One of Mayor Castor's Transforming Tampa's Tomorrow (T3) Development Services major recommendations is to Streamline the Process to improve efficiency of the permitting process.
The Self-Certified Private Arborist pilot program assists in streamlining the development process by providing arborists with skills to be fully comprehensive in the Chapter 27 Tree and Landscape Code. By being a part of the program this reduces resubmittals, expands permit approval and issuance.
Self Certified Private Arborist Pilot Program
- Tree conditions evaluation/risk assessments for issuance of tree removal permits (protected, specimen and grand).
- Tree conditions evaluation/risk assessments for issuance of tree pruning permits (specimen and grand).
- Certification of tree surveys for use in zoning reviews, right-of-way permit reviews, and building permit reviews.
- Certification of arborist reports for use in zoning reviews, right-of-way permit reviews, and building permit reviews.
- Applicants for the SCPA program must have an active ISA (International Society of Arboriculture) certification
- Certification valid for the certified arborist only and cannot be used by another person, company or entity.
- Recertification is required every two years and attendance at quarterly advisory meetings will be required to maintain SCPA Membership.
- Self-Certification requires use of City approved forms and evaluation/risk assessment methods.
- Documentation provided as part of Self-Certification submittals, as described above, will serve as the accepted information for a specific development site, without re-inspection by Natural Resources.
- As needed, Natural Resources may perform routine audits of forms, reports, documentation, methods, etc., submitted by SCPA’s.
- Should any changes be made to any local, state, or federal laws and/or rules that affect the current City Codes and Technical Standards taught, additional/update courses may be required, in order to maintain a valid certification. If such courses are not successfully completed, the certification may become void.
- If an audit is conducted and SCPA found to be in violation of program, certification may become void.
New Certifications will be received every year on the schedule below.
May - June: Application status is open to apply for SCPA 2.0
July: Applications received and reviewed by Natural Resources Staff
August: Notification sent to qualified applicants to attend training
September: SCPA Training Class is held
October: Once attending the class and passing the exam, certification becomes active for 2 years.