Tree removal permit rules in Okaloosa County, FL — sometimes called heritage tree, protected tree, or street tree ordinances — list which trees require a permit before you can cut them down.
In unincorporated Okaloosa County, single-family and two-family homes are exempt from the tree code, so a homeowner can remove yard trees without a county permit. Removal is regulated mainly at the development and commercial stage. State law also protects removing genuinely dangerous trees.
Okaloosa County's tree removal rule, Land Development Code Section 6.05.13, requires county approval before cutting or removing protected trees, but Section 6.05.011 exempts single-family detached and two-family dwellings, agriculture, and utilities. A typical homeowner therefore needs no county permit to remove a tree in the yard. Protected-tree approval applies to new development, redevelopment, and larger commercial expansions. Florida Statute 163.045 separately bars local governments from requiring a permit to remove a tree that a certified arborist or licensed landscape architect documents as an unacceptable risk. Street and right-of-way trees remain under county control. Incorporated cities like Destin regulate removal separately.
No county penalty applies to a single-family homeowner removing a yard tree. On development sites, removing protected trees without county approval can trigger code enforcement action and required replanting.
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See how Okaloosa County's tree removal & heritage trees rules stack up against other locations.
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