In an effort to expand job opportunities for arborists and improve the efficiency of the Tampa Natural Resources Department, the city’s certification process for private arborists is now relaunching.
The Natural Resources Department is involved in almost every permitting process for commercial and residential development in the city of Tampa. This has recently put a strain on the department, which is why they called on the City for a long-term solution. In response, The City will host a specialized course for those interested in becoming certified private arborists.
What is a self-certified private arborist?
Certified private arborists are authorized to conduct tree evaluations and assessments for a variety of permits, including tree removals and pruning, tree surveys for zoning reviews, right-of-way permit reviews, and building permit reviews. This course is aimed at certifying more private arborist for the city, lessening the burden on the Natural Resources Department and providing new job opportunities for arborists in the area.
Instead of waiting for a Natural Resources staff member to perform these services, a homeowner, developer, or business owner will have the choice to hire a city-certified private arborist in order to expedite the process. This can also streamline the process and lower costs for developers.
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“Our Natural Resources team is involved in every residential or commercial permit application, and therefore, is always extremely busy,” said JC Hudgison, Construction Services Center Manager and Chief Building Official for the City of Tampa. “We hope this program will help ease some of this workload, while simultaneously providing local arborists with additional job opportunities.”
To ensure the same quality of service, the City will regularly conduct audits to verify the certified private arborists are performing the services correctly. Their certification will remain effective for two years.
Applications will be accepted through the month of June. Click here to apply.
