Venice, FL

City of Venice Tree Protection

As communities continue developing, the construction and renovation of buildings, roads, parking lots and other infrastructure is required to accommodate this growth. The value of a healthy urban tree canopy is often overlooked and greatly underestimated in the interest of short-term costs. For this reason, tree preservation, protection and tree replacement regulations are necessary. The purpose of these regulations is to balance the need to provide space for community growth with the need to protect natural tree and plant communities and to replace trees lost to development. Florida Friendly urban tree communities provide valuable environmental, economic and aesthetic benefits to the Citizens of Venice. The preservation, replacement and management of trees and the urban tree canopy are a vital part of sustainable community growth and the long-term well-being of the City.

                     City of Venice Canopy Tree Study                          

The many environmental benefits of a healthy urban forest are well documented. The cooling effects, increased property values, wind buffering, air cleaning and carbon sequestration abilities of trees have been researched and written about at length. However, did you know that trees have a substantial impact on stormwater runoff?  Tree canopies intercept rainfall, reducing stormwater runoff and intercepting nutrient pollution that would otherwise reach the Gulf.  A properly managed urban forest is another tool in the toolbox for improved air and water quality, and water conservation. The Citizens of the City are a vital part of managing and caring for trees that are so important in our “City on the Gulf”.

                                         Permit Requirements

The following are some important points for homeowners:

• Single Family Zoned Lots of 1//2 acre or less are exempt from Chapter 89, except for the following: 
  • Removal of Heritage Trees, Venetian Trees, and Canopy Road Trees requires a tree removal permit. 
  • Pruning a branch that is 10 inches in diameter and larger measured 12 inches from the branch union from a Heritage or Venetian Tree requires a permit.
  • Pruning a branch that is 2 inches in diameter and larger within a Canopy Road Protection Zone (CRPZ) requires a tree permit and must be supervised by an ISA Certified Arborist or ASCA Register Consulting Arborist.

• All other zoning districts require a permit and tree mitigation to remove a protected tree.

    THREE TYPES OF PROTECTED TREES

• Protected Trees are any Florida Friendly™ tree that measures four (4) inches diameter and larger measured fifty-four (54) inches above grade (DBH); and Sabal Palms with 6 feet of clear trunk; and trees planted as part of an approved Tree Permit. 
• Heritage Trees are Florida Friendly™ trees that measure thirty (30) inches in diameter and larger measured fifty-four (54) inches above grade (DBH) or a multi-trunk Florida Friendly™ tree where the sum of the individual trunk diameters combines to equal forty-five (45) inches or greater measured at DBH. 
• Venetian Trees are native and non-native trees designated by Venice City Council as having significance, desirability or utility to the community.  Designated trees will then be protected by the City.  Venetian trees are nominated by the property owner where the tree is located and consented to in writhing by all property owners where the canopy overhangs.

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Applications and Website Links: 

Tree Removal Permit Application - Complete the application and return to the Building Department for processing

Venetian Tree Nomination Application - Complete the nomination form and return to the City Arborist

Lists of Trees for Venice - The Venice tree list are trees that have been proven to do well in our area.  The information provided is only a guide for tree selection and may not work in all situations. Consult with a professional before planting a tree.  The notations will offer some information about:  preferred species (PFR), potential to produce debris, i.e. messy (M), wind resistance (WR), cold sensitivity (CS), availability in the commercial trade (LA), and flowering (FLW).  Species size classes are divided into small, medium and large trees.  The size classes and the Minimum Soil Volume table will provide some guidance for root space requirements.  Wind resistance refers to species that have been shown to exhibit good wind resistance.  The care, condition of the tree, and site conditions play a major role in a tree’s ability to hold up in high wind.

2020 Urban Tree Canopy Analysis - A tree canopy analysis provides valuable data regarding a city’s existing tree canopy.  It will reveal changes to the urban tree canopy over periods of time.  The need for this study was identified as a City Council priority in 2021 and the final draft was completed in September 2022.  It provides useful information to guide the management of the City’s trees.

Outside Website Links:

Right Tree - Right Place

Florida Friendly Plant Guide

Florida Invasive Species