(A) The owner of a property, the tenant, or their agent shall not trim, prune, remove living branches or cause the diminution of the crown of any canopy tree or understory tree without having first obtained a pruning permit. Owners, tenants and/or agents of one and two-family dwelling units shall be exempt from the requirement of having to obtain a pruning permit; however, such owners, tenants and/or agents shall comply with all other provisions of this § 157.23.
(B) Tree pruning standards adopted. Pruning shall conform with current ANSI A300 Pruning Standards or the University of Florida Department of Agriculture guidelines - https://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/woody/ removing-branches.shtml
(C) Substantial alteration. A pruning permit must be obtained from the city prior to removal of 25% or more of the natural crown of the tree.
(D) Permit application procedures. Pruning permits shall be applied for and granted in accordance with the regulations set forth in § 157.23 of this chapter. The following procedures shall be followed and shall govern the granting of all permits pursuant to this section.
(1) Submittals. A permit fee as established by resolution and codified in Chapter 163 shall be charged for authorized tree pruning within the city. Each application permit to alter, trim, prune, or reduce the canopy or crown of trees herein shall be accompanied by a written statement indicating the reasons for the requested action and two copies of a legible site plan drawn to the largest practicable scale indicating the following:
(a) Location of all existing or proposed structures, improvements, and site uses, properly dimensioned in reference to property lines, setback and yard requirements in spatial relationship.
(b) Proposed changes, if any, in site elevations, grades and major contours.
(c) Location of existing or proposed utility service.
(d) Applications involving developed properties may be based on drawings showing only that portion of the site directly involved and adjacent structures and landscaping or natural growth incidental hereto.
(e) Location of all existing trees to be pruned with a note indicating the size and species as well as the extent of pruning and methods of maintaining tree health.
(2) Application review. Upon receipt of proper application, the City Manager or his/her designated agent shall review said application, which may include a field check of the site and referral of the application for recommendations to other appropriate administrative departments or agencies.
(E) Permits for pruning.
(1) Issuance. No permit for pruning shall be issued unless one of the following conditions exist:
(a) The branches to be pruned obstruct vision along a traveled public or private way.
(b) The branches to be pruned interface with vehicular or pedestrian travel lanes and present a safety hazard.
(c) The branches to be pruned are diseased, damaged, or in danger of falling.
(d) The branches to be pruned interfere with utility lines, existing or proposed structures so as to endanger such structures.
(e) The removal of specific living parts of the tree will increase fruit or flower production or will facilitate the health of the tree as a whole.
(2) Pruning Permit form. Permits shall be issued in such form as may be prescribed by the City Manager or his/her designee and may set forth in detail the conditions upon which the permit is granted. One permit may cover several trees or groups of trees as long as the same can be clearly identified thereon; however, no permit may be issued for more than one parcel or area of land unless said parcels or areas of land shall be contiguous to one another.
(F) Injurious pruning. Irrespective of whether or not a pruning permit has been issued, if a tree is pruned in a manner that is injurious to the tree, including but not limited to the techniques described in § 157.23(B) above, the property owner shall pay to the city an initial fine of $100 per tree pruned plus a fine related to the size of the tree pruned as follows:
Size of Tree Pruned Measured One Foot Above the Ground | Fine
|
6 inches to <12 inches | $600 |
12 inches to <24 inches | $900 |
>24 inches | $1,200 |
(G) Appeals procedure. Any person adversely affected by a decision of any city official in the enforcement or interpretation of this chapter may follow appeal procedures as set forth in § 157.18.
(Ord. 1601, passed 12-20-18)