protected trees in monroe county florida

Generally speaking, you are permitted to remove plants that are less than 3 inches in diameter. Notes were taken concerning wildlife habitat. Is it worth the time and expense of going through the process to remove hardwood hammock on your property? There are understory species such as Pigeon plum, Jamaican caper and Marlberry. The Keys hammock area is attractive to some homeowners because of its natural beauty. To remove a tree from residential property you must submit a tree permit application. Monroe County includes County The Florida scrub-jay was listed as a threatened species because of loss, fragmentation, and degradation of these habitats throughout Florida, due primarily to urbanization, agriculture, and fire suppression. Tree and Shrub Care, Florida’s Conservation and Recreational Lands program have targeted all remaining white-crowned pigeon habitats greater than five hectares for acquisition and protection. The fact is, there is a lot of protected land in the Florida Keys, including native hammock and other conservation easements. Tree Ordinance. It’s critical to partner with a knowledgeable landscape professional who can help you conduct research before you disturb the property in any way. But first, a biologist had to conduct a vegetative survey at the owner’s expense. ), However, if your land includes some of the hardwood hammock, there are steps you can take to potentially remove vegetation in order to make other landscape enhancements. Some secrete excess salt through their leaves, while others block absorption of salt at their roots.Florida's estimated 469,000 acres of mangrove forests contribute to the overall health of the state's southern coastal zone. To access an electronic version of the tree permit application, please visit the Central Permitting Documents and Forms page. These rare birds are found only in the north and central peninsular part of the state—in scrubby and pine flatwood habitats. To report an issue, please follow the reporting link below. So, let’s sit down and get the answers before you invest time dreaming about the landscape so we can understand your rights. Monroe County. However, the Florida Keys hammock has been threatened by development, so there are regulations on how one can alter the land. The mitigation fee is not paid, and proper vegetation is not replaced. A. SP 2327 & CPC 1457341. Nothing is final until all species that were removed/endangered are addressed. legal entity shall remove, destroy, or damage a protected tree located in the Point Washington Neighborhood Plan area without first obtaining a clearing permit from Walton County Planning and Development Services. Native hammock plant material is removed without proper surveys and approvals. Except as otherwise provided in Section 6, a person shall not cut, destroy, remove, inflict damage, or encroach into a Protected Zone of any tree of genus of the Protected Trees that is (a) five (5) inches or more DBH; in the case of a Before you touch the landscape or even begin planning to plant or build on your Keys hammock property, consult with a professional landscape provider who can connect you with appropriate state and local agencies. The exact plants that are approved to install on your native hammock property will depend on results from a biology report conducted by state and/or local authorities. Say a contractor builds a home and does not perform due diligence. If removing hardwood hammock reveals an ocean view, that could increase the property value by, say, $100,000 (or more). Realtors want to know the restrictions so they can educate buyers. In our driveway example, the biology report alone took one year. And, realtors should consider consulting with a landscape professional on behalf of their clients so they can help them understand their obligations as potential owners of a hammock property in South Florida. It contains 68 specimens located in Monroe County, labeled by categories, i.e. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is the state’s lead agency for environmental management and stewardship – protecting our air, water and land. National Wildlife Refuges in Monroe County, Florida‎ (4 P) P Parks in Monroe County, Florida‎ (2 C, 14 P) Pages in category "Protected areas of Monroe County, Florida" The following 4 pages are in this category, out of 4 total. You see, protecting the hammock goes deeper than removing or keeping plants; it’s about conserving natural species of all kinds. If you purchase a home or build in the Florida Keys hammock, here’s what you need to know about landscape restrictions and how owning land in the hammock or on a conservation easement could impact your ability to change the landscape. 12.20.100 Alternatives when Protected Trees cannot be replaced on site. Contact us anytime at 305.367.2005, or fill out this simple contact form and we’ll get in touch with you. Monroe County is a county in the state of Florida As of the 2010 census, the population was 73, 090. Going back to the driveway example, the property owner did eventually get approval to remove some vegetation to build. And, realtors should consider consulting with a landscape professional on behalf of their clients so they can help them understand their obligations as potential owners of a hammock property in South Florida. (There are some exceptions to this.). (A tree’s diameter is always measured at a distance of 4.5 inches from the ground.) How long will it take to get approval to build on my Keys hammock property? you buy a property on the Florida Keys that the hammock is protected land. So, if 500 square feet of vegetation is removed, that would require installing 50 new specific plants. FWS RE List for Monroe County; Species Assessment Guides. 305-951-4037. 5. B. It’s important to know. Miami. There are a number of protected species of trees that cannot trimmed, altered or removed without a professional license. Visit the national registry of champion trees, which also includes Monroe County, Florida. Damaging or Removing Protected Trees Prohibited – Permit Requirements. A tree is a single stemmed, woody plant with a distinct canopy or crown having a mature height of 15 feet or more. Those include canopy trees that grow tall, such as wild tamarind or gumbo limbo tree. The owner of a home in the Florida Keys called us because he wanted to install a driveway. The mitigation fee is not paid, and proper vegetation is not replaced. Mangroves are one of Florida's true natives. As a property owner of hammock land, you are also a steward of the native vegetation. This list may not reflect recent changes . Its county seat is Key West. Navigating regulations when you live on a conservation easement like the hammock must happen on a case-by-case basis. Hammocks are located throughout southern Florida, and in concentrated areas of Monroe County. What can happen if a regulation was overlooked when building on my hammock property? What vegetation can I remove from my Florida Keys property? If your land is on a conservation easement, you cannot remove any plants from the property. (So, don’t get frustrated—there is good reason for the easement. However, the Florida Keys hammock has been threatened by development, so there are regulations on how one can alter the land. The new legislation called, "Private Property Rights," allows property owners to remove, replant, prune, or trim a tree without approval from their local municipality. Over 300 species of trees are native to Florida's woodlands. What are some of native hammock plants I can have on my Keys property? As we said, altering the landscape in the Florida Keys hammock requires adhering to regulations. However, most surveys take four to eight weeks. If the tree was small and you mismeasured the DBH and it was 1 inch larger than what was legal the fine would be small, but if it was a 100-year-old mammoth Oak tree then the fine would reflect the offense. As a result, severe fines and penalties are brought upon the homeowner. For example, you may be required to put in one 8-foot plant for every 10 feet of disturbed land. Some are concerned a new state law regarding trees could open the door to unnecessary tree cutting. Based on their reports and requirements, we design landscape solutions that preserve the integrity of the native hammock and, importantly, pass detailed inspections. Please Note: Some of the files below are very large files may take several minutes to download. I silently lament those who remove all trees from their property. Rainfall in Palm Beach County was light, reaching 5.12 inches (130 mm) near the Palm Beach/Broward County line. This occurs at the, As we said, altering the landscape in the Florida Keys hammock requires adhering to regulations. Native hammock plant material is removed. These require more shade because they grow underneath the canopy. Big Cypress National Preserve; F. However, county, municipal or homeowners association laws can still prohibit cutting down the palm. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(448800, '1ba5fd26-b2f7-46e5-beb3-3c6b0ae2d339', {}); Topics: Then, rat, snake and snail surveys were performed to determine how removing some of the hardwood hammock from the property would impact this wildlife. Hammocks are located throughout southern Florida, and in concentrated areas of Monroe County. Tropical hardwood hammocks are canopy forests with a diverse range of native species. You know what they say about an ounce of prevention. Each town has a different set of criteria for determining if your tree is, in fact, a “tree.” For example, Hillborough County requires a permit for removal of all woody, self-supporting plants over 5 inches in diameter. It is necessary to consult local and state agencies and work with them through the process. You are not permitted to disturb that protected area in any way, including leaf cleanup. Once that replanting effort is completed, local and state agency representatives inspect the property to be sure the landscaping was properly installed. The request seems simple enough—but because the project would mean removing trees that are part of a hardwood hammock, there was much more involved. Next, there are lower-growing shrubs such as wild coffee and fire bush, strongbark, cinnamon bark, silver buttonwood and cocoa plum. Generally, the City of Monroe will not remove healthy living trees, but will trim dead and diseased portions of trees upon request, usually within 30 days. So, let’s sit down and get the answers before you invest time dreaming about the landscape so we can understand your rights. Trees in danger. The fine for removing a protected tree varies depending on the severity of the violations. Applications. You need a committed, patient partner like Reef Tropical to walk you through the process from beginning to end. Three such such species are the three native species of Mangroves in Florida. A protected tree is any 4″ shade tree or larger DBH and any 8” understory tree or with a larger DBH. The biologist had to go on to the property to observe various conditions, such as following a rainstorm. It’s critical to partner with a knowledgeable landscape professional who can help you conduct research. County Commissioner Tom Ford, who represents District 4, including Hilliard, Bryceville, Boulougne, Kings Ferry and Nassau Oaks, asked him to “define everybody.” While he understood the proposal applied only to Amelia Island – the only county location where trees are protected – he wanted that distinction said aloud. The whole process took about nine months, and in the end the homeowner had to pay about a $10,000 mitigation fee for removing the trees—and that’s. Barricades are required to be placed around all trees that will be retained on development sites prior to the start of clearing or construction. Here are the facts about the Private Property Rights Protection Act, which went into effect July 1, 2019, and what they mean for property owners in unincorporated Hillsborough County: The county may go a step further and require the owner to replant all areas that were damaged with approved native trees and plants. What vegetation must stay according to regulations? 222 West Main Street Pensacola, FL 32502 Ph: 850-436-5670 Fx: 850-436-5199 TTY/D: 850-435-1666 Staff Directory Other surveys might be required to determine the impact on wildlife. Jan 13, 2017 6:03:00 AM / by County citizens and visitors by establishing minimum standards for the protection of trees and native plant communities, to promote water conservation, to enhance the county's appearance, and to provide for the proper installation and maintenance of landscapes. At Reef Tropical, we work closely with state biologists to navigate restrictions on conservation easements and protected properties. Contact us anytime at 305.367.2005, or, © 2017 Reef Tropical, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Going back to the driveway example, the property owner did eventually get approval to remove some vegetation to build. Professional Mangrove Trimmers (Monroe County) ... Sardina Mangroves and Trees. You may be required to pay a mitigation fee and/or to replace vegetation somewhere else on your property based on the square footage of land you disturb. The whole process took about nine months, and in the end the homeowner had to pay about a $10,000 mitigation fee for removing the trees—and that’s before the driveway project could begin. View the current tree ordinance (PDF) so that you continue to comply with Pasco County's codes.. As a result, severe fines and penalties are brought upon the homeowner. You might be wondering, is the expense worth it? Tropical hardwood hammocks are canopy forests with a diverse range of native species. Not sure if your property contains a conservation easement? First, a biologist must conduct a vegetative survey. The state created the Florida Plant Conservation Program, whose job it is to restore and maintain any populations of these protected plants on both public and private lands. We work closely with county and state biologists who study your land and provide detailed reports. The following requirements shall apply to the removal of protected trees: 1. The county may go a step further and require the owner to replant all areas that were damaged with approved native trees and plants. So investing $50,000 in replanting is a good investment considering the value you’ll achieve once the project is completed. Specimen trees, see Section 37.02(D)(2) of this Article. Native Trees. House Bill 1159 bans the regulation of dangerous trees on residential property by local government, but that doesn't give property owners free range to trim, prune, or remove trees as they please.. They thrive in salty environments because they can obtain freshwater from saltwater. Whether from commercial harvesting or loss of habitat, Florida has quite a few plant species listed as threatened or endangered. This occurs at the homeowner’s expense and can easily cost up to $50,000 or more. In one case, we are working with a homeowner whose permit will remain active for three years with periodic inspections to ensure the owner does not remove any of the planted vegetation. In some circumstances, crowding or other physical constraints make it impossible or undesirable to replace a Protected Tree on site to meet the desired coverage levels. Research Contact your lowest legal governing body or jurisdiction of your property to research whether any statue, code, ordinance or law restricts cutting down extant trees, including palms, from your Florida tract. A “Grand tree” is one that is 30 inches in diameter when measured at breast height (DBH) or more except Laurel Oaks. On the other hand, if the outcome of clearing hardwood hammock is to clear space for a parking space by your garage, you might reconsider depending on the mitigation expenses and value it will bring to your property. The city of Deltona requires a permit at 6 inches in diameter. (Read on to question 4 for more details.). New fines by the Florida Department of Natural Resources are giving county officials more power to protect lakeside cypress trees, Lake County Pollution Control Director Paulette Muller … The new state law (HB 1159) that allows homeowners to cut down trees without a permit is concerning. As a property owner of hammock land, you are also a steward of the native vegetation. It’s important to know before you buy a property on the Florida Keys that the hammock is protected land. proper surveys and approvals. Replacement is a common form of mitigation: protected trees identified for removal may be replaced with new planted trees, unprotected trees or transplanted trees. Native hammocks are carefully protected land because of their importance in sustaining wildlife. Landscape Design, President Reef Tropical • Pool & Landscape, Key Largo Branch1A Barracuda LaneOcean Reef Club Key Largo, FL 33037, Florida City Branch100 N Krome Ave,Florida City, FL 33034, Navigating Landscape Restrictions in the Florida Keys Native Hammock, The Keys hammock area is attractive to some homeowners because of its natural beauty. Protected areas of Florida by county, Geography of Monroe County, Florida, Tourist attractions in Monroe County, Florida Protected areas of Monroe County, Florida Category page South Florida Slash Pine Pinus elliottii var densa Southern Magnolia Magnolia grandiflora Southern Red Cedar Junperus silicicola Southern Sumac Rhus copallina Strangler Fig Ficus aurea Swamp Bay … 50,000 in replanting is a good idea to weight the time, cost and benefit before the. 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