Kissimmee, FL Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit trigger
- Any terrain or vegetation alteration
- Small-lot exemption
- Under 2 acres, owner-directed clearing
- Plan detail
- Topography and drainage at 1-ft contours
- Other exemptions
- Nurseries, agriculture, ROW work, emergencies
Summary
Kissimmee requires an early land preparation or site improvement permit before any grading, tree removal, or vegetation clearing, with limited exemptions for small residential lots and agriculture.
An approved early land preparation permit or a city approved site improvement permit is required prior to any alteration of terrain, removal of trees, or removal of vegetative cover from land within the city except for: 1. Residential lots. Alteration of terrain or removal of vegetation on residential lots of less than two acres, except those intended for a townhouse or multiple family housing development, when the alteration or removal is under the specific direction of the resident owner.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 5).
Full Breakdown
Before altering terrain, removing trees, or clearing vegetation anywhere in Kissimmee, a property owner generally needs either an early land preparation permit or a city site improvement permit. The city carves out narrow exemptions: residential lots under two acres cleared under the owner's direction, licensed nurseries and agricultural land in bona fide ag use, work in public rights-of-way, and public safety emergencies. Permit applications must show existing and proposed topography at one-foot contour intervals and existing and proposed drainage patterns, linking the grading permit directly to the city's stormwater and tree-protection review.
Violations & Fines
Clearing, grading, or removing vegetation without the required early land preparation or site improvement permit, outside the narrow residential, agricultural, right-of-way, or emergency exemptions, violates LDC § 14-9-4.A.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to grade my property in Kissimmee?
Is there an exemption for homeowners doing their own yard work?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kissimmee
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