Environmental Rules in Orange County, FL (2026)
5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 2 cities in Orange County, Florida.
Verified from official government sources
Stormwater Management
Unincorporated Orange County requires an engineered stormwater management system on every new development before construction begins. Code § 30-277 sorts projects into three categories by size and existing impervious cover, and each category triggers its own pollution-abatement, aquifer-recharge, discharge-rate and flood-protection standards, all reviewed and approved by the county engineer before drainage plans clear permitting.
Orange County Stormwater Design Standards
Some RestrictionsOrange County Code § 30-277(a), (c), (e)
(a)A stormwater management system shall be designed and installed for the development that will contain features to provide for:(1)Pollution abatement (Categories 1, 2 and 3).(2)Recharge, where possible (Category 3 only).(3)Rate of discharge limitations (Categories 2 and 3).(4)Protection from flooding (Categories 2 and 3).(c)Pollution abatement will be accomplished by retention, or detention wi...
Erosion Control
Orange County requires a development approval and tree removal permit before any land clearing, mass grading, fill, or excavation in the unincorporated area: standalone grading permits are not issued without an approved development plan.
Orange County Land Clearing and Grading Permit Rule
Significant RestrictionsOrange County Code § 15-301(a)
Except as provided in section 15-279, no land clearing, mass grading, fill or excavation shall occur in the county without first obtaining all applicable development approvals, including tree removal permits consistent with this article, and preliminary subdivision plan or development plan approval with concurrent tree removal approval. Mass grading permits are only permitted along with or as p...
Flood Zones
Orange County regulates any development that sits wholly or partially inside a mapped flood hazard area in the unincorporated county. Section 19-2 sweeps in everything from subdividing land, grading, and utility work to placing a manufactured home or recreational vehicle, installing a tank, or building a swimming pool, and ends with a catch-all for any other development.
Orange County Floodplain Development Rules
Some RestrictionsOrange County Code § 19-2
The provisions of this chapter apply to all development within the unincorporated areas of Orange County that is wholly within or partially within any flood hazard area, including but not limited to the subdivision of land; filling, grading, and other site improvements and utility installations; construction, alteration, remodeling, enlargement, improvement, replacement, repair, relocation or d...
Boat Dock Permits
A dock on a waterway in unincorporated Orange County needs a dock construction permit from the county's Environmental Protection Division. Under § 15-342, the structure must stay open to the environment with no opaque walls, and its terminal platform is capped at twelve times the linear shoreline frontage, up to 1,000 square feet.
Orange County Dock Construction Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsOrange County Code § 15-342(a)(1),(5)
(a)To obtain a dock construction permit, the following criteria must be satisfied:(1)The dock must be designed and constructed to be open to the environment and without opaque walls, solid panels, or fencing, except for partial walls less than thirty-six (36) inches in height. ... (5)The maximum allowable square footage of the terminal platform is the calculation of twelve (12) times the linear...
Flood Elevation Requirements
In unincorporated Orange County, a manufactured home that is placed, replaced, or substantially improved in a flood hazard area must have the bottom of its frame elevated to at least 48 inches above grade or one foot above base flood elevation, whichever is higher. The Floodplain Administrator enforces the standard under Code § 19-114.
Orange County Manufactured Home Flood Elevation Rule
Some RestrictionsOrange County Code § 19-114
Manufactured homes that are placed, replaced, or substantially improved shall be elevated such that the bottom of the frame is at or above forty-eight (48) inches above grade or base flood elevation plus one (1) foot, whichever is greater.
Environmental Rules by City in Orange County
2 cities in Orange County have their own environmental rules rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Orange County ordinances
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