Okaloosa County has no separate heritage or landmark tree program. Instead, large native trees, including live oak, laurel oak, and sweet gum at 12-inch trunk diameter, are protected on development sites. Single-family homes are exempt, and state law protects removing dangerous trees.
Rather than a named heritage-tree ordinance, Okaloosa County protects significant trees through the tiered protected list in Land Development Code Section 6.05.033. The large-tree category, requiring county approval before removal on development sites, includes live oak, laurel oak, water oak, sweet gum, sycamore, pecan, and red maple at 12-inch trunk diameter or more, with bald cypress and white oak on the replant list. Section 6.05.011 exempts single-family and two-family homes, so a homeowner is not bound by these limits. Florida Statute 163.045 further bars any permit requirement to remove a tree a certified arborist documents as an unacceptable risk to people or property.
Removing a protected large tree on a regulated development site without county approval can trigger code enforcement and replanting. No penalty applies to a homeowner on an exempt single-family lot.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Okaloosa County, FL
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Okaloosa County, FL
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Okaloosa County, FL
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Okaloosa County, FL
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See how Okaloosa County's heritage & protected trees rules stack up against other locations.
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