Broward County Tree Removal Guide: Permits, Storm Risk, and Homeowner Costs

Short Answer

Tree removal in Broward County depends on where the property is located, what kind of tree is involved, whether the tree is healthy or hazardous, and whether a city, HOA, or county rule applies. Broward County’s Tree Preservation Program says a license is required for tree removal or relocation in the areas it regulates, except for nuisance trees, and replacement or relocation is generally part of the process. Some Broward cities have their own permitting systems, and some cities require HOA approval or proof that the tree company is properly licensed.

For homeowners, the practical decision is usually not just “Can I cut it down?” It is:

• Is the tree actually unsafe?
• Is it protected, regulated, or in a city with separate rules?
• Is it near a roof, pool cage, driveway, fence, power line, or neighbor’s property?
• Will the job require climbing, rigging, bucket-truck access, crane access, or hand-carrying debris?
• Is stump grinding included?
• Do I need documentation before removal?

If the tree is leaning, split, decayed at the base, dropping large limbs, or storm-damaged near a target, do not wait until hurricane conditions are close. Get the tree evaluated and document the condition before work begins.

Why Broward County Tree Removal Is Different From a Simple Yard Cleanup

Broward County has dense neighborhoods, coastal exposure, tight side yards, older shade trees, palms, pool cages, paver driveways, irrigation lines, and many HOA communities. A tree that looks easy from the street may be difficult once the crew has to protect the roof, fence, pool deck, utilities, and neighboring property.

In South Florida, removal decisions often involve:

• palms near pool cages
• ficus, oaks, black olives, and other mature trees near hardscape
• hurricane-damaged limbs over driveways
• trees in swales or right-of-way areas
• roots lifting pavers or sidewalks
• narrow access between houses
• HOA landscaping requirements
• city-specific tree preservation rules
• emergency work after tropical storms or heavy rain

That is why Broward homeowners should treat tree removal as a planning decision, not just a cutting job.

Start With Location: County, City, HOA, or Right-of-Way?

Broward County’s Tree Preservation Program has countywide authority, but the county notes that it is not enforced in municipalities with regulations that are at least as stringent. The county page lists areas it covers, including unincorporated Broward County, county-controlled properties, certain environmentally designated lands, and specific municipalities such as Lighthouse Point, Lauderdale Lakes, Lazy Lake, North Lauderdale, Pembroke Park, Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, Hillsboro Beach, and Wilton Manors.

That means a homeowner in Broward should first identify:

1. Is the property in unincorporated Broward or inside a city?
2. Does the city have its own tree permit process?
3. Is the tree in a swale, easement, common area, or HOA-controlled landscape?
4. Is it a residential single-family property, duplex, multifamily, commercial, or vacant/development site?
5. Is the tree hazardous enough that Florida’s residential tree-risk statute may apply?

A Fort Lauderdale homeowner, a Coral Springs homeowner, and a homeowner in unincorporated Broward may not follow the exact same process.

Broward County Tree Removal License Basics

Broward County’s Tree Preservation Program states that tree removal and relocation are regulated under its Tree Preservation and Abuse Ordinance. For the areas it regulates, the county says a license is required for removal or relocation of trees except nuisance trees, and that removal/relocation must be justified with relocation or replacement taking place.

Broward also maintains a Tree Removal License Application process. As of the county’s fee schedule effective May 1, 2025, the initial Tree Removal License fee shown for developed single-family or duplex residential property is $100, with additional per-tree fees based on diameter at breast height, often called DBH.

Do not treat those fees as your only cost. A permit or license fee is separate from the tree service quote, debris hauling, stump grinding, replacement planting, restoration, and any HOA-related requirements.

Florida Statute 163.045: The Hazardous Tree Exemption Is Not a Shortcut

Florida Statute 163.045 can matter when a tree on a qualifying residential property poses an unacceptable risk. The statute says a local government may not require notice, application, approval, permit, fee, or mitigation for pruning, trimming, or removing a tree on residential property if the owner has documentation from an ISA Certified Arborist or Florida licensed landscape architect stating that the tree poses an unacceptable risk to persons or property.

But homeowners should be careful here.

This is not a “remove any tree I dislike” rule. The statute defines documentation as an onsite assessment using tree risk assessment procedures, and it says the tree must pose an unacceptable risk, where removal is the only practical way to reduce the risk below moderate. It also does not apply to mangrove protection authority.

If you plan to rely on the statute, keep the documentation before removal. Also check whether your HOA, property type, development order, easement, or insurance situation creates separate obligations.

Broward City Rules Can Be More Specific

Some Broward cities publish their own process. Fort Lauderdale says its Department of Sustainable Development’s Building Services is responsible for issuing tree removal and landscaping permits. Coral Springs has a residential tree removal process and tells homeowners to check HOA approval, hire a licensed Broward County tree trimmer, and provide a survey or sketch showing tree location, species, and diameter.

That is the kind of detail that can change a project.

A homeowner may need:

• a permit or license application
• species and DBH information
• photos
• a property survey or sketch
• replacement tree details
• HOA approval
• a licensed tree trimmer
• risk documentation
• proof that the tree is dead, hazardous, invasive, or storm-damaged

Before removal, check your exact city page or call the local permitting office. Broward is too large and municipalized for one blanket answer.

Cost Drivers for Broward County Tree Removal

The cost of removing a tree in Broward County usually depends more on risk and access than on height alone.

Common cost drivers include:

Tree size and wood weight

A small palm in an open yard is not the same job as a mature oak or ficus over a roof. Height, trunk diameter, limb spread, and wood weight all change the removal plan.

Access

Many Broward homes have tight side yards, fences, pool cages, pavers, decorative gates, irrigation, and landscaping beds. If equipment cannot reach the tree, the crew may need to climb, rig, lower limbs by rope, hand-carry logs, or use smaller machines.

Targets below the tree

A tree over a roof, driveway, screened enclosure, fence, or neighbor’s property requires more control. Dropping limbs freely may not be an option.

Tree condition

Dead, decayed, cracked, or storm-loaded trees can be more dangerous to remove than healthy trees. Brittle wood and hidden decay often slow the job.

Utility proximity

Trees near power lines or service drops require extra caution. Homeowners should not attempt this work themselves.

Cleanup and hauling

Some quotes include cutting only. Others include full debris removal. Large logs, palm trunks, and storm debris can change labor and disposal needs.

Stump grinding

Stump grinding is often a separate line item. Access, stump diameter, root flare, nearby pavers, irrigation, and replanting plans all affect the grinding plan.

Broward Storm Risk: What Homeowners Should Check Before Hurricane Season

Before hurricane season, Broward homeowners should walk the yard and look for signs that a tree needs attention before weather becomes urgent.

Check for:

• dead limbs over the roof or driveway
• palms with crown decline or trunk lean
• split trunks or included bark
• mushrooms or conks near the base
• large limbs rubbing the roof
• soil lifting around a leaning tree
• roots cut by paver, irrigation, or utility work
• canopy heavily weighted toward the house
• branches touching pool cages or screens
• hanging limbs after prior storms
• trees blocking emergency access or visibility

Not every issue means removal. Some trees need selective pruning. Some need monitoring. Some need cabling or reduction. Some need removal because the risk cannot be reduced enough with pruning.

The key is timing. Tree companies get busier as storms approach, and emergency work is usually more expensive and less predictable than planned work.

Tree Removal Near Pool Cages, Pavers, and Tight Side Yards

Broward homes often have landscaping that makes tree work more delicate:

• screened pool enclosures
• marble, travertine, or concrete pavers
• narrow side gates
• irrigation and lighting wires
• fences close to the trunk
• canal or lake edges
• dense privacy landscaping

For these jobs, ask the tree service how they plan to protect the property. You may hear terms like rigging, lowering limbs, mats, bucket access, hand-carrying, or sectional removal. These are not just technical details. They explain why two quotes for the same tree may be very different.

Stump Grinding in Broward County

After a tree is removed, the stump decision matters.

Stump grinding may be useful when:

• the stump is in a front yard or visible area
• roots interfere with replanting
• the stump is near a driveway or walkway
• the area will be sodded, landscaped, or paved
• the stump creates a trip hazard
• pests, shoots, or decay are a concern

Before grinding, mark irrigation heads, lighting wires, drain lines, utilities, and nearby hardscape. If the stump is close to pavers, a fence, or pool equipment, access and protection should be discussed before the crew arrives.

What to Ask Before Hiring a Broward Tree Service

Before you approve a quote, ask:

• Are you licensed and insured for tree work in Broward County?
• Does my city or county require a permit, license, or approval?
• Will you help identify whether a permit is needed?
• Is stump grinding included?
• Is hauling included?
• How will you protect the driveway, pavers, pool cage, and irrigation?
• Will the tree be climbed, accessed by bucket truck, or rigged down?
• Who handles replacement requirements if they apply?
• Can you provide photos or documentation if the tree is hazardous?
• What happens if hidden decay changes the work plan?

A vague quote can become expensive later. Good tree work should make the scope clear.

Documentation to Save Before and After Removal

Keep:

• photos of the full tree
• close-ups of damage, decay, lean, or dead limbs
• photos showing distance to structures
• permit or license paperwork if required
• arborist or landscape architect documentation if relying on Florida Statute 163.045
• the written estimate
• proof of insurance from the tree company
• before/after photos
• invoice with cleanup and stump grinding details

This can help with HOA questions, city questions, insurance discussions, or future property-sale records.

When to Call ProTreeTrim

If you are trying to decide whether a Broward County tree needs pruning, removal, emergency service, or stump grinding, ProTreeTrim can help you think through the next step. The most important factors are tree condition, target risk, city/HOA requirements, access, and whether the job can be planned before storm pressure builds.

For tree removal, emergency tree service, trimming, or stump grinding help, visit ProTreeTrim.com or call (855) 498-2578.

Sources Reviewed

• Broward County Tree Preservation Program: https://www.broward.org/Environment/TreePreservation/Pages/TreePreservationProgram.aspx
• Broward County Tree Removal License Application and Fee Schedule: https://www.broward.org/Environment/TreePreservation/Pages/TreeLicenses.aspx
• Florida Statute 163.045: https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0100-0199/0163/Sections/0163.045.html
• City of Fort Lauderdale Tree Permit page: https://www.fortlauderdale.gov/Home/Components/ServiceDirectory/ServiceDirectory/357/
• City of Coral Springs Residential Tree Removal page: https://www.coralsprings.gov/Government/Departments/Community-Development/Landscaping/Residential-Tree-Removal

FAQ

Do I always need a permit to remove a tree in Broward County?

Not always, but you should check your exact location. Broward County regulates tree removal in certain areas, while many municipalities have their own rules. HOA, swale, right-of-way, and hazardous-tree situations can change the answer.

What is DBH on a tree permit?

DBH means diameter at breast height, commonly measured 4.5 feet above the ground. Broward’s fee schedule uses DBH categories for per-tree fees.

Can I remove a dangerous tree without a permit in Broward County?

Florida Statute 163.045 may apply to qualifying residential property if the owner has proper documentation from an ISA Certified Arborist or Florida licensed landscape architect showing unacceptable risk. Do not assume it applies without documentation.

Does Broward County require tree replacement?

In the county-regulated program, tree removal or relocation generally involves relocation or replacement unless an exception applies. City rules may also require replacement or mitigation.

Why do Broward tree removal quotes vary so much?

Access, risk, tree size, proximity to targets, equipment needs, stump grinding, hauling, and permit/replacement requirements can all affect the price.