Volusia County, FL Landscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage Trees (2026)
Tree removal permit rules in Volusia 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
- Governing section
- County Code § 72-834(2)
- Permit authority
- County forester, land development division
- Review time
- 15 working days after application transmittal
- Violation penalty
- 150% cross-sectional-area replacement, not 15%
- Key exemption
- Owner-occupied single-family lots (not historic trees)
Summary
No tree in unincorporated Volusia County comes down without a permit from the county forester first. County Code § 72-834(2) bars removing any tree without a tree removal permit, and historical trees need Development Review Committee sign-off on top of that under § 72-834(1).
Unless otherwise authorized by this division, no person shall cause, suffer, permit or allow: (1)The removal of any historical tree without first obtaining approval from the DRC to conduct the removal.(2)The removal of any tree without first obtaining a tree removal permit from the county forester as herein provided.(3)Any encroachments, excavations, or change of the natural grade within the drip line of a tree unless it can be demonstrated to the county forester prior to the commencement of said activity, that the activity will not negatively impact any tree.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 108 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Division 10 of the Land Development Code, the tree preservation ordinance (Ord. No. 02-13, § I, 7-18-02), applies countywide in the unincorporated area and requires a permit from the county forester before any tree is removed, plus DRC approval specifically for historical trees. Section 72-834 also bars encroachment, excavation or regrading within a tree's drip line unless the applicant first shows the county forester the activity won't harm the tree, and requires a visible protective barrier around the drip line whenever heavy equipment operates nearby or land is cleared.
Storing materials or equipment within the drip line is likewise prohibited. Permit applications go through the land development division on a county-approved form with a nonrefundable fee set by the county council, plus a property boundary survey (§ 72-836). The county forester has 15 working days to review. Not every tree needs a permit: § 72-835 exempts nuisance and deteriorated trees, trees on owner-occupied single-family or two-family lots (except historic trees), qualifying agricultural land, trees within existing rights-of-way that threaten traffic visibility or utilities, nursery stock grown for sale, and routine utility-company clearing with 15 days' written notice to the owner and county forester.
Once a permit issues, § 72-838 still requires the lot to carry at least one tree per 2,500 square feet of lot area, with replacement trees required to make up any shortfall.
Violations & Fines
Violating the tree preservation division is punishable as provided in Chapter 1, § 1-7 of the County Code (§ 72-832(a)). Beyond that general penalty, the county forester can order a violator to replace the removed tree at 150 percent of its original cross-sectional area, planted within 90 days of permit issuance, rather than the standard 15 percent mitigation ratio that applies to a lawfully permitted removal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cut down a tree on my property in unincorporated Volusia County?
What if I remove a protected tree without a permit?
Do I need a permit to disturb the ground near a tree's roots?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Volusia County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Volusia County to another location·View the Florida landscaping rules overview
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