In unincorporated Pasco County, removing a native tree measuring 5 inches DBH or more generally requires a permit. Non-native trees, palms and pines other than longleaf pine are exempt. Florida Statute 163.045 removes the permit requirement entirely for a documented hazardous tree. Confirm your address with Pasco County before cutting.
Which trees need a permit in Land O' Lakes?
Land O' Lakes is a census-designated place in Pasco County, which means most addresses here are unincorporated and fall under the county's Land Development Code rather than a city ordinance. For tree removal, the governing document is the county's residential Tree Removal permit checklist tied to LDC Section 802.
Under that checklist, a native tree measuring 5 inches DBH (diameter at breast height) or greater requires a permit to remove, whether or not the tree appears on an approved plan. Non-native trees are exempt. Palms and pines are also exempt, with one important exception: longleaf pine is not exempt.
Trees planted by an individual homeowner that are under 5-inch DBH and not on an approved plan do not need a permit. Trees planted by a developer do need one, even under 5 inches. You can read the rules yourself in the Pasco County Tree Removal permit checklist.
How does the county measure a tree?
DBH is not something you eyeball. The county's method is specific: measure the trunk circumference at 54 inches above the ground, above the root flare, then divide that number by 3.14. The result is the DBH in inches.
If the tree has multiple trunks, the county adds the DBH of each trunk together and treats the whole thing as one tree. That matters, because a multi-trunk oak that looks modest can land well over the 5-inch threshold once the trunks are combined.
A tape measure and a calculator will tell you where you stand in about two minutes. If you want a second set of eyes, we look at the tree and its surroundings before any work is scheduled.
What does Pasco County ask for with an application?
Two things stand out on the checklist. First, you have to document the reason for removal with photos. Second, you have to submit a site plan document, which can be a marked aerial image of your property or a sketch drawn to scale showing where the tree sits.
The county is also clear about what does not count as a reason on its own: allergies, leaf drop and aesthetics are explicitly not valid reasons for removal. Structural problems, disease, decline and conflicts with the house are a different conversation, and photographs help.
One more note for anyone building: the county's removal checklist does not apply to new construction projects until a Certificate of Occupancy has been issued. If you're still in the construction phase, your approved plans govern.
The replanting condition most homeowners miss
Every tree removal permit in Pasco County starts with an automatic replant acknowledgement. That means the permit comes with a 30-day window to remove the tree and plant the replacement, and you upload photos of the replacement to the permit record.
Extensions are available, but they carry a fee. If you're planning removal around a vacation or a landscaping project, line up the replacement tree before the permit clock starts rather than after.
Trees in the county right-of-way are handled differently. The adjacent property owner is responsible for them, and a right-of-way use permit is required alongside the removal permit.
What if the tree is dangerous?
Florida Statute 163.045 sets this apart from everything above. If a homeowner holds documentation that a tree poses an unacceptable risk to people or property, a local government may not require notice, an application, approval, a permit, a fee or mitigation to prune, trim or remove it. No replanting can be required either.
The catch is in the definition of documentation. The statute requires an onsite assessment following the ISA Best Management Practices – Tree Risk Assessment, 2nd edition (2017), performed and signed by an ISA-certified arborist or a Florida-licensed landscape architect. The property also has to be a single-family detached home on a lot used for single-family residential purposes. You can read the law at the Florida Senate's statute page.
To be straight with you: we do the tree work, not the risk assessment. Always There Lawn Care is licensed and insured, but the statute names an ISA-certified arborist or licensed landscape architect specifically. UF/IFAS Extension publishes an arborist finder if you need one. Once you have that signed assessment in hand, we can take the tree down.
Who should you call to confirm?
Permit rules change, and the checklist I'm describing carries a revision date of 11/12/2025. Confirm your specific address and situation with Pasco County Building Construction Services, 8661 Citizens Drive, Suite 100, New Port Richey, FL 34654, (727) 847-8126, before any tree comes down.
Also check your HOA documents and deed restrictions. Plenty of neighborhoods around Land O' Lakes have rules that are stricter than the county's, including requirements about which species you can plant as a replacement. The county permit does not override your HOA.
When you're ready for the work itself, see our tree removal service in Land O' Lakes. We handle unwanted, dead and problem trees on residential property, with optional stump grinding afterward. Pricing depends on the tree, its size, access and the work involved, and is confirmed in a written estimate. Military and senior discounts are available. Call (727) 557-6403 or use the contact page — we work by appointment, Monday through Saturday.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to remove a palm in Pasco County?
The county's residential checklist exempts palms, along with non-native trees and pines other than longleaf pine. Because site conditions and HOA rules vary, confirm your address with Pasco County Building Construction Services at (727) 847-8126 first.
What if the tree is already dead?
A dead tree still falls under the county's checklist unless it qualifies under Florida Statute 163.045, which requires a signed onsite risk assessment from an ISA-certified arborist or Florida-licensed landscape architect. The county requires photos documenting the reason for removal, so take pictures before anything is cut.
Does the removal permit cover grinding the stump?
The permit is about removing the tree. Stump grinding is separate work on your property, and we can grind the stump the same visit or come back later. If you plan to plant a replacement in the same spot, grinding first makes that easier.
Who is responsible for a tree in the county right-of-way?
Pasco County's checklist puts responsibility on the adjacent property owner, and a right-of-way use permit is required alongside the removal permit. Call the county before scheduling any work on a right-of-way tree.
How much does tree removal cost in Land O' Lakes?
It depends on the tree, its size, access for equipment and what the job involves — a tree over a driveway is not the same job as one in an open back yard. We look at the tree and its surroundings and confirm the price in a written estimate. Military and senior discounts are available.