Highlands County, FL Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)
Key Facts
- Adopted statute
- F.S. § 337.405, tree removal/damage in ROW
- Permit required
- County utility maintenance permit
- Purpose limit
- Safe operation of utility facilities only
- Method standard
- Modern arboriculture, tree-health emphasis
- Wireless facility rule
- No tree removal for signal/line-of-sight, § 12.14.329
Summary
Trees growing in county road rights-of-way in unincorporated Highlands County cannot be cut or damaged except for utility maintenance, and even then only through a county permit and proper arborist technique. Highlands County Code § 12.14.314 adopts the state tree-protection statute for county roads and folds trimming into the county's utility maintenance permit system.
F.S. § 337.405, which regulates the removal or damage to trees in state, right-of-way, is hereby adopted to regulate such removal or damage to trees in county rights-of-way. The trimming of trees where required to ensure and maintain the safe operation of utility facilities is authorized by a county utility maintenance permit, providing such trimming is performed in accordance with recognized and approved principles of modern arboriculture methods with emphasis on tree health. Such trimming shall not damage trees and shrubs that are intended to remain in the work area. All waste and debris associated with the trimming shall be removed from county rights-of-way unless otherwise approved in writing by the county engineer.
Full Breakdown
405, the statute that regulates removal of or damage to trees in state road rights-of-way, to govern tree removal or damage in Highlands County road rights-of-way as well. Trimming is only authorized where it is required to ensure and maintain the safe operation of utility facilities, and it must be done under a county utility maintenance permit and follow recognized, approved principles of modern arboriculture with an emphasis on tree health; the crew doing the work cannot damage trees and shrubs meant to remain in the work area, and all trimming waste and debris must be hauled off the right-of-way unless the county engineer approves otherwise in writing.
313 bans removing, cutting, marring, defacing or destroying any vegetation in county rights-of-way unless a utility permit or the county engineer specifically authorizes it, and requires 48 hours' notice before any vegetation work begins. 316 lets the county engineer authorize chemical vegetation control on a site-specific basis with detailed reporting requirements. 314.
Violations & Fines
Trimming or removing right-of-way trees outside a valid utility maintenance permit, or trimming that damages trees meant to remain, is treated as unauthorized vegetation removal under section 12.14.313, which the county engineer polices alongside the permit conditions attached to blanket utility maintenance permits under section 12.14.310, including the authority to issue an immediate stop-work order for permit violations until the operation is brought back into compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a utility company trim trees in the county right-of-way in front of my house?
Does state law or county law control tree removal in a Highlands County road right-of-way?
Can a cell carrier cut down a right-of-way tree to improve a small wireless facility's signal?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Highlands County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Highlands County to another location·View the Florida landscaping rules overview
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