Updated October 17, 2026. This is a summary of what the Killearn Homes Association (KHA) publishes, not legal advice and not KHA's word. Their forms and rules change, so confirm with the office before you act.
If you live in Killearn Estates and a tree has to come down, start with KHA's paperwork, before you call a tree service. The association requires written approval from its Architectural Control Committee (ACC) before most removals, and the community manager's message in the Q2 2026 Kloverleaf magazine warns residents that some tree services say approval is unnecessary. The magazine's ACC notice states that all exterior alterations, tree removal included, must be approved in writing by the committee.
Here is how the process works, in order.
Which trees need approval
This is where KHA's own materials disagree, so we are not going to pick a number for you.
- KHA's Architectural Control Committee page and its board-approved 2022 FAQ say tree removal approval applies to any tree with a diameter of 8 inches or more.
- The Q2 2026 magazine says an application is required for any tree 12 inches or greater in diameter "at Base Height (DBH)", in the magazine's words. KHA does not say at what height to measure, so ask.
Those are different trees. A trunk 8 inches across is roughly 25 inches around; 12 inches across is roughly 38 inches around. If yours falls between the two, or close to either, call the KHA office at (850) 893-3468 and ask which standard the committee is applying today. Get the answer in an email if you can.
What the application asks for
KHA has an online tree removal application. It asks for:
- A site map showing the trees to be removed and roughly how many trees will remain.
- A separate written statement from an arborist describing the condition of each diseased or damaged tree, or the other circumstances that warrant removal.
- A tree list with species, diameter, health and the reason for removal, plus your lot type and the start and end dates for the work.
Uploads are PDF or docx. The ACC page adds photos of the trees to the list, and City of Tallahassee authorization if any of the trees is a protected species.
The FAQ is strict about the arborist piece. The opinion has to be on the arborist's company letterhead and written by the arborist who did the assessment. Hand-written opinions and hand-drawn site maps are not accepted. The one exception the FAQ gives is a tree that is causing active property damage, such as to a driveway or foundation, which does not need an arborist opinion.
KHA names no required credential for the arborist. Its ACC page points to the Trees Are Good "find an arborist" directory for local arborists. Josh can look at the tree and tell you straight what he sees, and he can price the removal once you know where the approval stands. The written statement itself has to come from the arborist who did the assessment.
How long it takes
The ACC can take up to 30 days. It meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month at 10:00 am, and applications are due by 4 PM on the Friday before a meeting. Approval comes by email, and no work may start until you have it in writing.
Plan around that before you pick a date for the work. An application that misses the Friday cutoff waits for the next meeting.
If the committee says no or attaches conditions you disagree with, appeals go to compliancecoordinator@killearn.org within 10 days.
None of KHA's pages we read mention an application fee. Ask the office to be sure.
What if the tree is a hazard
The Q2 2026 magazine addresses this directly. If a tree is an immediate hazard, the Association says it will not unnecessarily delay removal, but it asks homeowners to still submit the application so the work is documented. This is not an exemption. Act on the danger, then put it on paper.
In practice, if a tree is on your house or blocking your only way out, deal with the emergency first and keep your photos. Our guide to what to do when a tree falls on your house covers the first hours. Then file the application with the photos and the account of what happened. For a tree that looks dangerous but has not failed yet, our post on how to tell if a tree is dead and how long you have helps you document what you see. If you are unsure whether your situation counts as a hazard under KHA's wording, ask the office before cutting, not after.
What happens if you skip it
KHA treats unapproved exterior alterations as violations that can bring fines and/or liens. The committee may require you to restore the property at your own expense, and it may stop unapproved tree cutting. KHA does not publish dollar amounts. A tree that has been cut cannot be put back, so get the approval first.
The City of Tallahassee layer
KHA approval is separate from the city. KHA's own 2023 form says some removals may also need a City of Tallahassee Growth Management permit, and gives the number 850-891-7001, option 4.
For most Killearn lots the city is usually not the deciding gate. On single-family detached lots the city's protected tree rules cover trees larger than 36 inches DBH. That is a big tree, and the KHA threshold comes in far lower. A safety hazard is a reason the city will weigh when it reviews a tree permit, but it is not an automatic exemption. If you have a very large oak, or you are not sure whether your address is inside the city limits or in unincorporated Leon County, read our guide to tree removal permits in Tallahassee and make the call to the city before anything is cut.
Step by step
- Measure the trunk's diameter and note the species. If it is near 8 or 12 inches, call KHA at (850) 893-3468 and ask at what height they measure and which threshold applies.
- Get a written statement from an arborist on company letterhead, unless the tree is causing active damage to a driveway or foundation. Take photos of each tree.
- Make a site map showing the trees coming out and roughly how many stay. No hand-drawn maps.
- Submit through the online application by 4 PM on the Friday before an ACC meeting.
- Wait for the approval email. Do not let anyone start work before it arrives.
- Check whether the city needs to approve too, especially for protected species or a very large tree.
- Then get the work priced.
KHA's office is at 2705 Killarney Way, Tallahassee 32309, (850) 893-3468, kha@killearn.org, as the association publishes it.
When you call Josh at (850) 888-5603, tell him the tree, the lot, and where you are in the approval. Have the approval email on hand. He prices tree removal after he has seen the tree, so the cost of the job stays separate from the approval side. For what removal costs in general, see our tree removal cost guide.
Related reading and services
- Tree removal for trees that have to come down.
- Our broader post on HOA rules and tree work in Tallahassee, including the Killearn Lakes Plantation HOA, which is a separate association with its own process.
- Tree removal permits in Tallahassee for the city and county side.
- Our Leon County service area page for where we work around Tallahassee.
Not sure whether your tree needs approval?
Describe it to Josh: the species, how big around it is, where it stands and what is wrong with it. He will tell you what he sees, and KHA will tell you what it needs. Call Josh at (850) 888-5603.