“Seminole”: two sets of rules, one mailing address.
I grew up around here, and “Seminole” is the county’s best trick question: a Seminole mailing address often sits in unincorporated Pinellas, under completely different tree rules. Sixty seconds of checking beats any amount of guessing — I check before every job.
“Seminole, FL” on your mail proves nothing about your tree rules. The City of Seminole is a compact municipality surrounded by a much larger unincorporated area that shares its ZIP codes (33772–33778 split street by street). The check takes one minute: pinellas.gov/my-neighborhood or your parcel’s “Property City” at pcpao.gov. I grew up here and still get asked weekly — nobody should feel silly for checking.
If you’re in the CITY of Seminole
The code (Ch. 62, Art. II) protects native trees at 4 inches DBH, with a stricter tier — mangroves at any size, live and laurel oaks at 4 inches, other protected species at 20 — that requires a certified arborist’s report alongside the $25 permit. In practice, the city’s posted position embraces the state residential tree law: no tree permits on residential property — except in seven named subdivisions still governed by development agreements (Seminole Groves, Arabella, Pine Crest Villas, Artisan Estates, Artisan Preserve, Enclave, The Cove at Bay Pines). Our honest asterisk: the city’s notice tracks the 2019 statute, and the current (2022-amended) law is narrower — it shields documented-hazard removals on single-family lots, not any tree on request. For anything big, healthy, or mangrove-adjacent, one call to Community Development at (727) 398-3108 settles it — and we make that call as part of quoting.
If you’re in UNINCORPORATED Seminole
County rules apply — rewritten January 2026: homesteaded single-family properties need permits only for trees over 24 inches DBH; otherwise the trigger is 4 inches (palms at 6 feet). Dead trees permit without replanting; invasives permit without fees; skipping the permit prices at $150 per inch. The full county guide is here.
Why we keep this page current
This two-rulebook confusion generates real fines and real neighbor disputes, and no city or county page puts both halves side by side. This one does, because half our crew’s childhood addresses are in each half.
Verified 2026-07-14 against the current municipal code and official city materials; ordinances change — confirm current rules with the city before cutting. This is plain-language guidance from a tree service, not legal advice. Weave's handles permit questions as part of every removal quote.
Questions Cody hears every week.
How do I find out which Seminole I'm in?
Two official checkers: the county’s address lookup at pinellas.gov/my-neighborhood shows your jurisdiction, and the Property Appraiser (pcpao.gov) lists your parcel’s ‘Property City’ — UNINCORPORATED means county rules. The city also publishes a city-limits map. ZIP codes 33772-33778 split both ways street by street.
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in the CITY of Seminole?
The city’s posted position: following the state residential tree law, it does not require tree permits on residential property — EXCEPT in seven named subdivisions under development agreements (Seminole Groves, Arabella, Pine Crest Villas, Artisan Estates, Artisan Preserve, Enclave, The Cove at Bay Pines). Caveat we’d be dishonest to skip: the current state statute is narrower than the city’s older notice — it protects documented-hazard removals on single-family lots, not any-tree-anytime. When in doubt, the city’s Community Development desk at (727) 398-3108 answers quickly, and mangroves plus large oaks carry arborist-report requirements regardless.
And if I'm in UNINCORPORATED Seminole?
County rules: since January 2026, homesteaded single-family properties only need permits for trees over 24 inches DBH; everyone else at 4 inches and palms at 6 feet. Dead trees permit free of replant; invasives permit free of fee. Full detail on our unincorporated Pinellas page.
Tell Cody about your tree.
Three fields. He answers his own phone — you’ll hear back fast.
Faster: text a photo of the tree to (727) 761-8618.