Pasco LDC Β§603 designates Specimen trees (24 inch+ DBH live oak, cypress, longleaf pine, magnolia) with the highest protection. Removal requires BCC approval and 3:1 mitigation except under FL Β§163.045 danger exemption.
Pasco County Land Development Code Section 603 classifies trees as Protected (4-12 inch DBH), Grand (12-24 inch DBH), and Specimen (24 inch+ DBH or historically/ecologically significant). Specimen trees β particularly live oaks, bald cypress, longleaf pine, Southern magnolia, and cabbage palm clusters β receive the strongest protection. Removal of a Specimen tree requires Board of County Commissioners approval, a certified arborist report, and typically 3:1 replacement mitigation or equivalent fee-in-lieu payment to the Pasco Tree Bank. Construction near Specimen trees requires tree protection fencing at the critical root zone (1 ft radius per 1 inch DBH) under LDC Β§603.4. Florida Statute Β§163.045 still applies β a certified arborist can document a Specimen tree as an unacceptable danger and remove it without county approval, but documentation must be retained for 5 years.
Unauthorized Specimen tree removal: $5,000-$25,000 per tree under LDC Β§603.6 plus 3:1 replacement. Root zone damage during construction: $1,000-$10,000 plus remediation and monitoring. Stop-work order and potential liens.
Pasco County, FL
Pasco County unincorporated areas generally permit overnight on-street parking on residential roads, though vehicles must not obstruct traffic, sightlines, o...
Pasco County, FL
Pasco County prohibits abandoned, wrecked, or inoperable vehicles on public or private property. Vehicles without current registration or left 72+ hours on p...
Pasco County, FL
Pasco County requires building permits for retaining walls over 3 feet in height or walls retaining surcharge loads. Engineered plans by a Florida-licensed P...
Pasco County, FL
Pasco County Land Development Code permits wood, vinyl, aluminum, wrought iron, masonry, and chain-link fences in residential zones. Barbed wire is prohibite...
Pasco County, FL
Pasco County fire code requires vegetation management around structures, especially in wildland-urban interface areas of east Pasco (Dade City, San Antonio, ...
Pasco County, FL
Florida does not use California-style wildfire hazard zones, but Pasco County has significant wildland-urban interface risk. Florida Forest Service issues bu...
See how Pasco County's heritage & protected trees rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.