Tree service in Naples, FL

Do you need a tree permit in Naples?

The City of Naples' tree ordinance (Chapter 38) focuses on city-owned trees: trees and palms in rights-of-way, parks, medians, and other public land. You need an approved Tree Alteration Permit before altering, trimming, or removing any city tree, and only ISA Certified Arborists may work on city trees (City of Naples: urban forest program). Applications go through the city's CityView portal.

The city amended Chapter 38 in 2020 to align with F.S. 163.045 (City of Naples: tree protection ordinance). For trees entirely on private property, check with the city's Community Services department and your HOA; construction and landscape plans can carry their own requirements. Unincorporated Collier County follows county rules.

Florida's dangerous-tree exemption (F.S. 163.045)

State law overrides city and county tree rules in one situation. Under Florida Statutes § 163.045, a local government may not require a notice, application, permit, fee, mitigation, or replanting to prune, trim, or remove a tree on residential property if the owner has documentation that the tree poses an unacceptable risk to persons or property.

The details matter. The documentation has to be an onsite assessment done under the ISA's Tree Risk Assessment best management practices (second edition, 2017), signed by an ISA Certified Arborist or a Florida-licensed landscape architect. "Unacceptable risk" means removal is the only practical way to bring the risk below moderate. "Residential property" means a single-family detached home actively used as one; duplexes, townhomes, condos, commercial lots, and vacant lots don't qualify. The exemption doesn't apply to mangrove protection rules.

• Get the signed assessment before any cutting, not after.
• Keep a copy. Several cities ask owners to send it in so a removal isn't mistaken for a violation.
• HOA rules are private covenants and aren't covered by the statute.

Trees and problems common in Naples

• Royal palm
• Coconut palm
• Sabal palm
• Sea grape
• Gumbo limbo
• Live oak
• Mahogany
• Banyan

• Coconut palms had only intermediate survival in UF/IFAS hurricane studies, while sabal and smaller palms did well (UF/IFAS FR175).
• Melaleuca and Brazilian pepper are on the Florida invasive list and show up in Collier County yards and canals (Florida Invasive Species Council).
• Fatal palm diseases call for removal, not trimming (UF/IFAS PP100).

Hurricane prep and storm cleanup

Hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30 (National Hurricane Center). Irma (2017) and Ian (2022) both hit Naples with wind and surge. Remove coconuts and dead fronds and thin dense shade trees before summer.

Report trees on lines to FPL. Don't trim or remove a damaged street tree yourself; report it to the city.

Hiring a tree service in Naples

If any work touches a city tree, the company needs an approved Tree Alteration Permit and an ISA Certified Arborist on the job. Ask for the arborist's ISA number and verify it.

Checks that apply anywhere in Florida

• Certificate of insurance for general liability and workers' compensation, sent by the insurer or agent, naming you as certificate holder.
• ISA credential: confirm any claimed Certified Arborist number with the ISA verification tool.
• A written estimate that says who pulls any permit, whether stump grinding and haul-away are included, and how the lawn and driveway will be protected.
• Florida has no state tree-trimmer license, and since July 1, 2025 local governments can no longer require one (UF/IFAS Extension). Training such as ISA certification is the better signal.
• Be wary of large cash deposits or door-to-door offers after a storm. Report suspected storm price gouging to the Florida Attorney General.