Tree service in Orlando, FL

Do you need a tree permit in Orlando?

Inside City of Orlando limits, the city issues tree removal permits so only unhealthy, dead, hazardous, or problem trees are removed (City of Orlando: tree removal permit). For residential property, the city says no permit is needed if the owner gets a report from a TRAQ-qualified ISA arborist or a Florida-licensed landscape architect confirming the tree is a danger. Commercial property always needs a permit.

Otherwise you apply online with photos, pay the fee (the city lists $25 for residential properties), and mark the tree. A city arborist inspects, usually within three business days. If the permit requires a replacement tree, you have 60 days to plant it and notify the city.

Many "Orlando" addresses are in unincorporated Orange County or in Winter Park, Maitland, and other cities with their own rules. Check your address on the city's page first.

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 Orlando

• Live oak
• Laurel oak
• Slash pine
• Longleaf pine
• Sabal palm
• Southern magnolia
• Bald cypress
• Crape myrtle

• Laurel oak and water oak ranked low for wind resistance in UF/IFAS coastal plain research; live oak ranked high (UF/IFAS FR174).
• Older trees are more likely to fail in storms, and decayed roots or trunks raise the risk further (UF/IFAS FR173). Many lakefront and older-neighborhood oaks fit that description.
• Pines can look healthy after a storm and decline months later, so recheck them (UF/IFAS FR173).

Hurricane prep and storm cleanup

Hurricanes can carry strong winds well inland. Charley (2004) and Ian (2022) both caused heavy tree damage in Central Florida (National Hurricane Center). Schedule deadwood removal and clearance from roofs before June 1.

After a storm, report trees on lines to OUC (Orlando Utilities Commission) or Duke Energy, depending on your provider. Saturated sandy soil lets big oaks uproot, so watch for new leans and lifted soil at the base for several days after heavy rain.

Hiring a tree service in Orlando

If a company says your tree qualifies for the no-permit route, ask for the TRAQ-based written report first and keep it. If a permit is needed, the city sends follow-up to the property owner, so make sure you know the inspection date. Questions about city trees go to the City of Orlando's tree team at [email protected].

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.