For those of you who are new to Florida or just want to do some trimming around your yard, you may need a license to cut trees in Florida. You can find out if you do need a license by contacting the Florida Department of Financial Services. They will be able to give you some valuable information and direction on what you may need to do in order to have a license. However, there are some things that you should keep in mind before you do get a license. Let's take a look at these things:
One: The number one thing that you need to understand about having a license is that you are going to be responsible for any tree services that you are not able to handle properly. So, it is critical that you really do thorough research before you begin doing anything. Find a reputable tree service in Florida that does a background check and makes sure that the people that they hire are not going to be responsible for cutting down your neighbors trees. The best thing that you can do for yourself is to invest in a little bit of time, and make sure that you find a tree service that has a lot of satisfied customers, before you try to cut down someone else's tree.
Two: The second thing that you need to understand is the type of licenses that are available for tree services. There are basically two different types that you need to know about, so that you will be able to make an educated decision on if you need one. These are: Regular Permit/license/Certificate. Just know that each type has their own set of rules that you need to follow, so it is important that you really do some research before you go out and apply for a tree permit or license in Florida.
The first thing that you should look at when you are trying to figure out if you need a license to cut trees in Florida is what kind of certification programs and training courses that the tree service company has. You should look for courses that instruct you how to cut safely, as well as courses that teach you how to have a plan in place when you are cutting down a tree. If the tree service company is going to work on your home or have you work for them, then you need to know what kind of training they have for that kind of job. There are also courses that can be taken online that will give you the ins and outs on tree removal and care in general.
The second thing that you need to know about when you are trying to figure out if you need a license to cut down a tree is exactly what the Florida State Tree officials require you to have in order to operate a tree service in Florida. This is a class of license that is called "Tree Management Specialist", and it requires that you have been trained and certified in a number of different classes. First, you must learn how to safely remove a tree from a structure. Then, you must learn about the best ways to cut a tree safely, so that there is as little damage to the area where the tree is being removed as possible. You will have to learn about stump removal, pruning, and tree felling before you can get your license, so this is very important information to make sure you are aware of and follow.
If you do happen to get caught cutting down a tree without a license, you can be charged with a felony in Florida, and you may even go to jail for it. Just like any other kind of criminal charges, you don't want to end up in jail for a felony, so you need to make sure that you hire the right attorney to represent you in your case. If you are caught violating the law, it is not a good idea at all to just plead guilty and leave yourself without a chance to defend yourself. It's always better to go to trial if you think you might be facing jail time. If you have been accused of cutting down a tree without a license in Florida, you should contact an experienced lawyer immediately to find out how you can go about defending yourself against this charge.