Habitat Permit & Environmental Compliance

Trees and native vegetation provide beneficial public resources. It’s crucial to protect our natural ecosystem by maintaining adequate tree numbers, replanting vegetation, landscaping vehicular areas, managing undesirable plants, preserving wildlife and its habitat, and providing a tree bank fund. 

If you live in unincorporated Pinellas County, including Belleair Bluffs, or Belleair Shore, you must comply with environmental and natural resource protection ordinances related to landscaping, habitat protection, wetland buffers, and tree removal. For full details, see Pinellas County Municode Chapter 138 Division 3 and Chapter 166. 

Use our address lookup tool to see where your property is located. Residents in other areas of Pinellas County will need to contact their cities directly.

For questions, call us at (727) 464-3480 or email bdrsenvgroup@pinellas.gov. 

Tree Removal

Tree Removal from Private Property

A Habitat Permit is required to remove trees on private property in unincorporated areas. This applies to land development for commercial, multi-family or new single-family home uses, as well as the removal/replacement of existing trees on your property. 

Tree Removal from Public Right-of-Way 

Tree removal within the public right-of-way requires a Utilization Permit.

Exotic Tree Removal

Undesirable plant species removal still requires a permit, but most are not assessed a fee. In designated conservation easements and wetlands regulated under F.S. 373 and F.S. 403, the department must approve any removal plan that addresses targeted species, the extent and method of removal, stabilization measures and more. 

Residential Tree Removal FAQs

These guidelines help residents of unincorporated Pinellas County and certain municipalities understand the fees, permits, and steps needed to remove trees within the property of single-family homes. They do not list every exception nor cover every situation. For specific questions, please call (727) 464-3480 or email bdrsenvgroup@pinellas.gov.

Landscaping Requirements

Subject to existing and proposed conditions, replanting with trees may be required on all properties. Landscaping may be required for proposed development on non-residential and multifamily properties as noted below:

Habitat Protection Requirements for Proposed Site Development

All trees 4 inches diameter at breast height (DBH) or greater, or any vegetation within wetland and/or upland buffer areas require a permit for removal or require protection during development.

Below are additional requirements for any proposed site development.