Trees and other vegetation serve an important role in keeping soil in its place. Without them, rain water and flood water can erode the soil, washing away nutrients needed to grow new vegetation and depositing potentially polluting sediment in the waters. Erosion can damage water quality, increase flooding, affect fish populations and habitats, decrease aquatic diversity and lead to even more erosion. For these reasons, it is unlawful to:

- Clear any Port land without prior authorization from the Port and adherence to the rules against dust and water pollution.
- Allow land that is undergoing development to erode without control and allow sediments to be transported onto adjacent property and into storm sewers or waters.
- Remove any tree, dead or alive, bigger than 10 inches from Port property without a tree protection and replacement plan and a tree removal permit from the Port Authority. (Permits are not required to remove the following non-native noxious invasive plants: air-potato, climbing fern, melaleuca trees, kudzu vine and Brazilian pepper trees.)
These restrictions do not apply to emergency situations that involve danger to life or property.

No additional permits are required to clear land for foundation, driveway, septic and landscaping purposes on permitted new construction. However, all land-disturbing activities (including clearing, grading and excavation) that affect at least one acre require NPDES construction storm water permits from the state of Florida before construction can be permitted by the Port Authority.

All new development should use Best Management Practices to effectively minimize erosion, discharge of sediment, damage to downstream property owners and flooding resulting from excavation and development. Refer to the EPA's National Menu of Best Management Practices.