Tree Protection in Okaloosa County, FL (2026)

3 rules for unincorporated Okaloosa County, Florida.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Okaloosa County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Heritage & Protected Trees

Okaloosa County's Land Development Code sorts every protected tree into three size classes at LDC § 6.05.033: Type A species like dogwood and crape myrtle at a 4-inch trunk, Type B species like American holly and southern magnolia at 6 inches, and Type C species like live oak and sweet gum at 12 inches. Single-family homes, agriculture and utilities are exempt.

Okaloosa County Protected Tree Species Rules

Some Restrictions

Okaloosa County, FL, Land Development Code § 6.05.033

List A Protected Tree List / List B Tree Replant List: 1. Species Type A (Small, 4" + diameter trunk): Dogwood (Cornus Florida), Redbud (Cercis canadensis), Crape Myrtle (Largerstroemia indica) / Dahoon holly (llex cassine)*, Fringe tree (Chionathus virginicus), Wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera). 2. Species Type B (Medium, 6" diameter + trunk): American Holly (llex opaca), Southern Magnolia (Magnoli...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Protected Tree Species

Okaloosa County requires one preserved tree for every 4,300 square feet of impervious surface on a site holding protected trees, under LDC § 6.05.03. A tree is legally 'protected' if its type or size means it cannot be destroyed without a permit, and LDC § 6.05.031 lets a developer bank credit toward that ratio for large trees already on the property.

Okaloosa County Tree Preservation Ratio Rules

Some Restrictions

Okaloosa County, FL, Land Development Code §§ 6.05.03, 6.05.031

Where protected trees are identified on a site proposed for lot clearing within any residential, commercial or industrial zoning district, the number of trees which shall be required to be preserved shall be based on a ratio of one tree for each 4,300 square feet of impervious surface area or fraction thereof. The perimeter and interior landscaped areas required in this ordinance shall be locat...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Parkway Planting

New commercial and multi-family development in unincorporated Okaloosa County must landscape a ten-foot-wide strip along the street frontage and plant one tree for every 25 linear feet of lot frontage, with at least half of those trees being shade trees, under Land Development Code section 6.05.021.

Okaloosa County Frontage Landscape Tree Requirements

Some Restrictions

Okaloosa County, FL, Land Development Code § 6.05.021

Front perimeter landscape areas: A minimum of a ten-foot wide strip of land, located between the front property line and the vehicular use area shall be landscaped on all new construction, except in permitted access-ways. Width of sidewalks shall not be included within the ten-foot wide front setback perimeter landscape area. This provision shall not apply to land located within the I-1 or I-2 ...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

All Okaloosa County ordinances

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