Tree Service in Ocala
Matched to a Local Pro.

Ocala's January 22, 2025 tree-removal application says a permit is required for any tree 4 inches or greater in diameter, regardless of species or condition, and it treats heavy topping or removal of more than one-quarter of the foliage in a year as unauthorized removal. The same city form lists an exception for parcels zoned R-1, R-1A, and R-1AA when they are under 3 acres and occupied by an existing single-family residence.

The city form states a $100 permit fee, says applicants should allow about 10 business days for review, inspection, and approval or denial, and notes that emergency applications must be submitted in person.

Ocala's city application points homeowners to Chapter 118-74 and Florida Statute 163.045 for more detail. The permit packet also says replacement trees may be required, that the owner remains responsible for permit conditions, and that required replacement trees must be installed within 30 days of removal and irrigated until established.

For unincorporated Marion County, the reviewed stand-alone permit form says preservation and replacement requirements apply to native trees 10 inches DBH and larger and protected plant species, while also listing exemptions for smaller trees, many single-family parcels, dead or dying trees from natural causes, immediate/direct threats, and UF/IFAS-listed exotic or nuisance trees.

Ocala Electric Utility says trees near power lines are a major outage cause and that it manages vegetation around roughly 200 miles of lines each year. If planned tree work is within 10 feet of the service drop from pole to home, customers can request a no-cost line drop before the work begins.

OEU's hazardous-tree program is limited to trees that are dead, dying, diseased, structurally defective, poorly rooted, or uprooting and that have a reasonable chance of striking a primary distribution line. Outages can be reported through OEU at 352-351-6666.

Ocala's official materials reviewed for this project lean more heavily on outage prevention and utility safety than on a city-authored hurricane timeline. That still matters for homeowners: strong wind events, lightning damage, and trees near lines are recurring causes of outages and emergency cleanup.

For many Ocala properties, especially homes on larger lots, estates, horse properties, or long fence lines, storm cleanup can involve access issues, heavier material, and coordination around utilities instead of simple curbside piles. For county-side regulatory content, Marion County's rules should be rechecked periodically because the county publicly noticed 2026 code amendments aimed at strengthening protections for larger significant trees.