Dunedin now has a direct tree-permit page and a linked tree-protection brochure. Use those resources instead of finding an application inside an old development-review meeting packet.
Select the work before selecting a form
| Proposed work | Question for the City Arborist |
|---|---|
| Remove a tree on private property | Is the species protected or on the current exemption list? |
| Prune a Grand Tree | What permit, approved-arborist supervision and pruning limits apply? |
| Maintain an ordinary tree | Does the scope remain normal maintenance, rather than topping, excessive pruning or effective removal? |
| Work on a street/right-of-way tree | Does Public Services control the work rather than the private-property route? |
The brochure describes protected trees beginning at four inches DBH and defines DBH as trunk diameter measured 4½ feet above grade. It also describes normal-maintenance limits and Grand Tree pruning controls. Those are screening rules, not an arborist assessment of the tree in front of you.
Two source differences to resolve before claiming an exemption
The live page’s exemption list excludes Eucalyptus cinerea from its eucalyptus entry and treats cabbage palms with at least six feet of clear trunk differently from other palms. The brochure’s abbreviated species list does not reproduce those qualifications identically. Identify the species and ask the City to resolve the applicable exemption; do not select whichever summary appears more permissive.
What the $25 payment does—and does not—buy
The City directs applicants to its CSS portal and lists a $25 processing fee. It says the approval or denial notice will arrive through that portal. Payment therefore does not establish permission to remove the tree or a final replacement obligation.
Replacement also depends on the property. The brochure distinguishes an existing single-family home that still meets its minimum tree count from a home falling below that count; it gives a separate replacement approach for other properties and directs Grand Tree questions to the arborist. Ask for the required remaining-tree count and replacement conditions on the decision before ordering replacements.
For permit questions, the live page lists cityarborist@dunedin.gov and 727-298-3279. The brochure directs street/right-of-way/easement maintenance to Public Services at 727-298-3232.
LSL read the current page and both brochure pages on September 21, 2026. They replace the older meeting-packet sources in this guide. No CSS account, permit outcome, species identification or private tree condition was verified.