arborist prepares the reports and applications most removals require.

When Do You Need a Tree Removal Permit?

The default rule in Miami-Dade County is simple: a permit is required to remove, relocate, or “effectively destroy” any tree that is not specifically exempt under Section 24-49 of the County Code. “Effectively destroy” matters — severe over-pruning (“hat-racking”), major root cutting, or girdling a tree can count as destruction even if the trunk is left standing.

• Removal and relocation both count. Moving a tree to another spot on your property generally requires a permit too.
• Bigger trees face more scrutiny. Larger-diameter trees — especially specimen trees (generally those around 18 inches in trunk diameter at breast height or greater, as defined locally) — trigger stricter review and heavier replacement requirements, and several municipalities require a certified arborist’s report before approval.
• Location matters. Trees within a designated Natural Forest Community, wetlands, or coastal areas face additional protections.
• Your city may have its own rules. If you live in the City of Miami, Coral Gables, Pinecrest, Miami Beach, or another incorporated municipality, you may apply to your city rather than (or in addition to) the county — more on this below.

Common Exemptions

Section 24-49 lists exemptions from the county tree removal permit. The most commonly used ones include:

• Trees at existing single-family homes — the county code contains limited exemptions for some trees in the yards of existing single-family residences, but they are narrow (specimen trees and Natural Forest Communities are excluded) and most municipalities layer their own permit requirements on top. Never assume an exemption applies to your property until it has been verified for your specific address and municipality.
• Dead trees — generally exempt outside Natural Forest Communities, though documenting the tree’s condition before removal is strongly recommended.
• Certain invasive and exotic species — the county maintains a list of exempt species (invasive exotics such as Brazilian pepper, Australian pine, and melaleuca are the classic examples). Some municipalities waive fees for invasive removals but still require an application and an inspection to confirm the species.
• Routine pruning — normal, standards-based pruning doesn’t require a permit, but removing an excessive share of a tree’s live canopy can be treated as effectively destroying the tree.

Because exemption details (species lists, size thresholds, canopy limits) vary and are amended over time, treat this list as a starting point and verify against the county’s current Tree Removal Permit Application Package and the county’s tree removal permit page.

The Application Process, Step by Step

• 1. Confirm jurisdiction. Determine whether your property falls under the county’s process or your municipality’s — this decides where you apply and whose rules control.
• 2. Document the trees. Applications typically ask for the number, species, size, condition, and location of each tree to be removed or relocated, usually shown on a site plan or survey.
• 3. Add supporting documentation. Depending on the situation: photos, an arborist report, and a landscape/replacement plan showing proposed mitigation plantings.
• 4. Submit and pay fees. Fees vary with the number and type of trees and the property’s zoning.
• 5. Review and inspection. The county lists a processing time of roughly 21 days from acceptance to issuance for straightforward applications; a site inspection may be part of the review, and requests for additional information pause the clock.
• 6. Complete mitigation. Most permits are conditioned on replacement: replanting trees (or sometimes paying into a tree trust fund) to offset the canopy you remove. Replacement is typically scaled to the size of the tree removed — large trees can require multiple replacements or double mitigation — and a final inspection may be required to close out the permit.

How the Rules Differ by Municipality

• City of Miami (including Coconut Grove). The City runs its own tree permitting under the City Code — separate tracks for standalone removals and removals tied to construction. Coconut Grove’s canopy is a point of civic pride, and enforcement there is active.
• Coral Gables. The City Beautiful is among the strictest in the county. A landscape/tree permit is required before removing trees; trees of 18 inches DBH or more are treated as specimen trees requiring a certified arborist’s report, and larger removals carry increased mitigation. Grove Tree is an approved vendor for the City of Coral Gables.
• Village of Pinecrest. A certified Tree City with its own tree removal permit requirements: contractors must be registered with the Village, removed trees must be replaced (with heavier mitigation for specimen-sized trees), invasive-species removals get fee relief but still need Village confirmation, and hazardous trees require an ISA-arborist risk assessment. Grove Tree is an approved vendor for the Village of Pinecrest.
• Miami Beach. Maintains its own tree preservation regulations in Chapter 46 of the city code, with its own application, review, and mitigation standards.
• Unincorporated Miami-Dade (Kendall, much of Palmetto Bay’s surroundings, etc.). The county’s Chapter 24 process applies directly, through the county’s Division of Environmental Resources Management.

Penalties for Illegal Tree Removal

Removing a protected tree without a permit is unlawful under the county code, and the consequences add up quickly:

• After-the-fact permits cost double. The county doubles both the application fee and the per-tree fees when you apply after the work is already done — and that’s the best-case outcome.
• Fines and enforcement actions. Civil penalties for unpermitted removal or destruction can be substantial, particularly for specimen trees and multi-tree violations; some municipalities pursue five-figure penalties per tree.
• Mandatory mitigation. Expect to be required to replant — often at a higher ratio than a permitted removal would have required.
• Neighbors do report it. The county runs a 24-hour environmental complaint hotline (305-372-6955) specifically for illegal tree removal and “tree hacking.”

How Grove Tree Service Handles Permits for You

After 45+ years working across Miami-Dade, we know each municipality’s process because we work in them every week. When you hire Grove Tree for a tree removal, we identify whether your tree needs a permit or qualifies for an exemption, our ISA Certified Arborist prepares the arborist report and permit application, and we plan any required mitigation — so nothing lands on your shoulders. We hold Miami-Dade County License #1216720 and City of South Miami Licenses #2026-0134 & #2026-0135, and we’re an approved vendor for the City of Coral Gables and the Village of Pinecrest.

Tree Permit FAQs