Having your trees professionally maintained is a good way to keep your Safety Harbor, FL, property looking great. It is also a way to be proactive in preventing conditions that could be hazardous if a severe storm occurs. While it is advisable to keep as many of your trees intact, there are times where it is necessary for tree removal to occur when a tree is too damaged to be considered safe. Trees that are suffering from disease, insect infestation or have been improperly cared for could present a danger to a homeowner and his property, in addition to their neighbors and the community.

Do I Need a Permit for Tree Removal?

In many municipalities, there is no required procedure in order to remove a tree, however in Safety Harbor, landowners do need to follow certain procedures and secure a permit for most trees. Exotic invasive species such as Brazilian pepper, Chinese tallow, or the Meleleuca, punk tree do not require a permit to be cut down.

An application for a removal permit must be filled out and submitted to Safety Harbor’s Building Department. You may obtain the form directly from the department or access the form online from the city’s website. There are two types of applications available, one for residential and one for businesses that want to remove a tree.

You will be required to provide information regarding the tree that you plan to have removed along with the reason for doing so. A rating system is used to determine the tree’s worthiness for being removed or to justify why it should not be removed. If the tree received an overall rating of 4.0, it may be considered what the city refers to as a grand tree, and may be denied for removal. You may be required to replace the tree to be removed with one from the city’s Approved Species List.

Whenever possible, Warner Tree Service will apply for the permit for their customer. If there is a problem securing the permit, we will provide the customer with the contact information to speak with the Building Department if necessary.

Important Steps to Consider

Before hiring just anyone to remove your tree, you will want to have it evaluated to see if there is a possibility that through proper care, the tree is salvageable being the city frowns upon removing healthy trees. You will want to make sure the company you hire is reputable and has certified arborists to examine your tree.

Do not hire a company that is unable to show proof that they carry liability insurance and worker’s compensation insurance. You will not be covered for damages to your home or property if the company is not insured. Most importantly, if they do not have worker’s compensation insurance, you may be held liable for damages if one of their workers is injured on your property.

Warner Tree Service serves the Safety Harbor, FL, and surrounding area and offers free estimates for tree removal and other tree care services. We are fully insured and our experienced staff includes members of the International Society of Arborculture (ISA). Contact us for all your tree care needs.