Orange County, FL Tree Protection: Heritage & Protected Trees (2026)

Orange County Code § 15-283(b) sets the heritage-tree threshold at two species: Quercus virginiana (Live Oak) at forty inches DBH or greater, and Magnolia grandiflora (Southern Magnolia) at twenty-four inches DBH or greater. Section 15-277 defines a heritage tree as one meeting that size and species list. Removing, destroying or permanently injuring a regulated tree, including a heritage tree, without a tree removal permit is unlawful under § 15-278(a), and the article applies only within the unincorporated areas of the county under § 15-280, so it does not reach Orlando or the county's incorporated cities.

During development, § 15-302(d)(1) and § 15-305(a)(1) bar removing heritage trees within property-line setback areas or buffer areas, including wetland buffers, and § 15-302(d)(3) requires heritage trees to be incorporated into the design of any single-family residential preliminary subdivision plan. Preservation is capped at three heritage/specimen trees per developable acre under § 15-302(d)(4). Under construction, § 15-282(c)(1) requires a protective barrier of immovable chain-link fencing with silt fencing around the drip line of any heritage tree being preserved, with bilingual signage warning the tree is protected.

sets a five-to-one replacement ratio: five caliper inches of new canopy planted for every DBH inch removed, the highest ratio in the article (specimen trees are 3:1, ordinary regulated trees 1:1). A property owner may seek a deviation from the zoning manager for substantial economic hardship, or a variance from the Board of Zoning Adjustment or Development Review Committee to preserve a heritage tree, under § 15-281(a)-(b).