North Fort Myers • Lee County
Landscape Removal & Stump Grinding in North Fort Myers, FL
Because North Fort Myers is unincorporated, tree and shrub removal follows Lee County's rules rather than a city's. The county's vegetation removal guide says no permit is needed to remove up to five trees a year from a single-family lot that already has a house on it, while larger clearing, including lots of five acres or more, needs a permit. Protected species are a separate check. Gopher tortoises live in sandy, open ground across Florida, and FWC requires a permit before anyone disturbs a burrow, so an active hole near the work area means stopping to sort that out first. A lot of what comes out here is invasive. UF/IFAS lists Brazilian pepper as a Category I invasive, and it forms dense stands along canal banks and fence lines; melaleuca and Australian pine are other listed invasives worth taking out while the equipment is there. Hodges cuts, grinds stumps below grade, pulls the chips, and hauls everything off-site.
or call (239) 301-9455
Where it comes up in North Fort Myers
Lochmoor Waterway Estates
Tropic Isles
Plants and materials that suit it in North Fort Myers
Questions
Do I need a permit to take out trees in North Fort Myers?
Lee County's guide says a single-family lot with an existing home can remove up to five trees a year without a permit. More than that, land clearing on larger acreage, or removing protected species can need county approval, so check with Lee County Environmental Sciences first.
There is a large burrow by the hedge. Can it still come out?
If it may be a gopher tortoise burrow, check before work starts. Gopher tortoises are protected in Florida, and FWC requires a permit before a burrow is disturbed. The hedge work may need to be planned around it or wait for a permitted relocation.
What should replace the Brazilian pepper along my back line?
A native screen such as cocoplum, Simpson's stopper, or saw palmetto gives similar privacy without the seed spread. Grind or treat pepper stumps fully, since they resprout quickly. Clearing the stand also opens up the canal bank for inspection.