With the June 1 to November 30 hurricane season two weeks away, you may be eyeing one of your trees, a tree on public property, or one of your neighbor’s trees, that look weak and figuring the trajectory of its fall would be on your house, barn, parking space, or favorite shady spot of your dog. This could be a dangerous tree.
There are several things you need to know about the removal of protected trees in Plant City.
You can’t remove a tree from any Plant City lands, public parks, or rights-of-way other than by using government, or government contracted crews.
If you see a tree on public property that appears to be in danger of falling or dropping limbs, you can report it to the City of Plant City Code Enforcement. If the tree is on a city street, crews will evaluate the tree and handle any problems with it. However, Hillsborough County is responsible for county roads such as Thonotosassa/Reynolds, Baker Street, or South Park Road.
If a dangerous tree is on private property, different procedures are in place.
“Right now is the perfect time to look at trees to see if they are in danger of causing property damage,” said Tina Barber, Plant City Code Enforcement Manager. Damage can be caused by trees falling or limbs coming down. Trimming branches, cutting limbs, and appropriately removing trees now will save you, and other Plant Citians, future pain.
“The day before a hurricane is not the day to trim,” said Wayne Meyer, Plant City Parks & Recreation Superintendent. “A limb that has a one percent chance breaking off in a hurricane and becoming a projectile has a 100 percent chance of becoming a projectile if it is cut and put in a pile along a street. Sanitation does not have time to pick it up.”
Meyer cautions people to be wary of companies that offer hurricane trims. In many cases the work is not really a hurricane cut. Check the guidelines on the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences site for the correct way to cut. One thing to keep in mind is to, “Collar cut, not flush cut,” Meyer said.
Also, you can’t cut down, remove, or relocate any protected tree in Plant City without a permit issued by the Planning and Zoning Department. It is crucial to your wallet to note there is a $25,000 fine for illegally cutting down a grandfather oak—a protected tree.
To get a removal permit for a protected tree, you have to show that the tree is either diseased, injured, in danger of falling, creating a public hazard, interfering with existing utility service, or obstructing vision on a roadway. Some signs a tree is rotting are, the bark is falling off, leaves are dying and falling, and/or water collects inside the trunk between limbs. If Plant City is hit by a hurricane or high winds such trees, in particular, pose a danger to people and their property.
A tree removal permit will be granted by the City when it has been proven that one or more of the following conditions exist:
It is necessary for removal of vegetation causing damage to public or private property.
A tree found to be diseased by the City and to be in danger of contaminating other trees or of spreading tree infection shall be removed and disposed of, if necessary, without undue delay and on an emergency basis.
The tree has been irreversibly damaged or destroyed by natural disaster.
A tree needs to be removed in order to prevent damage to public utilities.
An arborist provides written documentation on why the tree must be removed. In some cases a tree service, at no cost, can also evaluate whether a tree needs to be removed.
Requirements are in place that some removed protected trees must be replaced. You can contact the Plant City Planning and Zoning Department with any questions.
For additional information refer to section 102-1383 of the Code of Ordinances for the City of Plant City at https://library.municode.com/fl/plant_city/codes