A developer cut down a massive live oak in Miami's Silver Bluff neighborhood without a permit. The resulting $1,000 fine has neighbors and arborists questioning whether the city's penalties are enough to deter illegal tree removals.

The southern live oak at 1836 SW 23rd Terrace measured 63 inches in diameter, according to city records. An online tree-age calculator estimated it could have been about 284 years old, though estimating the age of a living tree from its diameter is imprecise, as Coconut Grove Spotlight first reported.

Property owner Epic Investments was issued a $1,000 fine and ordered to obtain an after-the-fact removal permit.

$1,000 fine comes with $42,000 mitigation requirement

Under Miami's tree ordinance, removing a tree without a permit is considered "tree abuse." For a non-homestead property, the fine is $1,000 per tree, regardless of the tree's size.

The fine is separate from the city's mitigation requirements.

For the 63-inch tree, the property owner must plant 42 replacement trees measuring 2 inches in diameter, plant 21 trees measuring 4 inches in diameter or pay $42,000 into the city's Tree Trust Fund.

Neighbor Ellen Kanner saw a crew begin cutting down the oak Saturday, Aug. 1. She asked to see a permit. A worker told her the crew had one but did not produce it, Kanner told the Spotlight.

Kanner called 311 and the city's Code Compliance Department but did not reach anyone. She also sent an email. Five days later, the city cited the property for removing the tree without a permit.

"If you make removing trees illegally a stupid business decision, people aren't going to do it," arborist Ron von Paulus told the Spotlight.

City records show Epic Investments has submitted plans for a three-story, 5,620-square-foot home and a separate 375-square-foot cabana on the property. The violation remains open and is listed as not complied with.

Christopher Rodriguez, Epic Investments' registered agent and principal, did not respond to repeated requests for comment from the Spotlight.

A city spokesperson told the Spotlight that Miami takes unauthorized tree removal seriously and continues enforcing its tree-protection regulations.

Miami has stronger penalties for repeat violations

The city has additional enforcement tools. It can issue stop-work orders and withhold building permits or approvals needed for a certificate of occupancy until violations are corrected.

Properties fined for another tree violation within the previous five years can face enhanced penalties of as much as $5,000 per day per violation.

Florida law also allows larger cities to adopt code-enforcement fines of as much as $15,000 for violations found to be irreparable or irreversible. Miami does not appear to have adopted that option for illegal tree removals, according to the Spotlight.

Commissioner Damian Pardo, whose District 2 includes Coconut Grove, said at a Coconut Grove town hall the week of Sept. 28 that he supports increasing penalties for illegal tree removals.

Tree-removal appeals surge across Miami

The debate comes as challenges to Miami's tree-removal decisions have increased sharply.

At least 14 tree-removal appeals had been filed by early summer 2026, compared with one during all of 2025, WLRN reported.

City staff added a second monthly meeting to the Historic and Environmental Preservation Board's schedule to handle the increased volume.

Miami's Tree Ordinance Advisory Committee, established this year to review the city's tree-preservation regulations and recommend possible changes, is scheduled to meet Friday, Oct. 2, from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. at City Hall.

The committee includes Ian Wogan and Andy Parrish among its members and is reviewing issues including tree-protection policies, penalties and enforcement. It is expected to make recommendations to the City Commission by March.