Are Tree Services Licensed in Florida? What the Law Requires

By: Shelby McCullough| Published: October 13, 2026

TL;DR: Florida does not issue a state license for tree trimming or tree removal, and under state law most local occupational licenses expired on July 1, 2025. Orlando homeowners should check for a current local business tax receipt, liability and workers’ comp insurance, and ISA certification. ISA certification is voluntary, but it matters under Florida’s tree law.

Are tree services licensed in Florida? Not by the state. Florida has no state license for tree trimming or tree removal, and most local occupational licenses expired on July 1, 2025. Instead, you can check for a local business tax receipt, proof of insurance, and voluntary credentials like ISA certification.

This surprises a lot of people, especially new Florida residents. In Orlando, anyone with a truck and a chainsaw can hand you a business card. This guide covers what the law requires and what it doesn’t. It also covers which papers tell you something useful, and when an arborist’s credential carries legal weight.

Does Florida require a state license for tree service companies?

No. The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) licenses many trades, but it has no tree service, tree trimmer, or arborist license. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services doesn’t issue one either.

So you can’t look up a state license for tree work the way you would for a roofer or an electrician. A tree company may give you a state license number anyway. If so, it probably covers a different trade the company also does. Ask what the license is for.

What happened to local tree trimmer licenses?

Some Florida counties used to issue their own tree-trimmer licenses. Most of those are gone. Under Section 163.211 of the Florida Statutes, the state controls occupational licensing. A local government that licensed an occupation before January 1, 2021, could keep that license only until July 1, 2025, unless a general state law allows it. The statute says local licensing without that approval may not be enforced.

The local business tax is still in place. A business tax receipt (BTR) shows that the business registered and paid its local tax. It doesn’t prove anyone passed a skills test. The Orange County Tax Collector says businesses in cities like Orlando, Maitland, and Winter Park need a city BTR first and then a county BTR. A business based in unincorporated Orange County, such as Conway or Pine Castle, goes through county zoning review and then gets the county receipt. Orange County receipts expire at midnight on September 30 each year. Ask to see a current one.

Which credentials actually tell you something?

Since there’s no state license, insurance and training are the most useful things to check. Here’s what each piece of paper means.

Credential What it is What it tells you How to check
State tree service license Does not exist in Florida Nothing. There’s no license to look up. If a company quotes a license number, ask which trade it covers
Local business tax receipt City and/or county tax registration The company is registered locally. It says nothing about skill. Ask for a copy and check the expiration date
General liability insurance Insurance for damage to property Who pays if a limb lands on your roof, fence, or car Have the company’s insurance agent send you a certificate
Workers’ compensation Insurance for injured workers Whether crew injuries on your property are covered by the company’s policy Ask for a certificate, or for a state exemption if the company claims one
ISA Certified Arborist Voluntary credential from the International Society of Arboriculture A trained person can judge tree health, structure, and risk Ask for the arborist’s name and certification number

Workers’ comp rules depend on how a business is classified and how many people it employs. A Florida business association summary notes that construction employers with 1 or more employees must carry coverage. For non-construction employers, the requirement starts at 4 or more employees. Tree work is dangerous, so ask before anyone climbs.

When does an ISA-certified arborist matter under Florida law?

It matters most when a tree on your home lot is dangerous and your city or county has tree rules. Under Section 163.045 of the Florida Statutes, a local government can’t require a notice, permit, fee, or mitigation to prune, trim, or remove a tree on residential property in one situation. The owner has to have documentation from an ISA-certified arborist or a Florida licensed landscape architect saying the tree poses an unacceptable risk to people or property.

The law sets specific requirements:

  • The documentation must be an onsite assessment that follows the ISA’s Best Management Practices for Tree Risk Assessment (Second Edition, 2017), signed by the arborist or landscape architect.
  • A tree poses an unacceptable risk only if removing it is the only practical way to bring its risk below moderate.
  • Residential property means a single-family detached home on a lot used as a single-family residence.
  • A local government can’t make you replant a tree removed under this law.

Pros and cons of the arborist documentation route

  • Pro: You may be able to skip the local permit, fee, and mitigation for a dangerous tree.
  • Pro: You get a written record of the tree’s condition from a trained professional.
  • Pro: The local government can’t require you to replant.
  • Con: It only covers single-family detached homes. Commercial lots, condo grounds, and HOA common areas still follow local tree rules.
  • Con: A healthy tree you simply don’t like won’t qualify. The risk standard is strict.
  • Con: HOA deed restrictions are a separate question. Read your community’s rules before cutting.

If you want a trained opinion on a big live oak or laurel oak near your house, start with a certified arborist consultation in Orlando.

Why does this matter more during hurricane season?

After a major storm, demand for tree work jumps overnight. Crews come in from other areas, and with no state license, there’s no state license board to check them against. The checks in the table above become your main protection.

Before you sign anything after a storm, do these things:

  1. Get a written estimate that lists the trees, the work, and debris haul-off.
  2. Get a certificate of insurance sent from the agent, not a photo on a phone.
  3. Confirm who will climb or run equipment, and whether they’re covered.
  4. Don’t pay the full amount before work starts.

Doing this work before storm season beats rushing after one. Our hurricane tree prep checklist covers what to check now. If a tree is already down, see how our storm damage tree cleanup works.

Why McCullough Tree Service is a fit

McCullough Tree Service is family-owned and operated.

We’re based at 948 Ferne Dr, Longwood, FL 32779, and have served Orange and Seminole counties for over 30 years.

We have 3 ISA-Certified Arborists on staff.

We are fully insured and drug-free.

We handle tree trimming, tree removal (including crane-assisted removal), storm cleanup, stump grinding, and certified arborist consultations.

Estimates are always free, and financing is available.

Want a trained eye on a tree in Orlando, Conway, or nearby? Call McCullough Tree Service at (407) 734-5854 or book a free estimate online.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I look up a tree service company on the DBPR website?

Not for tree work, because Florida doesn’t issue a tree service or arborist license. You can use DBPR’s lookup to check other trade licenses a company says it holds.

Does a business tax receipt mean a tree company is qualified?

No. A business tax receipt shows the company registered and paid its local business tax. It says nothing about training, safety practices, or insurance.

Is ISA certification required to trim or remove trees in Florida?

No, it’s voluntary. But under Section 163.045, documentation from an ISA-certified arborist can exempt a dangerous tree on a single-family home lot from local permits, fees, and replanting rules.

Does the arborist exemption apply to HOA common areas or commercial property?

The statute defines residential property as a single-family detached home used as a residence. HOA common areas, condo grounds, and commercial sites generally still follow local tree ordinances, so check with your city or county before work starts.

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Sources

Shelby McCullough

About The Author: Shelby McCullough

With over two decades of experience in the tree industry, Shelby McCullough is a highly skilled certified arborist and the proprietor of McCullough Tree Service. His unparalleled expertise and profound understanding of trees set him apart in his field.
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