Tree Protection in Orange County, FL (2026)
3 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Orange County, Florida.
Verified from official government sources
Heritage & Protected Trees
Orange County names two species as heritage trees at large diameters: Live Oak at 40 inches DBH and Southern Magnolia at 24 inches DBH, under Code § 15-283(b), in the unincorporated area only. Heritage trees draw the code's strongest tree protections: they cannot be removed within setback or buffer areas, must be worked into single-family subdivision design, and unpermitted removal carries the article's highest per-inch penalty.
Orange County Heritage Tree Protection Rules
Significant RestrictionsOrange County Code § 15-283(b)
(b)Heritage trees. The following tree species at the stated DBH or greater are provided additional regulatory protections consistent with this article:(1)Quercus virginiana (Live Oak), forty (40) inches;(2)Magnolia grandiflora (Southern Magnolia), twenty-four (24) inches.
Protected Tree Species
Orange County gives seven native tree species, including live oak, southern magnolia, and bald cypress, extra protection once they reach a listed trunk diameter, under Section 15-283.
Orange County Specimen Tree Species List
Some RestrictionsOrange County Code § 15-283(a)
(a)Specimen trees. The following tree species at the stated DBH or greater are provided additional regulatory protections, consistent with this article:(1)Quercus virginiana (Live Oak), twenty-four (24) inches;(2)Ulmus alata (Winged Elm), twelve (12) inches;(3)Magnolia grandiflora (Southern Magnolia), eighteen (18) inches;(4)Quercus laevis (Turkey Oak), eighteen (18) inches;(5)Pinus palustris (...
Parkway Planting
In Orange County's Town Center Framework Streets, canopy street trees must be planted roughly every 40 feet with a 6-foot clear trunk and 3-inch caliper, except along Rear Lane streets where none are required.
Orange County Town Center Street Trees
Some RestrictionsOrange County Code § 38-1390.53(c)
(c)Framework Street Trees. Approved canopy Street trees shall be planted within the Furnishing Zone or bulb out planters of Town Center Framework streets as illustrated within subdivision II of this division. With the exception of Rear Lane type streets where street trees are not required, street trees shall be planted along all Framework streets at a maximum average spacing of forty (40) feet ...
Tree Protection by City in Orange County
1 cities in Orange County have their own tree protection rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Orange County ordinances
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