Florida Senate - 2018                                     SB 574
       
       
        
       By Senator Steube
       
       
       
       
       
       23-00623A-18                                           2018574__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to tree and timber trimming, removal,
    3         and harvesting; creating s. 589.37, F.S.; preempting
    4         to the state the regulation of the trimming, removal,
    5         or harvesting of trees and timber on private property;
    6         prohibiting certain local governmental actions
    7         relating to the trimming or removal of trees or
    8         timber; prohibiting local governments from prohibiting
    9         the burial of vegetative debris on certain properties;
   10         providing an effective date.
   11          
   12  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   13  
   14         Section 1. Section 589.37, Florida Statutes, is created to
   15  read:
   16         589.37 Regulation of tree and timber trimming, removal, or
   17  harvesting preempted.
   18         (1) The regulation of the trimming, removal, or harvesting
   19  of trees and timber on private property is preempted to the
   20  state.
   21         (2) A municipality, county, or other political subdivision
   22  of the state may not:
   23         (a) Prohibit or restrict a private landowner from trimming,
   24  removing, or harvesting trees or timber located on the
   25  landowner’s private property.
   26         (b) Require mitigation, including, but not limited to, the
   27  planting of trees or the payment of a fee, for the removal or
   28  harvesting of trees or timber from private property.
   29         (c) Prohibit the burial of trees, shrubs, palmettos, or
   30  other vegetative debris on properties larger than 2.5 acres.
   31         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2018.