Tree Guidelines

The City tree permitting program was created to preserve trees, and strives to increase tree canopy throughout the City of Lauderhill.

A Tree Removal Permit is required prior to relocating or removing any tree within the City of Lauderhill, on public and private property, including easements and swales, as well as front, side, and back yards. Landowners shall be held responsible for the removal, death, or abuse of any trees on their property and would be required to offset any environmental impacts through mitigation. Every single-family and duplex home is required to have a minimum of two trees planted in their yard.

For the complete code, see the Land Development Regulations, Article III, Section 6.8. Tree Preservation and Abuse Avoidance Standards and Requirements.

Tree Removal

1. JUSTIFY Tree Removal - Provide justification why you believe a tree cannot remain in its current location, please attach supporting documentation such as:

• Letter from a Certified Arborist
• Police/Insurance/Damage Reports
• Contractor Repair/Cleanup Receipts
• Photos of Tree Decay or Property Damage

2. RELOCATE Tree - A tree which meets the criteria for removal shall be relocated. Propose a new location to relocate the same tree on the same property (ex. move tree 10 feet back, away from driveway). If you believe the tree would not survive relocation or that there is insufficient space to relocate the tree, please provide supporting documentation such as:

• Letter from a Certified Arborist
• Property Survey/Aerial Photos (marked up/highlighted)

3. REPLACE Tree - When it is determined by the City that a tree cannot be successfully relocated, the applicant shall replace the tree on the property. Propose a new tree be planted on the property. Please provide supporting documentation such as:

• Property Survey/Location Map (marked with new tree location)
• Plant Nursery Quote (stating species name, nursery grade, height, diameter)
• Contractor Quote (stating species information and planting specifications)

4. PAY MITIGATION Fee - When it is determined by the City that tree replacement is not feasible due to lack of appropriate planting space, the applicant shall pay a mitigation fee into the City of Lauderhill Tree Preservation Trust Fund for future planting and maintenance of trees on City property.

Tree Relocation

Tree relocation is a very complex procedure, and a critical tool to saving priceless trees in urban landscapes. When done properly, even the oldest and largest of trees can survive relocation and live healthy for many more years.

Similar to human organ transplants, tree transplants should only be performed by trained professionals. The older or larger a tree is, the more difficult (in time, equipment, and money) the procedure becomes. Below are a few key steps to consider when transplanting a tree:

• TREE Assessment
  
  • CONDITION: Trees inspected by trained professionals to be in good condition and with high vigor are the best candidates for relocation
  • TRUNK & BRANCHES: Trees with large codominant stems (ex. multiple trunks, multiple converging branches) may not be good candidates for transplanting
  • ROOTS: Trees with very wide or very deep root systems may not be good candidates for transplanting. Alternatively, trees with very narrow or shallow roots systems may not be good candidates for transplanting as well.

• SITE Assessment
  • UNDERGROUND: The tree to be relocated needs to be accessible below ground. For example, if the tree is located very close to a building, driveway, fence, any permanent structure, or the property boundary, then it would be very difficult to dig the tree up by the roots without damaging infrastructure or encroaching on neighboring properties. 
  • ABOVEGROUND: The tree to be relocated needs to be accessible above ground. For example, if the tree is surrounded by other trees or narrow walkways between buildings, it would be very difficult to drive up to the tree.
  • IDEAL CANDIDATE: Imagine the ideal candidate for relocation as a tree that a large truck could easily drive right up to on every side.

Tree Replacement

There are several calculations that go into quantifying how many trees are needed to replace trees being removed, they are as follows:

• Canopy Area TO BE REMOVED
  • The area of a circle = Pi (π) x radius^2
  • EXAMPLE: A tree with a 20 foot diameter canopy spread (measured from dripline) has a canopy radius of 10 feet. Therefore: 3.14 x (10^2) = 314 sq. ft. canopy area to be removed

• Canopy Area TO BE MITIGATED
  • The City will send out an Arborist (aka Tree Inspector) to inspect and assess the tree(s) to be removed and adjust the canopy area to be mitigated based on the following considerations:
    • Tree condition
    • Tree risk assessment
    • Property damage documentation (attached by applicant to application)
  • EXAMPLE: A tree assessed to be in "Good" condition, with a "Low" risk rating, and no documented property damage provided by the owner will likely only receive a minor reduction in canopy area to be mitigated (ex. a tree measured to have a 314 sq. ft. canopy may require 300 sq. ft. of mitigation).

• CATEGORY of Replacement Trees
  • The approved tree species list includes 4 categories of trees
    • Category 1 Trees = 300 sq. ft.
    • Category 2 Trees = 150 sq. ft.
    • Category 3 Trees = 100 sq. ft.
    • Category 4 Trees = 50 sq. ft.
  • EXAMPLES to mitigate 300 sq. ft.
    • Plant one (1) tree from Category 1 (300 sq. ft. each)

     OR

    • Plant two (2) trees from Category 2 (150 sq. ft. each)

    OR

    • Plant three (3) trees from Category 3 (100 sq. ft. each)

    OR

    • Plant four (4) trees from Category 4 (50 sq. ft. each)

Tree Selection

Subtropical south Florida provides an excellent climate for a wide diversity of temperate and tropical trees. With so many great species to choose from on the Approved Tree Species List, please consider the following when choosing which species to plant in your yard.

• Mature Size
  • Aboveground
    • Always research a tree species prior to planting, to understand how large the tree canopy may be when it fully matures. Consider the distance from the tree to nearby buildings, such as your roof and your neighbors roof. 
    • Florida Power & Light has developed "Right Tree, Right Place" to help homeowners decide how far trees should be planted from aboveground utility lines and on-ground transformer cabinets 
  • Underground
    • Florida Law mandates contacting Sunshine 811 before any excavation. You can call "811" from your phone, or submit a ticket online for utility locators to mark your underground utilities - completely free!
    • A common issue is tree roots damaging water lines, because trees are always in search of water. Always try to plant your trees away from your water lines when possible. If you ever need to repair your water line in the future, not having a huge tree immediately on top of it will make the repair much simpler.
• "Native" Trees
  • Native trees are indigenous to, and occur naturally in, specific regions. They have evolved as part of the local ecosystem, in harmony with other native species, for hundreds, and sometimes millions of years.
  • These species are designed to survive in our local climatic conditions (ex. heat, humidity, rain) and to withstand local climatic events (ex. hurricanes, drought). Therefore, native species are inherently hardier and lower maintenance than most non-native species. Due to evolving alongside other native species, they also provide additional ecological benefits to other species (other native plants and animals) that non-native species do not.
• Characteristics
  • Shape/Form
  • High Maintenance
  • Pollen Allergies
  • Showy Flowers
  • Edible Fruit

Below are some additional guidelines to keep in mind as well:

• Mandatory "Native" Species Replacement
  • When native trees are removed they must be replaced with native trees
• Diversity
  • When planting multiple trees, a minimum variety of different species is required:
    • Planting 1-5 Trees = minimum of one (1) species
    • Planting 6-10 Trees = minimum of two (2) species
    • Planting 11-20 Trees = minimum of three (3) species
    • Planting 21-50 Trees = minimum of four (4) species
    • Planting 51+ Trees = minimum of five (5) species

Tree Planting

Similar to tree relocation, tree planting should be performed by professionals to ensure the best chance for the tree's survival. However, the tree planting process begins long before the day the tree actually goes in the ground. And, the process end long after the tree goes in the ground.

Below are some steps that should be done during the tree planting process.

• Contact 811 to mark utility lines
• Select a suitable location far away from building foundations, driveways, sidewalks, fences, and utility lines
• Research the best species for your space and needs
• Schedule the planting to occur in the spring so it benefits from summer rain
• Purchase a Florida Nursery Grade #1 tree (or better) that meets the height and diameter specifications (see City Approved Tree Species List)
• Safely transport, and protect from road wind damage, the valuable and delicate 13 foot tall baby tree from the nursery to the planting location
• Excavate three times the width of the root ball, install irrigation, and carefully install the tree following specifications (see diagram above)
• Properly brace the young tree to withstand strong winds 

Tree Establishment

While it typically takes a newly planted tree around 3 years to fully establish, the first year is the most critical. Below are a few keys steps to take into consideration when establishing your newly planted tree. and maintenance over the following months is absolutely crucial to the tree's success.

0 - 6 Months:

• Daily - check that the irrigation system is working properly
• Weekly - check that the stakes or guy lines are secure (not too loose and not too tight)
• Monthly - check that the mulch has not shifted out of place or deteriorated (due to sun and water) - add more mulch if necessary (DO NOT allow mulch to touch the trunk)
• Consider hiring a professional arborist to inspect the tree to ensure it is doing well

6 - 12 Months:

• Monthly - check the irrigation, stakes/guy lines, and mulch 
• Consider hiring a professional arborist to inspect the tree to ensure it is doing well

12 - 36 Months:

• Quarterly - check the irrigation, stakes/guy lines, and mulch
• Consider hiring a professional arborist to inspect the tree to ensure it is doing well

If the tree dies:

• Newly planted mitigation trees are required to survive and maintain their health for 1 year from the date of planting. If the tree is found prematurely dead or unwell within that 1 year timeframe, it will need to be replaced within 60 days of notification. The replacement tree must also survive to the 1 year mark to be deemed acceptable.
• For planting projects with more than 10 trees being planted, a 10% mortality rate is acceptable without a need for replacement

Permit Application

A Tree Removal Permit is required prior to removing any tree. Below are the instructions to apply:

Page 1

• Check "Tree"
• Complete "Property Description" section
• Complete "Landowner" section 
• Complete "Applicant" section (only if person applying is not the property owner)

Page 2 (optional)

• Enter contractor information if applicable, and if you want the contractor to be included in correspondence

Page 3

• Disregard the "Project Information" section
• Complete "Tree Permit Information" section
• Disregard "Paint Permit Information" section

Page 4

• The property owner must sign and notarize the Affidavit

Attachments

• Attach Property Survey - mark with an "X" where the tree(s) are to be removed
• Attach Photo(s) of tree(s) to be removed
• Attach HOA letter providing authorization to remove tree(s)
• Commercial properties are required to provide a professional tree survey

Fees

There are two types of fees associated with tree removal permits, Processing Fees (cover costs of tree inspection and permit review) and Mitigation Fees (only required if tree relocation and tree replacement are both deemed impossible).

Processing Fees

• Single-family Residential - flat $50 processing fee (regardless of how many trees are proposed for removal)
• Multi-family and Non-residential properties shall be assessed per tree, based on the caliper of the trees (see table below)

Mitigation Fees

• Standard rate is $350 per tree 
• Specimen Trees (healthy, native trees over 18" in diameter)
  • Tree appraisal will be performed by a certified arborist to determine the replacement value of the tree

Submit Permit

SUBMIT ONLINE:

• Email application and attachments to PlanningAndZoning@Lauderhill-FL.gov
• Await a reply to confirm receipt, this email will include an invoice and online payment instructions
• Follow online payment instructions and email proof of payment

SUBMIT IN-PERSON:

• Visit Our Office
• Pay by credit card