Landscaping Rules in Orange County, FL (2026)
6 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 2 cities in Orange County, Florida.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Trimming
Florida §163.045 preempts most local tree trimming rules for residential properties. Orange County cannot require permits or documentation to prune trees on your own residence, though arboricultural standards still apply.
Landscaping: Tree Trimming
Few RestrictionsFla. Stat. § 163.045
F.S. 163.045 163.045 Tree pruning, trimming, or removal on residential property. — (1) For purposes of this section, the term: (a) "Documentation" means an onsite assessment performed in accordance with the tree risk assessment procedures outlined in Best Management Practices - Tree Risk Assessment, Second Edition (2017) by an arborist certified by the International Society of Arboriculture ...
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
Under FL §163.045, Orange County cannot require permits to remove residential trees when a certified arborist documents a danger. Specimen tree replacement may still apply for non-danger removals in some zones.
Landscaping: Tree Removal
Few RestrictionsFla. Stat. § 163.045
F.S. 163.045 163.045 Tree pruning, trimming, or removal on residential property. — (1) For purposes of this section, the term: (a) "Documentation" means an onsite assessment performed in accordance with the tree risk assessment procedures outlined in Best Management Practices - Tree Risk Assessment, Second Edition (2017) by an arborist certified by the International Society of Arboriculture ...
Weed Ordinances
In unincorporated Orange County, grass, weeds, or brush that reaches 18 inches is legally "excessive growth," and the property's owner, agent, custodian, lessee, or occupant must cut, trim, or remove it or face escalating code enforcement fines.
Orange County 18-Inch Grass Limit
Some RestrictionsOrange County Code §§ 28-31, 28-34
Excessive growth shall mean, grass, weeds or brush that has reached a height of at least eighteen (18) inches. ... Subject to subsection (b), no owner, agent, custodian, lessee or occupant of property utilized or zoned for residential, professional office, commercial, or industrial use shall permit the excessive growth of grass, weeds, or brush on any exterior portion of the property.
Water Restrictions
Orange County restricts landscape irrigation to two set days a week by address parity, banning watering between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., under the county's year-round water conservation rules for unincorporated and non-exempt areas.
Orange County Lawn Watering Day Restrictions
Some RestrictionsOrange County Code § 37-604
When Daylight Saving Time is in effect, landscape irrigation shall not occur except in accordance with the following irrigation schedule:(1)Residential landscape irrigation at odd-numbered addresses or no address may occur only on Wednesday and Saturday and shall not occur between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.; and(2)Residential landscape irrigation at even-numbered addresses may occur only on Thurs...
Native Plants
Orange County can't stop a property owner from replacing turf with native or Florida-friendly plants: § 24-6(b)(6) says nothing in the county's water-efficient landscaping ordinance may be enforced to prohibit county-approved low impact development or Florida-friendly landscaping on private land. The same section requires commercial site plans to group plants into high, moderate and low water-use zones so mandatory landscaping actually uses less irrigation.
Orange County Florida-Friendly Landscaping Rule
Few RestrictionsOrange County Code § 24-6(a), (b), (b)(6)
(a)Purpose. Because water restrictions have become a common occurrence in Central Florida, the county is incorporating water-efficient landscape standards into this section.(b)Water-efficient design. The following water-efficient principles shall be considered when designing a 40/40/20 landscape plan as described in section 24-4 of this Code: ... (6)Nothing in this ordinance shall be construed ...
Composting
Unincorporated Orange County residents may compost yard waste, but only in a proper bin: two bins per lot maximum, screened from view, never in the front yard, and kept 10 feet off side and rear lines.
Orange County Compost Bin Standards
Some RestrictionsOrange County Code § 28-35
Accumulations of nonliving plant material may be permitted to remain on property utilized or zoned for residential, professional office, commercial, or industrial use provided that such debris is stored in a compost bin. No more than two (2) compost bins per primary structure shall be allowed to remain on on any particular lot, tract or parcel of property. In addition, the area surrounding any ...
Landscaping Rules by City in Orange County
2 cities in Orange County have their own landscaping rules rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Orange County ordinances
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