The live oaks off Granada Boulevard, the royal poincianas lining Coral Way, the banyans on Old Cutler — we've worked the trees that make the Gables feel like the Gables for almost a decade. The city's tree canopy is one of the largest in South Florida, and it's also one of the most regulated.
Coral Gables enforces its Tree Protection Ordinance (Chapter 34 of the city code) tighter than any other municipality in Miami-Dade. Any tree with a 12″-or-greater trunk diameter requires a removal permit before the first cut. Specimen trees — the historic banyans, live oaks over 24″ DBH, and a handful of named protected species — require an arborist report and city arborist sign-off. Cut without a permit and you're looking at a fine that can exceed the tree's replacement value.
That's why local homeowners call us. We're licensed, insured, bilingual, and we handle the permit coordination from the first site walk through the city arborist's visit. We write the quote on-site, in front of you, before a single branch comes off.
Four things we handle on almost every job in this neighborhood, and what the permit process looks like for each.
The signature shade tree of the Gables. Beautiful, strong, and the most commonly damaged by hurricanes because of their spreading habit. Most live oaks in Coral Gables are protected — 12″+ DBH requires a permit for removal or significant pruning. We rig every section out on ropes to protect the hardscape below.
The massive aerial-root banyans on Old Cutler and near Venetian Pool are almost always specimen-protected. For these, we coordinate with the Coral Gables Public Works arborist before quoting. Common issue: aggressive ficus roots lifting sidewalks, pool decks, and foundations — root pruning and partial removal often work better than full takedown.
Gorgeous in bloom, but the poincianas split at the crotch under wind load and the mahoganies drop pods by the thousand in late spring. Canopy thinning and structural pruning are usually what you want here — not full removal — and we'll tell you straight when the tree is still salvageable.
Tree removal permit: filed with the Coral Gables Development Services department. Fee starts at $100 and most permits issue in 5–10 business days. Specimen trees may require mitigation — replacement plantings at a 2:1 or 3:1 ratio. We walk you through the form, take the required photos, and submit on your behalf.
The questions we get asked most often by Gables residents.
Yes, for almost any tree with a trunk diameter of 12 inches or more measured at 4.5 ft off the ground (DBH). Some species — live oak, mahogany, gumbo limbo, and named specimen trees — require a permit at smaller diameters. Dead or clearly hazardous trees can sometimes be emergency-removed, but the paperwork still follows. We handle all of it.
Honest answer: it depends on access, size, and rigging complexity. A straightforward 25-ft palm with clear drop zone runs $300–$500. A 60-ft live oak over a house or pool with sectional rigging can run $2,500–$5,000. We write the quote on-site after walking the tree with you, and we don't inflate for the ZIP code — a lot of Gables operators do.
Yes. Old Cutler Bay, Gables Estates, Cocoplum, and several other communities have additional HOA sign-off requirements on top of the city permit. We provide the certificate of insurance, photos, and any supporting documentation the HOA architectural committee needs. Expect 2–4 weeks total from permit filing to first cut if the tree is HOA-review.
Existing customers and contract clients get priority after named storms. Typical emergency window is 24–72 hours after a hurricane depending on load across the county. We're based in South Florida — we don't show up after the storm from out-of-state chasing insurance work. Call the main line, not a 1-800 number.
Sí. Somos una empresa familiar cubana. El estimado se lo damos en español, el contrato también si lo prefiere. El crew es bilingüe, puede explicarle cualquier detalle del trabajo sin barrera. (Yes — we're a Cuban family business. Quote and contract in Spanish on request, bilingual crew, no language barrier.)
We'll walk the property with you, check drop zones, tell you straight whether the tree needs to come out or can be saved, and write the quote in front of you.
