Belleair’s tree-removal checklist asks for a marked survey, the species and diameter of each tree, and a reason for removal. A quote saying “remove tree” leaves most of that application unanswered.
Match the proposed removal to the supporting evidence
Use one identifier for each tree on the survey, photographs and application. The Town’s tree checklist distinguishes these inputs:
| Application input | What to prepare |
|---|---|
| Location | Survey with the tree clearly marked |
| Tree identity and size | Tree type and diameter at breast height (DBH), not trunk circumference |
| Removal reason | A description tied to that particular tree |
| Dead, diseased or structural-issue claim | Arborist report supporting the claimed condition |
| Replacement, if applicable | Proposed replacement information for the Town’s review |
Do not treat an applicant’s observation as an arborist finding or assume that a report automatically establishes an exemption. The checklist is an application guide; the Town must resolve the permit and replacement requirements for the proposed work.
Replacement is a separate question from the removal quote
The fee page lists an in-lieu-of-tree-replacement charge of $50 per inch. It does not state that every removal incurs that charge or that payment is always an available substitute for planting. Ask the Town whether replacement applies, whether an in-lieu option is available, and which diameter or replacement quantity it would use. Do not multiply the original trunk size by the rate and call the result the project’s approved fee.
Keep replacement planting, an assessed in-lieu payment and contractor removal/disposal charges as separate estimate items. This makes an exclusion visible before accepting the quote.
File online, then leave time for the final evidence
The forms library now directs building-permit applications through the Town’s online portal. Use that maintained route rather than an old saved attachment; the library also links the tree checklist and any conditional owner/contractor forms.
For closeout, the tree checklist calls for a final building inspection with photographs of the ground cleared after removal. Arrange who supplies those photographs and who requests the final inspection before the contractor leaves. A stump-removal invoice or an empty work site is not itself the Town’s inspection result.
LSL compared the complete checklist, forms library and fee page on September 21, 2026. The preparation matrix and separate replacement-price question replace the former generic custody ledger. No tree condition, boundary, exemption, fee assessment or inspection result was determined for a property.