Hillsborough County Extension
Urban Forestry Website
Government Sources of Technical Assistance and/or Advice


Municipal Governments


City of Tampa
Tampa Parks and Recreation - Forestry Division
7525 North Boulevard
Tampa, Florida 33604
Urban Forester, Steve Graham 813-931-2639

The Natural Resources Section is comprised of the Forestry tree care division (21 employees) and the professional staff for Horticulture and Nursery, Arboriculture and Natural Areas Management (7 employees). The Urban Forester supervises this section.

The Forestry Division is responsible for maintaining street trees, and park trees citywide. Activities include: hazard tree removals, maintenance pruning, stump grinding, large tree planting and transplanting, and hurricane preparedness. Forestry responds to work orders from public, departments, other agencies, and 24-hour emergency abatement.

The professional staff includes two horticulturists, two nursery technicians, an arborist, a naturalist, and an urban forester. This division serves as liaison to public, and others, and educational outreach for information pertaining to sustainable landscaping, proper tree care, and ecological restoration, and maintenance. Professional staff published articles, presents a educational seminars, and produces popular CTTV program Shade of Tampa. In addition, the arborist safeguards community's grand trees; the naturalist reviews upland habitat proposals; and horticulturists administer citywide planting program.

City of Saint Petersburg
St. Petersburg Urban Forestry
The City of St. Petersburg employs an urban forester who implements the tree protection regulations, as well as tree maintenance crews who trim and remove trees as needed.

County Governments


Hillsborough County

Hillsborough County Department of Planning and Growth Management - Land Development and Review, Natural Resource Permitting Hillsborough County requires permits for alteration of natural features to protect natural resources from destruction and attain standards for natural resource protection as set forth in the County's Land Development Code. County staff attend land subdivision pre-submittal conferences and Development Review Committee meetings. In addition, the staff maintains the County's Significant Wildlife Habitat Map, and works closely with the Division of Forestry for habitat management, and with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for protection of wildlife species. These services include land alteration / commercial landscape permitting, upland habitat reviews, tree permits, grubbing permits, agricultural exemptions, complaints / enforcement, inspections, and single family landscape permitting.

Hillsborough County Extension Service - Urban and Community Forestry Program
5339 County Route 579
Seffner FL 33584
Urban and Community Forester, Rob Northrop 813-744-5519 x106
The Urban and Community Forester organizes and directs Extension education programs regarding forestry,  tree care, selection, and planting; provides technical assistance to businesses (developers, builders), governments (parks and recreation, environmental land acquisition and protection, planning and development, natural resources conservation service, neighborhood relations) and homeowners on tree care, pests, species selection, planting, and removal; assists county and other governmental entities in the development and implementation of effective environmental studies, and practices relating to land-use planning, grant applications and administration, zoning and development including conservation, recreation and open space planning, ordinances relating to vegetation, tree protection, landscape reclamation, and preservation of natural areas; provide technical assistance on forest management plan preparation regarding: site preparation, planting, insect and disease diagnosis, harvesting, Christmas tree production, and marketing of forest products.

Pinellas County


Pinellas County Extension Service
12175 125th Street N.
Largo FL 34644-3695
727-582-2100
The Pinellas County Extension office can provide information on tree care practices, assist with diagnosing tree problems (sometimes from descriptions given to us over phone, samples brought to or mailed to our office, or photos emailed to us), identify tree species, and can send or email publications on many of these tree related topics. Our office also offers soil pH testing services ($5.00 per sample). In some cases we can refer clients to other agencies for additional assistance (such as the offices within individual cities that enforce tree protection codes and review tree removal permits where required).

Pasco County
Pasco County Cooperative Extension Service
36702 State Road 52
Dade City FL 33225-5198
352-521-4288

State Government


Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Division of Forestry
Pinellas County Extension Center
12520 Ulmerton Road
Largo, Florida 33774
Senior Forester, Hunter Pape 727-943-4831
Forest Area Supervisor, Patrick Keogh 813-744-8983

University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service
Solutions for Your Life
P.O. Box 110210
Gainesville FL 32611-0210
352-392-1761

Federal Government


U.S. Department of Agriculture - Natural Resource Conservation Service
The Natural Resources Conservation Service provides leadership in a partnership effort to help people conserve, maintain, and improve our natural resources and environment. NRCS works with homeowners, business people, and local governments to prevent soil erosion, keep water clean and plentiful, create and preserve green spaces, and reduce the impacts of floods. The NRCS staff works cooperatively with agriculture, business, government, and citizens through the system of Soil and Water Conservation Districts.

Hillsborough Soil and Water Conservation District
201 South Collins Street, Suite 202
Plant City, Florida 33584-5531
District Conservationist, Juan Vega 813-759-6450 ext. 3

Pasco Soil and Water Conservation District
30435 Commerce Drive, Suite 103
San Antonio, FL 33576
District Conservationist, Daniel Oliver 352-588-2166

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