A “Grand tree” is one that is 30 inches in diameter when measured at breast height (DBH) or more except Laurel Oaks. Please Note: Some of the files below are very large files may take several minutes to download. This occurs at the, As we said, altering the landscape in the Florida Keys hammock requires adhering to regulations. Tree or Shrub? 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 The county may go a step further and require the owner to replant all areas that were damaged with approved native trees and plants. Barricades are required to be placed around all trees that will be retained on development sites prior to the start of clearing or construction. Upon approval by state and local agencies, you may remove designated vegetation. I silently lament those who remove all trees from their property. Going back to the driveway example, the property owner did eventually get approval to remove some vegetation to build. Applications. Hammocks are located throughout southern Florida, and in concentrated areas of Monroe County. View the current tree ordinance (PDF) so that you continue to comply with Pasco County's codes.. Replacement is a common form of mitigation: protected trees identified for removal may be replaced with new planted trees, unprotected trees or transplanted trees. Tropical hardwood hammocks are canopy forests with a diverse range of native species. Contact us anytime at 305.367.2005, or, © 2017 Reef Tropical, Inc. All Rights Reserved. A protected tree is any 4″ shade tree or larger DBH and any 8” understory tree or with a larger DBH. Tree Ordinance. The mitigation fee is not paid, and proper vegetation is not replaced. You know what they say about an ounce of prevention. As we said, altering the landscape in the Florida Keys hammock requires adhering to regulations. Over 300 species of trees are native to Florida's woodlands. D. Protected Trees: 1. The owner of a home in the Florida Keys called us because he wanted to install a driveway. Claude Kershner IV. Native hammocks are carefully protected land because of their importance in sustaining wildlife. There are a number of protected species of trees that cannot trimmed, altered or removed without a professional license. As a landscape management and pool provider working on a range of estates and commercial properties throughout Monroe County, we often field questions from people who want to know what they can do with their land if they purchase a home in the Keys hammock. The Keys hammock area is attractive to some homeowners because of its natural beauty. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(448800, '1ba5fd26-b2f7-46e5-beb3-3c6b0ae2d339', {}); Topics: Based on their reports and requirements, we design landscape solutions that preserve the integrity of the native hammock and, importantly, pass detailed inspections. 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. Then, rat, snake and snail surveys were performed to determine how removing some of the hardwood hammock from the property would impact this wildlife. Mangroves are found along coastal areas and can be found on many plots of waterfront property. 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. However, most surveys take four to eight weeks. Generally speaking, you are permitted to remove plants that are less than 3 inches in diameter. (Read on to question 4 for more details.). As a property owner of hammock land, you are also a steward of the native vegetation. If removing hardwood hammock reveals an ocean view, that could increase the property value by, say, $100,000 (or more). 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 … Hillsborough County and the city of Tampa take illegal tree removal very seriously. you buy a property on the Florida Keys that the hammock is protected land. Is it worth the time and expense of going through the process to remove hardwood hammock on your property? 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. Miami. Next, there are lower-growing shrubs such as wild coffee and fire bush, strongbark, cinnamon bark, silver buttonwood and cocoa plum. Native Trees. you disturb the property in any way. Damaging or Removing Protected Trees Prohibited – Permit Requirements. It’s important to know before you buy a property on the Florida Keys that the hammock is protected land. As a property owner of hammock land, you are also a steward of the native vegetation. The city of Deltona requires a permit at 6 inches in diameter. But first, a biologist had to conduct a vegetative survey at the owner’s expense. 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. Visit the national registry of champion trees, which also includes Monroe County, Florida. You see, protecting the hammock goes deeper than removing or keeping plants; it’s about conserving natural species of all kinds. As a result, severe fines and penalties are brought upon the homeowner. Whether from commercial harvesting or loss of habitat, Florida has quite a few plant species listed as threatened or endangered. This list of trees is provided to help you identify shade trees suitable for use in South Florida. Other surveys might be required to determine the impact on wildlife. Landscape Maintenance, Three such such species are the three native species of Mangroves in Florida. 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. 305-951-4037. What we do at Reef Tropical is facilitate a process of investigating regulations on your particular property. As a result, severe fines and penalties are brought upon the homeowner. Jan 13, 2017 6:03:00 AM / by It’s always a good idea to weight the time, cost and benefit before beginning the process. The new legislation called, "Private Property Rights," allows property owners to remove, replant, prune, or trim a tree without approval from their local municipality. So, let’s sit down and get the answers before you invest time dreaming about the landscape so we can understand your rights. However, the Florida Keys hammock has been threatened by development, so there are regulations on how one can alter the land. To remove a tree from residential property you must submit a tree permit application. 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. You need a committed, patient partner like Reef Tropical to walk you through the process from beginning to end. The new law, which went into effect July 1, … Navigating regulations when you live on a conservation easement like the hammock must happen on a case-by-case basis. You are not permitted to disturb that protected area in any way, including leaf cleanup. Monroe County includes County There are understory species such as Pigeon plum, Jamaican caper and Marlberry. Tropical hardwood hammocks are canopy forests with a diverse range of native species. 12.20.100 Alternatives when Protected Trees cannot be replaced on site. Id. 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 … Say a contractor builds a home and does not perform due diligence. On the Florida Keys, light rainfall occurred, especially in the Lower Keys, where 2.02 inches (51 mm) was reported on Cudjoe Key. These rare birds are found only in the north and central peninsular part of the state—in scrubby and pine flatwood habitats. Professional Mangrove Trimmers (Monroe County) ... Sardina Mangroves and Trees. 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. What vegetation can I remove from my Florida Keys property? Its county seat is Key West. Realtors want to know the restrictions so they can educate buyers. It’s critical to partner with a knowledgeable landscape professional who can help you conduct research before you disturb the property in any way. Hammocks are located throughout southern Florida, and in concentrated areas of Monroe County. The following requirements shall apply to the removal of protected trees: 1. Tree and Shrub Care, The county may go a step further and require the owner to replant all areas that were damaged with approved native trees and plants. If your land is on a conservation easement, you cannot remove any plants from the property. 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. The new state law (HB 1159) that allows homeowners to cut down trees without a permit is concerning. Landscaping, Going back to the driveway example, the property owner did eventually get approval to remove some vegetation to build. Then, rat, snake and snail surveys were performed to determine how removing some of the hardwood hammock from the property would impact this wildlife. Focus Area Parcels/Real Estate Ids: 00569480-000315 to 00573730-001600, Monroe County Requires Facial Coverings in All Businesses, Ordinance (Adopted June 2012 BOCC): Amending Chapter 122 Floodplain Regulations, Creating Section 122-8 Species Focus Area, Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Species Focus Area Information, June 2012 BOCC Species Focus Area - Maps Vol 1, June 2012 BOCC Species Focus Area - Maps Vol 2, Species Focus Area Permit Referral Process. So, if 500 square feet of vegetation is removed, that would require installing 50 new specific plants. 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. 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. 222 West Main Street Pensacola, FL 32502 Ph: 850-436-5670 Fx: 850-436-5199 TTY/D: 850-435-1666 Staff Directory 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. 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. Specimen trees, see Section 37.02(D)(2) of this Article. In our driveway example, the biology report alone took one year. This occurs at the homeowner’s expense and can easily cost up to $50,000 or more. 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. Rainfall in Palm Beach County was light, reaching 5.12 inches (130 mm) near the Palm Beach/Broward County line. 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. Monroe County. First, a biologist must conduct a vegetative survey. 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. 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. (A tree’s diameter is always measured at a distance of 4.5 inches from the ground.) However, the Florida Keys hammock has been threatened by development, so there are regulations on how one can alter the land. Florida’s Conservation and Recreational Lands program have targeted all remaining white-crowned pigeon habitats greater than five hectares for acquisition and protection. This list may not reflect recent changes . What can happen if a regulation was overlooked when building on my hammock property? For example, you may be required to put in one 8-foot plant for every 10 feet of disturbed land. What improvements can I make to my property if land is within the hammock? State and local agencies are involved whenever dealing with a hardwood hammock. Shrubs having multiple stems which rarely or never exceed 13 to 15 feet when fully grown. To access an electronic version of the tree permit application, please visit the Central Permitting Documents and Forms page. 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