For work using Ocoee’s tree-removal permit route, a consistent tree map matters more than a pile of unlabelled photographs. Match each requested removal to the sketch, photographs and site marking. First distinguish the City’s general checklist from Florida’s separate, narrowly defined residential tree-risk protection.
Do not turn the City’s FAQ into an exception-free rule
Ocoee’s Building FAQ says permits are required for removal, including dead trees. That is the City’s general instruction. Florida section 163.045 prohibits specified local permit, notice, fee and mitigation requirements when a qualifying residential owner possesses the required professional documentation of unacceptable tree risk; it also prohibits required replanting for work under that section.
The statute defines the covered residential property and requires a signed onsite assessment by an ISA-certified arborist or Florida-licensed landscape architect using its specified risk-assessment procedures. The risk standard is not simply the owner’s statement that a tree is dead: removal must be the only practical way to reduce risk below moderate. The section excludes specifically delegated mangrove-protection authority. LSL has not determined whether any property or tree qualifies.
The ordinary permit checklist below is not a statement that City approval must be obtained to use the statutory protection.
Give each proposed removal one identifier
Ocoee’s Tree Removal Location Plan, updated September 8, 2022, asks for the removal reason, address, removal and remaining-tree counts, and a sketch showing trees to remove, retain or plant. Use the same identifier—T1, T2 and so on—on the sketch and photo filenames.
| LSL cross-check | Example identifier | What must agree |
|---|---|---|
| Requested removal | T1 | Sketch location, concern photo and description refer to the same tree |
| Tree to remain | R1 | The retained tree is not accidentally included in removal instructions |
| Proposed replacement, if applicable | P1 | Location matches the listed species, caliper and installation height |
The identifiers are an LSL organization method, not a claim that the City’s blank form mandates these labels. Keep any professional assessment intact and attributed; a photo label is not a diagnosis.
Mark the tree after submitting the package
The location-plan instructions call for the sketch with the completed Building Permit Application and photographs of the areas of concern. After submission, use string or ribbon around the trunk; do not paint the tree. Submission and marking instructions
The same form asks about a platted mobile-home park and a private septic tank because its remaining-tree instructions differ for those situations. Do not apply a generic three-tree count without addressing those questions and any applicable state-law protection. Ocoee Zoning’s printed tree contact is 407-905-3157.
Keep the decision tied to the marked map
The current permitting page supplies the online application and response route. For a permit case, preserve the approved map and conditions. A decision for T1 should not be treated as permission to remove T2; seek the appropriate revised action if the permitted scope changes.
LSL compared the City plan, permitting page and FAQ with the official 2026 statute on September 20, 2026, including native inspection of the one-page tree plan. We did not inspect or diagnose a tree, assess professional documentation, decide statutory eligibility or obtain a permit.