Protecting Dunedin’s Mangroves: What Every Homeowner Should Know

Published on December 11, 2025

Maintaining Mangroves in Pinellas County
Written By: Jake Denelsbeck, Environmental Specialist


Dunedin is home to all three species of Florida’s mangroves: red, white and black. Together they protect our shorelines, support marine life and keep our waters clean. But with decades of statewide mangrove loss, it is more important than ever to understand how to care for them responsibly. Let's dive in!

A Brief History

In 1996, the State of Florida passed the Mangrove Trimming and Preservation Act. The passage of this law made it illegal to harm or destroy all species of mangroves without a special permit. In 2003, Pinellas County adopted the Pinellas County Mangrove Trimming and Preservation Code. This code functions as the sole regulation of mangrove maintenance in the Conty, and in Dunedin as well.  The importance of these legislative acts cannot be overstated, as Florida has lost nearly 86% of its mangroves since the 1940s, and in the Tampa Bay Region, 50% of the mangrove population has been lost to things like coastal development, climate change, and water pollution.

General Mangrove Maintenance Rules

When looking to trim any mangroves, regardless of your exemption status, you must follow a few general rules.

  1. The mangroves must be on your property OR on state-owned sovereign submerged lands adjacent to your property
  2. The mangroves cannot be in an area of land designated for conservation, preservation, or mitigation
  3. No mangrove can be trimmed less than six feet in height as measured from the ground
  4. Under no circumstances may a mangrove be removed, destroyed, or defoliated and no prop roots may be cut
  5. When a mangrove is more than 10 feet tall, a Professional Mangrove Trimmer (PMT) must be used, and a representative from Pinellas County Water and Navigation must be on site during the trimming as well
  6. When a mangrove is over 16 feet tall, it must be trimmed in stages over time so that no more than 25% of the foliage is removed annually
  7. Under no circumstances may herbicides or chemicals be used

Once again, these rules apply to everyone, regardless of your exemption status.

Exempt Status

To qualify for exempt status, you must continually adhere to ALL the general rules described in the previous section, while also meeting all of the following conditions:

  1. The mangroves are less than 50 feet in depth, measured perpendicular to the shoreline from the most landward to the most waterward trunk
  2. The mangroves to be trimmed are not over 24 feet in height
  3. If your shoreline is over 150 feet in length, no more than 65% of the total mangrove area may be trimmed
  4. The mangroves are not located on an uninhabited island

If you have any doubts about your exemption status, it is best to contact the Pinellas County Water and Navigation team to verify you meet all their qualifications.

Permitted Trimming

To receive a permit to trim your mangroves, you must follow all the general rules while also meeting all the following criteria:

  1. The mangroves that you want to trim are less than 500 feet deep
  2. You plan to trim less than 65% of the mangroves
  3. 25% of the mangroves in the trimmed area that are over 16 feet tall are left intact
  4. The trimming occurs between March 1st and November 30th
  5. All trimmed branches and trunks are removed
  6. When using chainsaws, petroleum-based lubricants may not be used
  7. Brazilian pepper trees, punk trees, and Chinese tallow within 25 feet of any mangroves must be removed

When In Doubt, Reach Out

There are a great deal of rules and exceptions to keep in mind when managing mangrove maintenance, so the best course of action when deciding how to proceed with maintenance is to consult your resources. These resources include contacting Pinellas County Water and Navigation by phone ((727) 464-4170) or by email (WNPermitIntake@pinellas.gov). You can also refer to their “Homeowner Guidelines for Trimming Mangroves”  or their “Mangroves” web page to find a list of registered PMTs that work in Pinellas County.  These resources are what allow us to be environmental stewards and to protect these all-important trees.

 

 

 

 

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