Deltona, FL Tree Protection: Heritage & Protected Trees (2026)
Key Facts
- Approval authority
- city commission vote required
- Review path
- staff report then commission hearing
- Applies to
- designated historic trees
- Related tier
- specimen trees need staff permit
Summary
Historic trees in Deltona can only be removed with a tree permit granted directly by the city commission, a higher bar than the staff-level review used for ordinary trees.
Historic trees shall only be removed upon approval of a tree permit granted by the city commission.1.The tree permit application shall be filed, processed and reviewed in accordance with this section and section 98-30(a)(1).2.The city environmental staff shall send his report and recommendation on the application to the planning and development services department within 15 working days of receipt of the application from the planning and development services department.3.The planning and development services director or his/her designee shall prepare and submit a report on the application, including the city environmental staff's recommendation, to the city manager's office for inclusion on the next available city commission agenda.4.The city commission shall consider the report and shall approve, approve with conditions or deny the application. The report of the city commission action shall be transmitted back to the planning and development services department, stating any reasons for denial or conditions.5.Upon receipt of the city commission actions the planning and development services director or his/her designee shall immediately act pursuant to section 98-30(a)(2)b. concerning issuance of the tree permit.b.Specimen trees. Specimen trees shall only be removed upon the granting of a tree permit issued, as provided in this article, by the city environmental staff, upon compliance with the following requirements: Table 98-2: Requirements to Remove Specimen Trees
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 31 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Deltona's tree code singles out historic trees for the strictest review in the city. While most tree removal permits are decided by city environmental staff, an application to remove a historic tree must go through staff review and a recommendation, then land on the city commission's agenda for a public vote to approve, approve with conditions, or deny. Specimen trees get a similar staff-level protection tier, requiring minimum retention percentages by density, but only historic trees require full commission approval before removal.
Violations & Fines
Cutting down a historic tree without city commission approval violates the tree code and exposes the property owner to the city's general penalty: civil citations up to $500 or escalating administrative fines up to $15,000 per day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who decides if a historic tree can be removed in Deltona?
Are specimen trees the same as historic trees?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Deltona
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Deltona to another location·View the Florida tree protection overview
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Heritage & Protected Trees in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Volusia County handle heritage & protected trees.