Alachua County, FL Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Alachua County, FL, sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances, list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
Key Facts
- Permit trigger
- Native tree ≥ 8" dbh removal
- Small-lot exemption
- ≤1 acre, no heritage/champion tree
- Heritage tree size
- 20" dbh (30" laurel/water oak)
- Unauthorized removal penalty
- Up to double mitigation rate
- Landmark live oak
- 45" dbh+; BOCC approval only
- Governing code
- ULDC Ch. 406, Art. II
Summary
Alachua County requires a tree removal permit before any regulated tree, native species eight inches or larger in diameter, comes down on unincorporated land, under Alachua County Code § 406.16.2. Lots of record of one acre or less skip mitigation if no champion or heritage tree is removed; clearing a champion or heritage tree, or clearing beyond one acre, triggers permit review and replacement planting under Table 406.15.1.
All construction activity on a lot of record that is to be used for residential purposes is subject to the requirements for tree removal set forth below... (2)A tree removal permit and any associated mitigation are not required on residential lots of record one (1) acre or less provided no champion or heritage trees are removed and all other ULDC requirements are met. If a champion or heritage tree is proposed to be removed, a tree permit is required per the requirements of Subsections (3) and (4) below.(3)Regulated trees less than twenty (20) inches, and water or laurel oaks less than thirty (30) inches, do not require mitigation, provided their removal is restricted to an area of no more than one (1) acre.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 63).
Full Breakdown
12(a)). 11(b)). 2(a)). On residential lots of record of one acre or less, no permit or mitigation is required unless the removal targets a heritage tree (native species 20 inches dbh or larger, or 30 inches for laurel/water oaks) or a champion tree, those always need a permit. Clearing beyond one acre on a lot requires a tree survey and protection plan. Heritage trees removed within 20 feet of a new residence's footprint get mitigation cut in half if rated 3-5 on the county's tree-condition scale; heritage trees within 10 feet of an existing structure and causing damage require one-for-one replacement.
Landmark live oaks, 45 inches dbh or larger and rated 4 or higher, can only be removed with Board of County Commissioners approval, after the applicant shows the project cannot go anywhere else on the site. 2(c)).
Violations & Fines
Removing or damaging a regulated tree without a permit, or destroying a tree that a permit required to be preserved, makes the offending party replace it at up to double the standard mitigation rate under § 406.15(a) (§ 406.16.3). The county can also refer ULDC violations to Code Enforcement under Florida Statutes Chapter 162 and Alachua County Code Chapter 24, issue citations, order a stop-work order, and withhold or revoke permits until the violation is corrected (§ 409.04).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to cut down a tree on my Alachua County property?
What counts as a heritage tree in Alachua County?
What happens if I remove a tree without getting a permit first?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Alachua County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Alachua County to another location·View the Florida landscaping rules overview
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