Did You Know? All About Tree Removal and Trimming

Are you looking to remove a few trees or trim the trees you have?

The first step would be to visit pdpoa.org, this website has everything on it and when you get here you want to click on service providers and go down to ARB application and permits. From there you want to select ARB applications, which is a blue bar on the right-hand side of the screen. You can look through and see all the choices but the ones you would select depends on your tree project if you are removing trees you need to select tree removal application. If you are interested in tree trimming, then you need to select the tree trimming application. Please note that each has an application fee. You need to fill it out and put all the information about your contractor.

For Tree Removal -please note that these applications are reviewed twice a month usually the first of the month and the 15th of the month. PDPOA does have an arborist that they use for tree removal permits. His name is Woody Morris and he works for Tree Stop. He also does this for other neighborhoods on the island. If you are requesting to remove a tree, the tree should be dead, diseased, dying, or hazardous leaning over a structu

re. You need this type of permit when removing trees that are 6 inches or greater in diameter at a point that is 4 feet above the ground level. When they remove the trees, the stumps need to be cut flush and/or ground down. If you remove any trees without approval, it can result in $1000 per tree fine plus mitigation for the unapproved tree removal. Trees must be branded red or orange for removal prior to ARB site inspection. A special note is if the tree is located on the lagoon, lake or Dune buffer zone within the 20 foot OCRM line, you will need to contact the town of Hilton Head to request permission to remove the trees. Their number is 843–341–4682.

For a New Build, healthy trees are allowed to be removed only where the footprint of the home is going, and for every 10 inches removed, 10 inches must be mitigated, so, for example,100 inches of live oak needs to be mitigated with 10 trees that are on the equivalent tree chart.

The Tree Trimming process is very similar and you need to fill in an application and pay a $25 application fee. The permit process only takes three business days usually and is not as complicated as the tree removal. You will need to fill in the Contractor information and you will only need this permit if you are trimming trees that are greater than 6 inches in diameter at the four-point above ground level. If you are pruning palm trees, they do not require a permit. You will need to list the specific species and the location on your property. You will need to take photos prior to the permit and may not exceed 25% of the existing leaf surface.  Trees must be branded green or blue for trimming prior to ARB site inspection or an additional $25 site inspection will be charged.

If you hire contractors that work in Palmetto Dunes, they can do the permits on your behalf. Our PDPOA has a list of contractors for this type of work.

Hope this helps!