Updated October 2026
St. Petersburg requires a permit to remove protected trees: shade trees 4 inches and up and understory trees 8 inches and up. Grand Trees, 30 inches or larger except laurel oaks, get extra protection, and even cutting a Grand Tree branch 8 inches thick needs a permit. We handle the inspection request and permit before the crew arrives.
Old canopy, small lots
Neighborhoods like the Old Northeast and the bungalow streets around Crescent Lake were built under oaks that are now enormous, with brick streets, overhead lines and houses close together beneath them. Work there is about control: small sections, ropes, and sometimes a crane to lift wood over a roof.
Waterfront areas add salt exposure, mangroves and palms to the mix.
Many St. Pete removals start with the city's inspection request, and the arborist's visit decides whether the permit is granted, so having the tree's condition documented clearly helps. Pruning a Grand Tree also has limits, which is why big-oak work here is planned carefully rather than done in a hurry.
St. Pete's oaks and palms
Live oaks in St. Pete can be very large and very old, and most are worth keeping with good pruning: thinning the crown so wind passes through, removing deadwood and lifting limbs off roofs. Laurel oaks are a different story; the city excludes them from Grand Tree status, and many are reaching the age where they hollow and fail.
Sabal and queen palms line streets and yards and need cleaning without the over-pruning that weakens them.
St. Petersburg tree permits
St. Petersburg protects shade trees 4 inches DBH and up and understory trees 8 inches and up, and treats protected trees 30 inches or larger, other than laurel oaks, as Grand Trees. A permit is needed to remove a protected tree or cut a Grand Tree branch 8 inches thick. The city charges a 25 dollar inspection fee, and approved permits last six months and must be posted visibly. We file the request before scheduling.
Most requested in St. Petersburg
Nearby areas we cover
Or see the whole Tampa Bay service area.
St. Petersburg tree questions
For protected trees, yes: shade trees 4 inches and up.
No, laurel oaks are excluded from Grand Tree status.
Not if the cut removes a branch 8 inches or thicker.
Six months, and it must be posted where it can be seen.
Yes, with rigging and cranes for the tight lots.
The city treats hazards differently; we check with the city first.