Ocala, FL Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Ocala, 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
- Governing sections
- Ocala Code §§ 118-32, 118-71
- Protected threshold
- 4 inches DBH or larger
- Permitting department
- Building, Zoning and Licensing
- Exceptions
- 5 listed, e.g. small R-1 lots, nurseries
- Penalty basis
- Each removed tree a separate violation
Summary
In the City of Ocala, cutting, moving or destroying any tree four inches or more in diameter at breast height is unlawful without a tree removal permit under Sec. 118-71(a). The Building, Zoning and Licensing Department issues the permit, and Sec. 118-71(b) lists five narrow exceptions, including small owner-occupied residential lots and licensed nurseries.
Regulated tree. All existing trees four inches DBH or larger are protected and regulated under the terms of this article. ... (a)Subject to the exceptions of subsection (b) of this section, it shall be unlawful for any person to cut down, move, transplant, remove or destroy through damaging any tree as defined in this article, or to authorize such acts to be done, without obtaining a tree removal permit.(b)The following exceptions, and no others, shall be permitted in the manner prescribed:(1)Removal of trees on an individual parcel of record less than three acres in size (130,680 square feet) in an R-1 zoning district in connection with construction of, or subsequent to construction and during use and occupancy of, a one-family dwelling on the parcel, when the owner does not own, directly or indirectly, any adjoining property, another lot in the same subdivision, or another parcel or tract lying within 660 feet of the individual parcel of record, shall be exempt from this article.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 118 of the Ocala Code protects every 'regulated tree,' defined in Sec. 118-32 as any existing tree four inches or larger in diameter at breast height (DBH), measured six inches above the soil line for trees up to four inches and 12 inches above the soil line for larger trees. Sec. 118-71(a) makes it unlawful to cut down, move, transplant, remove, or destroy through damaging any such tree, or to authorize that work, without first obtaining a tree removal permit from the building department.
Sec. 118-71(b) lists five exceptions, and no others: removal on an individual parcel of record under three acres (130,680 square feet) in an R-1 district tied to a one-family dwelling, where the owner holds no adjoining property or nearby parcel within 660 feet; state-licensed nurseries and botanical gardens growing trees for sale; active commercial groves for bona fide agricultural purposes; cutting traditional Christmas trees for indoor decoration; and clearing underbrush or trees under four inches DBH. Applications go through the building department on a city form naming the project and any contractors, per Sec.
118-72, and larger developments must go through the site plan review and tree preservation process in Sec. 118-73, including a tree survey and, where relevant, staking proposed improvements for the planning director's review. The planning director administers the article overall under Sec. 118-51, with the city engineer's assistance.
Violations & Fines
Sec. 118-53(f) treats unpermitted removal or destruction as a code violation: the building department issues a stop-work order, the owner, developer, subcontractor or agent is cited to the municipal code enforcement board or special magistrate, and each tree unlawfully destroyed or removed counts as a separate violation. A certificate of occupancy is withheld until an approved restoration plan is implemented, per Sec. 1-9's general penalty provision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to remove a tree in the City of Ocala?
Can I remove trees on my own lot in Ocala without a permit?
What happens if I remove a protected tree in Ocala without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ocala
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