In Temple Terrace, a tree-work quote should answer three separate questions: who establishes the allowable work, who removes the debris, and who leaves the site ready for final inspection? The City’s application makes debris removal an applicant/contractor responsibility, not an automatic benefit of having a tree permit.
Do not reduce the City’s size rules to one number
The arborist page offers a no-fee pre-work inspection to determine whether permits are needed. That is especially useful because its definition section and later operational instructions use different size descriptions:
| Published statement | Why it is not interchangeable with the others |
|---|---|
| Protected types: more than 10 inches DBH on residential land, more than 5 inches on nonresidential land | These definitions distinguish land use and protected type |
| Grand trees: listed species at least 24 inches DBH | Grand classification has additional removal conditions |
| Trimming branches at least 10 inches in diameter on protected/grand trees | This is branch diameter, not the trunk’s DBH |
| Later removal instructions repeatedly refer to trees at least 12 inches DBH | This does not explain away the earlier protected-tree definitions |
The page also describes protected palms and an invasive-tree exception. Ask the arborist to classify the actual species, land use and proposed work. In particular, do not infer that a residential tree between 10 and 12 inches is automatically unregulated.
The state residential risk provision is a separate, narrowly defined route requiring qualifying professional documentation. The City’s general removal instructions are not a substitute for that statute or an assessment that it applies.
Put debris responsibility in the proposal
The live permit application says the free annual pickup does not apply to this permit. It lists City collection at $71.61 per 15 minutes, with arrangements through Public Works at 813-506-6570. The arborist page says City collection charges appear on the utility bill.
Treat that time-based rate as a published billing unit, not a fixed price for your pile. Ask Public Works to confirm the current rate, scheduling and chargeable time before relying on City pickup. Alternatively, have the contractor identify the disposal arrangement included in the quote.
The arborist page says debris needs removal within three business days to avoid additional charges and describes permits as valid for six months after issuance. These are different clocks: the permit’s work window does not allow debris to remain for six months.
Leave the site ready for the final inspection
The application requires materials removed and the site returned to its original condition before final inspection. Assign debris removal, site restoration and the inspection request explicitly; retain any separate replacement conditions on the issued permit.
One form inconsistency needs staff clarification: its heading names the Eighth Edition (2023) Florida Building Code, but the final electronic declaration still names the Sixth Edition (2017). LSL does not resolve that by treating the old declaration as the current code. Ask Building which current form and acknowledgment to use before signing.
LSL read the complete operative arborist page and public application, including its second-step text, on September 21, 2026. No form was submitted, collection ordered or tree assessed. The comparison exposes the actual size, debris and form-version questions instead of repeating a generic evidence ledger.