Indian River County, FL Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Indian River 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
- SFR ≤1 acre
- Permit-exempt (Ch. 927)
- Residential hazard
- Preempted, Fla. Stat. 163.045
- Needed
- Arborist risk documentation
- Mangroves/dunes
- Still protected
Summary
Removing a tree on your Indian River County home is largely protected: single-family lots of an acre or less are exempt from county permits, and Florida Statute 163.045 bars any permit or mitigation for a documented hazard tree. Mangroves and development sites are separate.
A local government may not require a notice, application, approval, permit, fee, or mitigation for the pruning, trimming, or removal of a tree on a residential property if the property owner possesses documentation from an arborist certified by the ISA or a Florida licensed landscape architect that the tree poses an unacceptable risk to persons or property.
Full Breakdown
Indian River County's Chapter 927 requires a tree removal permit for protected and specimen trees, but a single-family residential lot of one acre or less is exempt unless the work involves mangroves or dune vegetation. Florida Statute 163.045 preempts even further: the county may not require a notice, permit, fee, or mitigation to remove a residential tree once an ISA-certified arborist or Florida-licensed landscape architect documents that it poses an unacceptable risk to persons or property. Development parcels, non-residential sites, and right-of-way trees still fall under county review, and mangroves along the Indian River Lagoon remain state-protected.
Violations & Fines
Documented residential removal carries no county penalty. Removing a protected or specimen tree on a development or non-residential site without a Chapter 927 permit brings stop orders, replacement, and fines. Mangrove and dune violations bring state enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to remove a tree at my house?
Does the county still regulate any removals?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Indian River County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Indian River County to another location·View the Florida landscaping rules overview
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