Miami-Dade County, FL
Tree removal in Miami-Dade County
Miami-Dade County protects trees under Chapter 24 of its code, and removing most trees needs a permit from the county or your city. The big exception is Florida Statute 163.045: on a single-family lot, a tree documented by an ISA-certified arborist or Florida licensed landscape architect as an unacceptable risk can be removed without a local permit or replanting. Severe pruning can count as removal.
Miami-Dade County at a glance
- County rule
- Miami-Dade Code Chapter 24 (tree preservation, §24-49)
- State exemption
- Fla. Stat. 163.045 for documented high-risk trees on single-family lots
- Improper pruning
- Hatracking and topping that destroys a tree count as unpermitted removal
- Right-of-way trees
- Report to the county or your city; don't remove them yourself
- Hurricane season
- June 1 to November 30
Reviewed and updated
County and city permits in Miami-Dade
Section 24-49 of the Miami-Dade County Code sets the county's tree protection rules, and no county or municipal official may issue a removal permit that doesn't comply with it. Many municipalities, like Doral and Miami Lakes, run their own permit programs; unincorporated areas go through the county. So the practical first step is finding out whether your address is in a city and, if so, which department issues tree permits.
Permits generally consider the tree's species, size and condition, whether it's in a natural forest community, and replacement planting. Some invasive or nuisance species are exempt from county permits, but cities can still regulate them.
The state exemption for dangerous trees
Florida Statute 163.045 overrides local permit rules for one situation: a single-family detached home where the owner has documentation, from an ISA-certified arborist or a Florida licensed landscape architect using ISA tree risk assessment procedures, that a tree poses an unacceptable risk. Then the county or city can't require a permit, fee, mitigation or replanting.
It doesn't apply to condos, townhomes or commercial property, and it doesn't cover right-of-way trees. Keep the signed assessment on file. See Florida storm damage tree removal for how the law works after hurricanes.
When pruning becomes illegal removal
Miami-Dade treats hatracking, topping and other excessive pruning that effectively destroys a tree as removal without a permit, and root cutting or girdling counts too. Selective pruning done to the ANSI A300 standard doesn't need a permit. If a trimmer offers to cut a black olive or mahogany down to stubs for hurricane season, decline: it's both harmful and a code violation.
Trees that cause the most trouble here
Ficus
- Concern
- Roots invade pipes and lift slabs; often a removal candidate near structures
Black olive
- Concern
- Dense, heavy crown; thin, don't top
Mahogany
- Concern
- Large limbs over roofs; thin before hurricane season
Coconut palm
- Concern
- Coconuts and dead fronds become projectiles
Royal palm
- Concern
- Self-cleaning; falling fronds are heavy
Right-of-way trees and swale areas
Trees in the swale between the sidewalk and street are in the public right-of-way. Report problems, including a right-of-way tree damaging your house or driveway, to the county or your city rather than removing it; DERM helps determine whether a right-of-way tree is damaging a single-family property. Removing a public tree without permission can bring fines.
Hurricanes and limestone soil
Much of Miami-Dade sits on limestone with shallow soil, so trees root shallowly and wide. Combine that with dense crowns and hurricane winds, and uprooting is common. Thin crowns before June, keep palms cleaned of coconuts and dead fronds, and have trees with lean or decay assessed early. After a storm, see storm damage tree removal in Florida.
Hurricane cleanup you can do and what to leave
Safe for a homeowner
- Photograph the tree and anything it's leaning toward. It helps with quotes and insurance.
- Measure around the trunk at chest height (4.5 ft). Dividing by 3.14 gives the diameter many permit rules use.
- Clear cars, furniture and pets away from the tree before the crew arrives.
- Ask each company for its certificate of insurance, sent directly from the insurer.
Leave these to professionals
- Don't cut a tree yourself if it could hit anything on the way down, or if any part is within 10 feet of a power line.
- Don't climb with a chainsaw. Aerial cutting is one of the most dangerous jobs in tree work.
- Don't remove a protected tree without checking local rules. Fines and replanting requirements can be significant.
Services in Miami-Dade
For A300-standard thinning and palm cleaning before hurricane season.
For the documentation Florida's dangerous-tree exemption requires.
After hurricanes and tropical storms.
After removal, especially ficus stumps that resprout.
Miami and nearby Broward guidance
The City of Miami runs its own tree program within the county, and Broward County to the north has different rules. Use these pages if your address is in one of them.
City of Miami rules and palm and tree trimming before hurricane season.
Broward County rules just to the north.
Miami-Dade tree removal questions
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Miami-Dade County?
Usually yes, from the county in unincorporated areas or from your city if it runs its own program. The exception is a documented high-risk tree on a single-family lot under Florida Statute 163.045.
Can I remove a dangerous tree in Miami-Dade without a permit?
Yes, on a single-family home lot, if an ISA-certified arborist or Florida licensed landscape architect documents that it poses an unacceptable risk. The county or city can't require a permit, fee or replanting then.
Is topping a tree illegal in Miami-Dade?
Pruning that effectively destroys a tree, like hatracking or topping, is treated as unpermitted removal. Selective pruning to the ANSI A300 standard doesn't need a permit.
Who handles a tree in the swale in front of my house?
The swale is public right-of-way, so the county or your city does. Report problems instead of removing it yourself.
Should I remove my ficus tree in Miami?
Often, if it's near pipes, a slab, a pool or a wall: ficus roots are aggressive and pruning the canopy won't fix that. Check permit requirements first.
When should I trim trees before hurricane season in Miami-Dade?
In the dry season, December through May. Once a storm is forecast, crews are booked and trash pickup is suspended, so cut branches become debris.
Will Miami-Dade pick up tree debris after a hurricane?
After declared storms, the county and cities usually run storm-debris pickup for vegetation placed at the curb, separated from other debris. Check announcements for your area.
Why do so many trees uproot in Miami?
Shallow soil over limestone keeps roots near the surface, and dense crowns catch hurricane wind. Thinning crowns and avoiding root damage help.
Can my condo association remove trees under the state exemption?
The Florida Statute 163.045 exemption applies to single-family detached homes, not condos or townhomes. Associations follow the normal county or city permit process.
Who removes trees near me in Miami-Dade?
Insured local tree companies familiar with county and city permits. You can call us to reach an independent provider serving Miami-Dade.
Sources for the local facts on this page
- Miami-Dade County: Tree removal permit information (checked 2026-10-03)
- Miami-Dade County: Effective destruction of trees through improper pruning (checked 2026-10-03)
- Florida Statutes §163.045 (checked 2026-10-03)
Tree service in Miami-Dade County
Call to speak with a local tree-service provider about removal, trimming, stumps or storm damage. Describe the tree and what it's near, and they'll explain the next step.