In most cases, yes — you do need a permit to remove a tree in unincorporated Pasco County. The county requires a Tree Removal Permit for any tree measuring 5 inches or more in diameter at breast height (DBH). But there are important exceptions: dead, diseased, and genuinely hazardous trees — including any tree threatening your home or property — can usually be removed without one.
The 5-Inch Rule
Pasco County’s tree ordinance — updated in early 2026 for the first time in nearly 20 years — is built around tree size. If a tree’s trunk measures 5 inches or more across at breast height (roughly shoulder height, just above where the trunk flares out at the base), it generally requires a Tree Removal Permit. If a tree has multiple trunks, the county adds them together and treats it as one tree.
Trees under 5 inches DBH usually do not need a permit, with one notable exception: trees that were planted by a developer as part of an approved landscape plan may need a permit even if they are smaller.
When You Do Not Need a Permit
The county’s rules are flexible when a tree is a genuine safety problem. You can generally remove a tree without a permit if it is:
- Dead — a dead tree is treated as a hazard and can be removed without county approval.
- Diseased or structurally unsound — trees with fungus, pest infestation, hollow trunks, or serious structural decay.
- An immediate threat to your property — a tree threatening your home, driveway, pool cage, or electrical lines can be removed right away.
There is also a Florida state law (Senate Bill 518) that allows homeowners to remove a tree without a local permit if a certified arborist or licensed landscape architect has documented in writing that the tree poses an unacceptable risk. Keep that documentation — it is your proof that the removal was lawful.
Heritage Trees, Wetlands and Protected Species
Some trees get extra scrutiny. Larger native species — live oaks, laurel oaks, bald cypress, longleaf pines — and trees the county classifies as grand or heritage trees are subject to additional review and higher mitigation requirements. Trees in or near wetlands are regulated separately as well. If you have a big, mature native tree you are thinking about removing, it is worth confirming its status before you schedule any work.
City Limits Are Different
Everything above applies to unincorporated Pasco County. If your property sits inside a city — New Port Richey, Port Richey, Dade City, or Zephyrhills — that city may have its own tree ordinance with different rules. And no matter where you are, if you live in an HOA community, your deed restrictions can impose additional requirements on top of county or city rules. Checking your specific situation first saves headaches and potential fines later.
What Happens If You Skip the Permit
Removing a permit-required tree without a permit is a code violation in Pasco County, and it can result in fines and mandatory replanting requirements. Damaging a tree badly enough that it cannot recover counts as removal too. The permit itself is inexpensive and the process is straightforward — it is never worth the risk of skipping it.
We Handle This for You
If you hire Just Us and Trees, you do not have to navigate any of this alone. We know Pasco County’s tree rules inside and out, we can tell you whether your tree needs a permit, and we make sure every job is done by the book — so you are protected.
Yes, in most cases. Pasco County requires a Tree Removal Permit for any tree 5 inches or more in diameter at breast height (DBH). Dead, diseased, and hazardous trees are generally exempt.
Yes. Pasco County treats dead trees as hazards, and they can generally be removed without a permit. The same applies to diseased trees and trees that are threatening your home or property.
Any tree measuring 5 inches or more in diameter at breast height (DBH) generally requires a permit in unincorporated Pasco County. For trees with multiple trunks, the diameters are added together.
Not sure if your tree needs a permit? We will take a look, give you a straight answer, and a free estimate — no pressure.
