Tree Removal, Pruning and Protection Routing — Hillsborough County
Route tree removal, pruning, relocation, protection, and development impacts to the authority for the parcel and tree location. Protected status, permit need, mitigation, emergency handling, right-of-way or utility control, and natural-resource review are project- and jurisdiction-specific; this workflow does not publish one countywide tree rule.
Flagged source reviewed 2026-10-15. How we check sources
Who needs this
Owners, tenants with authorization, associations, contractors, arborists, utilities, and developers proposing tree removal, major pruning, relocation, root-zone impacts, land clearing, or construction near trees in Hillsborough County.
Steps
- 1
Confirm jurisdiction, tree location, and controlling property interest
Determine whether the parcel is in unincorporated Hillsborough, Tampa, Plant City, or Temple Terrace and whether the tree is on private property, common property, a public right-of-way, utility easement, public land, wetland, or other controlled area. Mailing city alone does not determine authority.
maps.hillsboroughcounty.org/MapHillsborough/MapHillsborough. - 2
Identify the proposed work and document current conditions
Record species if known, size, condition, exact location, ownership, photographs, proposed removal/pruning/relocation, construction impacts, and claimed hazard or emergency conditions. Use a qualified arborist or other professional when the authority or project requires one.
hcfl.gov/businesses/permits-and-records/natural-resources/tr - 3
Obtain the responsible authority's protected-tree determination
Ask the County Natural Resources program, Tampa, Plant City, or Temple Terrace to determine whether the tree and proposed work require approval, a permit, replacement or mitigation, an arborist report, or development-plan protection. Do not transfer species lists, size thresholds, exemptions, or mitigation ratios between jurisdictions.
templeterrace.gov/300/Arborist-Tree-Programs - 4
Coordinate tree review with development and construction
For site work, demolition, additions, pools, utilities, driveways, subdivisions, or other development, identify tree-protection areas and required preservation measures before design and construction. A building, zoning, or site approval does not automatically authorize tree work unless the issuing record says so.
tampa.gov/construction-services - 5
Use the current local application or instructed handoff
Unincorporated tree removal permits are only available through HillsGovHub; use the County Natural Resources instructions for other County work. Tampa and Plant City use their current development or construction intake; Temple Terrace uses its Arborist & Tree Programs and current city instructions. Confirm the exact application for removal, pruning, relocation, development, or after-the-fact review.
plantcitygov.com/departments/development/planning_zoning/ind - 6
Resolve emergency, right-of-way, and utility conditions
For an immediate hazard, contact the responsible local authority or emergency/public-works channel as safety permits and document the condition before and after work. Trees in rights-of-way, utility corridors, or public property require the controlling agency's authorization; this workflow does not assume emergency or utility work is exempt.
hcfl.gov/businesses/permits-and-records/natural-resources/tr - 7
Add environmental and wildlife review when applicable
Confirm EPC, Florida DEP, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, federal, or other review for wetlands, mangroves, protected species, nests, conservation areas, or water-dependent work. A local tree approval does not replace those authorizations.
epchc.org/divisions/wetlands/permits-exemptions - 8
Wait for approval and complete mitigation or inspections
Do not begin regulated work until required approvals are effective. Follow protection, pruning, replacement, mitigation, inspection, and closeout conditions in the issued records.
templeterrace.gov/300/Arborist-Tree-Programs
Requirements
- Use the authority for the parcel and tree location.
- Obtain a project-specific protected-tree and permit determination.
- Coordinate tree protection with related development approvals.
- Obtain controlling-agency approval for right-of-way, utility, or public-property trees.
- Document claimed emergency conditions and follow the responsible authority's instructions.
- Resolve wetland, mangrove, wildlife, and other environmental reviews when applicable.
- Complete required mitigation, replacement, inspections, and closeout.
Documents
- Property address, parcel identity, ownership or authorization
- Site plan or survey locating trees, structures, easements, rights-of-way, utilities, and proposed work as required
- Tree inventory, species/size/condition information, photographs, and arborist report when required
- Development, demolition, utility, emergency, environmental, or companion approval records as applicable
- Replacement, mitigation, inspection, and closeout records
Fees
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Unincorporated Hillsborough tree review | Tree removal permit: currently $81.65 for any number of trees removed within a 5-acre parcel; additional acres cost $24.93 per acre. Use current County materials for other work or fees. | |
| Tampa tree review | Use the current City development/construction application and fee materials for the actual scope. | |
| Plant City tree review | Use current City planning/development materials for the actual scope and required mitigation. | |
| Temple Terrace tree review | Use current City Arborist & Tree Programs instructions and fee materials for the actual scope. |
Good to know
Tree protection, removal, pruning, emergency, replacement, and mitigation rules are not uniform across the four jurisdictions.No species list, size threshold, exemption, replacement ratio, fee, or timeline is copied from another jurisdiction.A building, site, or local tree approval does not replace right-of-way, utility, wetland, mangrove, wildlife, or other required authorization.The official EPC wetlands page returned HTTP 403 to the September 24, 2026 research client; that response is disclosed and is not treated as proof that EPC review is unavailable. The County and three city sources remained reachable.