Skip to main content
CityRuleLookup

Citrus County, FL Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Minimum spacing
20 feet, 30-40 feet preferred
Tree well size
4 ft x 4 ft x 3.5 ft deep minimum
Planter strip width
5 feet minimum
Applies to
Town Center Plan Overlay PUDs only
Approval path
PDC review, BOCC public hearing
Enforcement
Code Compliance Special Master, F.S. Ch. 162

Summary

Citrus County's Land Development Code sets street tree planting standards for any parcel approved as a Town Center Plan Overlay, a planned-unit-development option for unincorporated commercial nodes. Trees must stand at least 20 feet apart, with 30 to 40 feet preferred, and go into a tree well at least 4 feet by 4 feet by 3.5 feet deep or a planter strip at least 5 feet wide. The rule governs unincorporated county land only, not Crystal River or Inverness.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Citrus County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

B. Street Trees.

1. Spacing. Street trees shall not be spaced less than 20 feet apart. Preferred spacing is 30 to 40 feet. Consideration shall be made for driveways, street light, utility poles, underground utilities, traffic light poles and other obstructions. Consideration shall also be made for future placement of trees in front of adjacent properties.

2. Street trees shall be planted in tree wells or a planter strip underlain by soil, providing enhanced growth and survivability rates.

a. Tree wells. Tree wells shall be a minimum of 4 feet long x 4 feet wide x 3.5 feet deep below the ground surface. Larger wells are recommended and could be connected together as a continuous planting pit. Tree well design should be dictated by tree species. Tree wells shall be covered by tree grates or by similar paver grates.

b. Planter strip. Planter strips shall not be less than 5 feet wide. If located along a parking stall or stalls, it may be covered similar to a tree well.

Full Breakdown

Under LDC Chapter Three, Section 3409(B), Street Trees, spacing may not fall below 20 feet, and the code calls out driveways, street lights, utility poles, underground utilities and traffic signal poles as obstructions the planting plan must work around, plus room for future trees on adjoining lots. 5 feet deep, covered with a tree grate or similar paver grate, or a planter strip at least 5 feet wide (which may double as parking-stall cover). Species must suit the site's subsurface growing conditions, and native species are encouraged from a county-maintained list referenced elsewhere in the LDC.

Section 3409(A) separately requires that existing 'specimen' trees, a defined LDC term, be retained and worked into the street design where practical; removing one without meeting the standard triggers the LDC's tree mitigation requirements. This entire chapter only applies where a landowner has sought and received Town Center Plan Overlay approval, a Planned Unit Development track under LDC Section 3400 reviewed by the Planning and Development Commission (PDC) and approved by the Board of County Commissioners at public hearing; it does not set a general street-tree rule for every unincorporated subdivision, and it never reaches inside the separately coded cities of Crystal River or Inverness. The chapter is current through Ordinance 2026-A16, adopted June 22, 2026.

Violations & Fines

LDC Section 1800(D) lets the county refer an uncorrected planting or spacing violation to the Citrus County Code Compliance Special Master under Florida Statutes Chapter 162 and Chapter 19 of the County Code, or issue a citation under the same authority. The county can also withhold or revoke future permits and approvals on the site until the violation is fixed, and may seek a civil injunction to compel replanting or restoration to the pre-violation condition.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this street tree rule apply across unincorporated Citrus County?
No. It only governs parcels approved under the Town Center Plan Overlay, a PUD process set out in LDC Section 3400 that requires Planning and Development Commission review and a Board of County Commissioners public hearing. Land outside an approved overlay, and land inside Crystal River or Inverness, is not covered by this specific street tree standard.
What happens to existing trees on a Town Center Plan site?
LDC Section 3409(A) requires existing trees, especially LDC-defined 'specimen' trees, to be retained and incorporated into the street design wherever practical. Removing a specimen tree without meeting that standard triggers the mitigation requirements found elsewhere in the Land Development Code.
Can a tree well be smaller than the code minimum to save space?
No, LDC Section 3409(B)(2)(a) sets 4 feet by 4 feet by 3.5 feet deep as the minimum tree well size, though the code recommends larger wells and allows connecting several into one continuous planting pit. A planter strip alternative must still be at least 5 feet wide.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Citrus County

All Citrus County rules

Florida rules heatmap·Compare Citrus County to another location·View the Florida tree protection overview

Get notified when Parkway Planting in Citrus County, FL changes

We'll email you the moment we detect a change in the code. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We'll never sell or share your email. One-click unsubscribe in every email.

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.