Q: I am a resident; do I need to call or email for general tree pruning requests?

A: No, residents do not need to personally request pruning of city trees, as they are automatically scheduled by the arborists managing the pruning needs city-wide.

However, Inside private property, the removal or relocation of any tree 4 ½” diameter or larger measured 4’ from grade requires a permit.

Q: What is the purpose of tree pruning in the city?

A: The city prunes trees to encourage tree canopy growth. This is to increase the canopy coverage to alleviate urban heat over paved areas, and to provide environmental benefits to the city such as wildlife habitat, temperature cooling, water runoff uptake to mitigate flooding, and perform carbon sequestration.

Q: How often are the trees pruned in the city?

A: Trees are generally pruned every 1.5 -4 years depending on the species, speed of growth habit, and condition of the trees, as determined by the arborists on staff. However, unforeseen circumstances such as weather activity, lightning strikes, or car accidents damaging trees, can affect the schedule.

Q: What are the criteria used to prioritize tree pruning?

A: Pruning needs are prioritized by the certified arborists for the maintenance of health and resiliency of the tree and to address critical safety concerns such as foliage blocking visibility at corners, blocking signs, dead branches, or branches growing too low over sidewalks or roads.

Q: What if I identify a safety concern that should be addressed immediately?

A: If a resident identifies a safety concern that should be addressed immediately, they should phone Public Works at 305-460-5002 to notify the tree contractor immediately. Alternatively, PWgreenspace@coralgables.com is the email that can be used to reach a city arborist.

Q: Can I request to prune the swale trees more frequently for aesthetic reasons, or to remove or relocate beehives?

A: Yes, residents can execute a tree pruning permit using an ISA certified arborist and upload it to the online permit portal for review of the permit application by a city arborist.

Q: Where can I find more information about city trees and permits required for tree pruning, removal, or relocation?

A: More information about City trees and permits applications required for tree pruning, removal or relocation is available on the city website coralgables.com/public works/greenspacemanagement.

Q: Is there a GIS or mapping program where I can view the location of the tree pruning crew trucks in real time?

A: No, there is no GIS or mapping program that residents can view online to see the location of the tree pruning crew trucks in real time. The City uses ‘Cartegraph’, a GIS program, to map assets and keep tree pruning data for internal scheduling purposes.