Orange County, FL Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required for
- land clearing, mass grading, fill, excavation
- Issued by
- Zoning Division, tied to development plan
- Standalone grading permits
- not issued without development plan
- Max penalty
- $500 per offense (Sec. 15-284)
- Applies to
- unincorporated Orange County only
Summary
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.
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 part of the approval of a development plan for site development and not as an individual permit or development plan to clear land that does not detail the development of the site.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 128).
Full Breakdown
Before any land clearing, mass grading, fill, or excavation begins in unincorporated Orange County, the property owner must secure all applicable development approvals, including a tree removal permit from the zoning division and either a preliminary subdivision plan or development plan approval with concurrent tree removal approval. Mass grading permits are issued only as part of an approved development plan for site development: the code bars issuing one as a standalone permit to clear land that does not detail how the site will be developed. This applies only outside Orlando and the county's other incorporated cities.
Violations & Fines
Grading or clearing without the required approvals is enforced as a code violation under Chapter 11, carrying a penalty of up to $500 per offense plus mandatory restoration under Sec. 15-284.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a grading permit without a development plan in Orange County?
Does this rule apply inside Orlando?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Orange County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Orange County to another location·View the Florida environmental rules overview
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