Neighborhood Specialists

Why Kendall homeowners call Martin's Tree Solution

Kendall covers more square miles than any other community in Miami-Dade — from the older live-oak streets near Dadeland to the deeper development off Kendall Drive and SW 137th Avenue. We've been working trees here for almost a decade and the patterns repeat: thirty-year-old slash pines weakened by lightning strikes, mango canopies that quietly grew into the eaves of a house, Florida holly that should have come out a decade ago, and royal palms next to driveways with roots starting to lift the pavers.

Most of Kendall sits in unincorporated Miami-Dade, which means tree removal permits go through the county DERM office rather than a city department. The threshold is lower than people expect — native specimen trees with a 5-inch DBH or greater can require a permit, and the county takes its native canopy seriously. We handle the application, the photos, and the per-tree fee so you don't have to learn the form.

We're licensed, insured, bilingual, and the same crew shows up every time. The quote is written on-site after we walk the tree with you, and there's no inflation for the Kendall ZIP — a lot of operators charge by neighborhood; we don't.

What we see on Kendall trees

Four issues that come up on almost every Kendall removal job, and what handling them looks like.

Live Oaks & Slash Pines

The dominant canopy trees in older Kendall. Live oaks weather hurricanes well but drop massive limbs without warning when they're under-pruned. Slash pines are the opposite — they go down fast in tropical storms because the root plate is shallow. Removal of either over 5" DBH triggers the county permit. We rig sections out on rope to protect pool decks and screen enclosures.

Mango & Avocado Canopies

Almost every Kendall yard built before 1990 has a mango or avocado that's now twice the size the original owner planted. Some are still productive and worth saving with structural pruning. Some have grown into the roof and need to come out. We tell you straight which one yours is. Mature mango wood is dense — full removal usually takes a full day with the chipper running.

Florida Holly & Other Invasives

Brazilian pepper (Florida holly) and Australian pine are illegal to plant and require removal under Miami-Dade's invasive species ordinance if you're getting any other tree work permitted. We pull them out at the same time, with stump grinding included, so you don't pay a separate trip charge.

The DERM permit process

Tree removal permit through the Miami-Dade Department of Environmental Resources Management (DERM). Application fee around $50, plus a per-tree mitigation fee for native specimen trees. Typical turnaround is 7–14 business days. Replacement plantings may be required at a 1:1 or 2:1 ratio depending on the species. We file on your behalf — you sign once.

Kendall tree removal — common questions

What Kendall residents ask before booking us.

[{'q': 'Do I need a permit to remove a tree in Kendall?', 'a': 'Almost always, yes — Kendall is unincorporated Miami-Dade, so DERM rules apply. Native specimen trees over 5" DBH (live oak, slash pine, mahogany, gumbo limbo, sabal palm and others) require a permit before removal. Non-native, non-fruit-bearing trees over 25 ft tall also typically need one. Florida holly and Brazilian pepper are exempt — those can come out anytime. We file the paperwork as part of the job.'}, {'q': 'How much does tree removal usually cost in Kendall?', 'a': 'A 25-ft Florida holly with clear access: $300–$400. A 40-ft mango over a screen enclosure with sectional rigging: $1,200–$2,000. A 60-ft live oak with permit work and replacement-planting requirement: $2,500–$4,500. We write the quote on-site after seeing the tree, the access, and the drop zone — never sight-unseen over the phone.'}, {'q': 'Can you handle HOA approvals (Hammocks, Country Walk, Lakes by the Bay)?', 'a': 'Yes. Most Kendall HOAs require a copy of our certificate of insurance, the DERM permit, and sometimes board approval before any tree work. We provide all of it directly to your community manager. Hammocks and Country Walk in particular are familiar with our COI on file.'}, {'q': 'What about trees touching FPL power lines?', 'a': "Anything below the service drop (the line from the pole to your house) is our work. Anything touching the primary distribution line on the pole itself is FPL's territory — they'll dispatch their own crew to de-energize before we cut. We coordinate the timing so you don't end up with a half-trimmed canopy and a dead tree in the yard."}, {'q': 'How fast can you respond after a hurricane?', 'a': "Existing customers and contract clients get priority within 24–72 hours. We're South Florida-based — we don't roll in from out of state chasing storm work. Call the main line and we triage by danger: anything on a structure, blocking access, or threatening power lines moves to the front."}]

Tree Removal in Kendall