Inside city limits: Punta Gorda's tree removal permit
The city's rule turns on 12 inches at breast height, measured about 4.5 feet up the trunk. Native and approved non-native trees at or above that size need the permit. If removal leaves the property below the city's minimum landscape requirements, the city code requires replacement trees. The city also describes a no-charge tree removal permit that may be approved under certain conditions, so ask before you assume a fee.
The city's tree page deals with individual trees, so before machine work inside Punta Gorda we have the owner confirm with the City of Punta Gorda what it wants for clearing that lot. One call up front beats a stop-work order.
Outside the city: Charlotte County rules
Unincorporated Charlotte County requires a tree permit for trees 4 inches and up and a permit for machine clearing. Property over 1 acre that is being developed needs a protected species assessment and a FLUCCS map. Scrub-jay nesting season runs March 1 to June 30, and scrub-jay parcels get a separate review with no clearing during nesting season. A bald eagle nest within 660 feet requires a management plan. Charlotte County Community Development can confirm what applies to your parcel.
Gopher tortoises fall under state rules on both sides of the city line: stay 25 feet from every burrow or get an FWC permit before work. Our guide to burrows before clearing covers how that works.
Low ground, the waterfront and storm leftovers
Punta Gorda sits low, around 7 feet above sea level, between the river and the harbor. Parcels near the water can have wetland edges or mangroves, and those fall under state and federal rules on top of the local tree permit. If your land touches the water or holds water in the rainy season, sort that out before any clearing.
The city took a direct hit from Hurricane Charley, a Category 4, on August 13, 2004. If your lot has storm-broken trees or old debris piles, we clear those with the rest of the job, and our storm cleanup page covers bigger messes.
