Three sets of rules can touch a tree in the Ocala area: the City of Ocala's, Marion County's for unincorporated land, and a Florida statute that overrides both on some home lots. Belleview, Dunnellon and McIntosh are separate municipalities; none of the three had a tree ordinance we could find online and quote, so check with each town hall.
Inside Ocala city limits
- What needs a permit: any tree 4 inches or more in diameter, "regardless of species or condition," measured 4.5 feet above ground.
- The exception: parcels zoned R-1, R-1A or R-1AA, under 3 acres, with an existing single-family residence. Check zoning on the city's OneMap or with a planner.
- The process: apply through eTRAKiT or at the permitting office, with a sketch giving each tree's type and DBH and the trees flagged on site. Owner and contractor signatures are notarized, the permit is issued to the contractor, and review takes at least 10 business days. The fee is $100.
- Replacement: new trees must be Florida Fancy or Florida Grade No. 1 nursery stock, planted within 30 days of removal and watered until established.
- Pruning: topping or removing more than a quarter of the foliage in a year counts as unauthorized removal.
Questions go to Growth Management, 201 S.E. 3rd Street, 2nd floor, 352-629-8404.
Unincorporated Marion County
- Protected: native trees 10 inches DBH and larger.
- Exempt, among others: a parcel used or to be used for a single-family dwelling; trees under 10 inches; dead or dying trees and those posing an immediate threat; bona fide agriculture; invasive species on the UF/IFAS lists.
- Permit: $50, five-day review per submittal, valid one year. Details on lot clearing.
Florida's override for risky trees on home lots
Ocala's own application form points to Florida Statutes 163.045. In plain terms, the statute works like a trade: produce the right paperwork and the city or county steps out.
| What you bring | What the local government can no longer require |
|---|---|
| A lot with a detached single-family house that is actually lived in as one | A notice or application |
| An onsite tree risk assessment done to ISA's Best Management Practices (2nd edition, 2017) | An approval or permit |
| Signed by whoever did it: an arborist certified by ISA, or a landscape architect licensed in Florida | A fee or mitigation |
| Finding the tree an unacceptable risk: removal is the only practical way to get its risk below moderate | Replanting afterward |
Miss any item on the left, or own vacant or commercial land, and the city or county rules above still govern.
Licensing
We didn't find a Florida state license specific to tree removal in a source we could cite. Ask the contractor what local registration and insurance they carry, and ask the city or county what they require. For permitted work inside Ocala, the permit is issued to the contractor, who also signs the application.
A summary, not legal advice. It reflects the public documents listed below as they read on the checked date. Final calls on a particular tree belong to the City of Ocala, Marion County or the town involved.
Sources
- City of Ocala Growth Management Department: Tree Removal Permit Application (revised 1/22/2025)
- Marion County Growth Services: Stand-Alone Tree Removal Permit Application
- Marion County Land Development Code, Article 6, Divisions 7 to 9: tree protection and landscaping (6/3/2013)
- Florida Statutes 163.045 (2025): Tree pruning, trimming, or removal on residential property
- Wikipedia: Belleview, Florida
- Wikipedia: Dunnellon, Florida
- Wikipedia: McIntosh, Florida
Checked October 27, 2026. Fees, rules and price surveys change, so treat the linked original as the final word.