According to SLC Land Development Code Section 6.00.03.A:

"No person shall conduct any vegetation removal activities from or on any lot or parcel of land or portion thereof in the unincorporated area of St. Lucie County without first obtaining a Notice of Vegetation Removal..."

The Notice of Vegetation Removal application shall be completed in conformance with Section 11.05.06 of this Code.

A Vegetation Removal Permit Application may be obtained via the Tyler EnerGov Portal.

Paper applications are no longer being accepted.

• To maintain compliance with the Land Development Code and Comprehensive Plan.
• Allows staff the opportunity to educate the land owner on existing native vegetation and benefits of preserving native vegetation.
• Allows staff to inspect the property for wetlands, listed species, site conditions, as well as verify tree sizes.

The application requirements are as follows in SLC Land Development Code Section 11.05.06.B.

Be sure to provide the following:

• Contact Information
• Notarized signature on the last page
• A brief description of the proposed development activity
• Identify what vegetation you plan to remove

Please contact St Lucie County Contractor Licensing, as companies must be licensed according within St Lucie County to perform land clearing or tree removal.

• Phone: (772) 462-1672
• Email: contractor_licensing@stlucieco.org

Per SLC CODE OF ORDINANCE SECTION 10 Article II:

• 10-19 it is the intent of the board of county commissioners to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the residents of the county through the regulation of the construction and home improvement industries.
• 10-56 Certificate of Competency Requirement: Any person, other than a certified contractor as defined in this article, desiring to engage in or work at the business or occupation of contractor, as defined in this article, in the unincorporated areas of the county shall not engage in said occupation or business until such person has first obtained a certificate of competency as provided in this division, and has registered in the proper classification with the state department of business and professional regulation pursuant to the provisions of F.S. Ch. 489
• A Land Clearing Contractor's scope of services is limited to the clearing of land of vegetation, the grubbing of roots, the removal of surface debris and leveling of the surface lands incidental to the land clearing action.

Per Land Development Code Section 6.00.03.D.3:

• Trimming or pruning of vegetation which is not intended to result in the eventual death of the vegetation, mowing of yards or lawns, or any other landscaping or gardening activity which is commonly recognized as routine maintenance, replacement or relandscaping which does not result in the eventual death of any vegetation, does not require the approval of a Notice of Vegetation Removal.

There are several activities that qualify as an exemption under S. Lucie County Code however please note these exemptions still require an application to be submitted and an exemption to be issued. The “exemption” only exempts the applicant from mitigation requirements not for obtaining a permit.

 The Following Activities Qualify for Exemptions:

• Minimal removal of vegetation necessary for a path not to exceed four feet in width to provide physical access
• Minimal removal of vegetation necessary for a vehicular access path not to exceed ten feet in width as necessary for soil boring test provided work is performed by a Florida registered surveyor or engineer
• Removal of vegetation in an existing utility easement, drainage easement, storm water management tract or facility, or right-of-way provided such work is done by or under the control of the operating unit of local, state, or federal government, utility company
• Removal of vegetation which has been determined to be a safety hazard, destroyed or damaged beyond saving by natural causes
• Removal of vegetation upon any detached single family residential lot or parcel of land having an area of one acres or less except removal of protected vegetation or native vegetation 24 inches or greater DBH (diameter at breast height)
• Removal or alteration of any non-native/exotic vegetation
• Removal of grass only

Please refer to the Fees Schedule link above.

All native vegetation shall be protected on site to the greatest extent possible. If impact is unavoidable, mitigation shall be provided through one of the mitigation methodologies outlined in Land Development Code Section 6.00.05.D. 

An After-the-Fact Vegetation Removal Permit shall be applied for here.

• If native vegetation is impacted prior to issuance of a vegetation removal permit, mitigation shall be calculated at a 4:1 ratio. For example, if a live oak measuring 5" diameter at breast height (DBH) is removed, mitigation is calculated at 20" DBH. 
• If a cabbage/sabal palm tree is impacted prior to issuance of a vegetation removal permit, mitigation shall be calculated at a 2:1 ratio. If a cabbage/sabal palm tree is removed measuring above mitigation threshold (> 10' clear trunk height), mitigation shall be calculated at two (2) sabal/cabbage palms.

• A determination of completeness shall be performed within two (2) business days of submission.
• While staff always strives to review and process applications as quickly as possible, staff has up to twenty (20) business days from receipt to review and process the application. 
• If your vegetation removal application is submitted in conjunction with a site development permit or building permit, it shall be issued concurrently.
• Staff shall conduct an inspection of the proposed development site and upon determination of compliance with the provisions of LDC Section 6.00.00, shall issue an application approval.

• Once issued, a Notice of Vegetation Removal must be prominently displayed upon the subject site.

Per SLC Land Development Code 6.00.04, these activities qualify as Exemptions:

The removal of any native vegetation as necessary for the following activities:

1. The minimal removal of native vegetation necessary for a path not to exceed four (4) feet in width to provide physical access or view necessary to conduct a survey or site examination for the preparation of bona fide site development plans or vegetation inventories; or

2. The minimal removal of native vegetation necessary for a path not to exceed ten (10) feet in width to provide vehicular access necessary to conduct soil percolation or soil bore tests, provided such clearing or removal is conducted under the direction of Florida registered surveyor or engineer.

Conditions of the permit exemption would include the avoidance of native vegetation to the greatest extent feasible with no impacts to native vegetation meeting mitigation thresholds. Additional conditions may apply such as listed species presence and survey requirements, wetlands, etc. If the application will be for associated soil boring testing, the path would have to be a single path in and out no wider than 10’ and straight (may momentarily deviate a straight path to avoid impacts to native vegetation before returning to straight path).