Broward County, FL Tree Protection: Heritage & Protected Trees (2026)
Key Facts
- Designating body
- Board of County Commissioners
- Age threshold
- At least 75 years old
- Removal without approval
- Prohibited under § 27-405(a)
- Who may request designation
- Owner, agency, or preservation society
- County authority
- Kept even in certified municipalities
Summary
Broward County's Board of County Commissioners designates historical trees under Code § 27-412, and § 27-405 bans removing any designated historical tree without prior Board approval, even inside certified municipalities.
The Board shall only designate as an historical tree, a tree or group of trees that meet the following criteria: (1) The tree is located on historically significant property and is related to an historic event; or (2) The tree is uniquely related to the heritage of Broward County; or (3) The tree is at least seventy-five (75) years old.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 72 | Administrative Code: Supplement 28).
Full Breakdown
The Board may designate a tree or group of trees 'historical' if it sits on historically significant property tied to a specific event, is uniquely linked to Broward County's heritage, or is at least 75 years old. A state, county, or municipal agency, a Board-designated historical preservation society, or a property owner (for trees on their own land) requests the designation in writing to the County Administrator, which triggers a noticed County Commission hearing and vote. Once a tree is designated, removing it requires separate Board approval under § 27-405, and the county keeps direct enforcement authority over historic trees even within municipalities that otherwise run their own certified tree preservation program.
Violations & Fines
Removing, cutting down, or effectively destroying a designated historical tree without first obtaining Board of County Commissioners approval violates § 27-405(a); Broward's Public Works and Environmental Services Department (PWESD) enforces this even inside a certified municipality.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I remove a historical tree from my own Broward County property?
How does a tree get Broward County's 'historical' designation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Broward County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Broward County to another location·View the Florida tree protection overview
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