Do You Need a Permit to Remove a Tree in Tallahassee?

Every week, I get a variation of the same call. A homeowner has a tree they need removed — leaning over the roof, dead from a lightning strike, or simply consuming more of the yard than they can tolerate. They've already contacted two companies for quotes. Then a neighbor, a Google search, or a worried spouse mentions permits, and the whole project stalls.

The uncertainty is understandable. Tree permitting in Florida varies dramatically by municipality, and what governs Orlando or Miami has almost no bearing on what applies here in Tallahassee and Leon County. This confusion costs homeowners time, money, and occasionally an unnecessary delay on a tree that genuinely needed to come down.

Here is what you actually need to know.

The Basic Rule in Leon County

Leon County does not maintain a blanket ordinance requiring permits for tree removal on private residential property. In most cases, if a tree is on your own residential lot, you can remove it without filing for a permit.

This distinguishes Tallahassee from cities like Gainesville, which enforces a strict Tree Protection Ordinance requiring permits for removal of any tree exceeding four inches in trunk diameter at breast height — approximately 4.5 feet above the ground. Tallahassee's regulatory framework is considerably more permissive, but not without conditions worth knowing.

When a Permit Is Required

Several circumstances trigger permit requirements or mandatory review, even on private property.

Commercial properties and active construction sites operate under an entirely different regulatory structure than single-family residences. Leon County's Land Development Code governs tree removal associated with land clearing and new construction, with provisions designed to preserve the urban canopy that defines Tallahassee's character as one of the most heavily-treed capital cities in the country.

Heritage and specimen trees carry special protections irrespective of the surrounding property type. The City of Tallahassee maintains designations for trees that are unusually large, old, or historically significant — protections you may not be aware of until you've already made removal plans.

HOA governing documents introduce an additional layer of review that operates entirely independently of county regulations. Homeowners' association CC&Rs frequently require written HOA approval before any tree removal, regardless of what Leon County requires. I've witnessed homeowners complete a fully code-compliant removal and still face fines because they bypassed the internal review process.

A Note on Live Oaks

The most common tree I'm asked about, by considerable margin, is the live oak (Quercus virginiana). Tallahassee's canopy roads are defined by these trees, and there is genuine community investment — ecological and economic, not merely sentimental — in their preservation.

Individual live oaks on private residential property don't automatically require a permit for removal in most of Leon County. However, a formal tree risk assessment from a TRAQ-qualified arborist provides two things: an independent, professional determination of whether removal is actually necessary, and documented evidence of the arboricultural reasoning behind the decision. That documentation occasionally matters more than people anticipate.

What Happens If You Remove a Tree Without a Required Permit

In jurisdictions with active permit requirements, the consequences are significant: fines, mandatory replacement planting at a ratio sometimes exceeding 3:1, and stop-work orders that can halt construction projects for weeks. Tallahassee's residential regulations are comparatively lenient, but assuming you know the current rules without verifying them is a mistake I'd encourage you to avoid.

The safest course of action before any significant removal is a direct conversation with the City of Tallahassee's Growth Management Department or Leon County's Development Services division. Regulations change. That call costs nothing.

My Recommendation

After more than a decade of working with homeowners across Leon County, my standard recommendation before any large or mature tree removal is this: have the tree assessed by a certified arborist first. Not because the permit process demands it — often it doesn't — but because the assessment frequently reveals information that changes the decision entirely.

Some trees that appear dead are dormant or treatable. Some trees that appear structurally sound are compromised in ways that only become visible once they fail. And some trees slated for removal for aesthetic reasons would, with targeted pruning and soil care, become the best trees on the property within two growing seasons.

Permits are a regulatory question. Whether to remove a tree is an arboricultural one. They require different expertise.

If you have a tree you're uncertain about — whether the concern involves permits, tree health, or structural safety — contact Miller's Tree Service for a free on-site consultation. I'm happy to walk the property with you and give you a direct, professional assessment of your options.

About the Author

Katie Watkins is a Sales Arborist at Miller's Tree Service in Tallahassee, FL, specializing in tree health care and helping customers make informed decisions about the long-term well-being of their trees. She holds her ISA Certified Arborist credential (FL10270A) and is Tree Risk Assessment Qualified (TRAQ) by the International Society of Arboriculture. Katie has been part of the Miller's team since 2015. Follow her on Instagram at @katiethetreelady.