Daytona Beach, FL Tree Protection: Protected Tree Species (2026)
Key Facts
- Specimen tree threshold
- 12 inch DBH or greater
- Historic tree threshold
- 36 inch DBH oak or cypress
- Retention rate
- 50-80% of specimen trees, density-based
- Mitigation ratio
- 2 caliper inches per inch removed
- In-lieu fee
- $1,000-$2,000 per replacement tree
- Historic tree removal
- City Commission approval, hardship required
Summary
Daytona Beach's Land Development Code protects two tiers of trees: specimen trees (12+ inch DBH) and historic trees (36+ inch DBH live oaks, bald cypresses, or City Commission-designated champion trees). Removing a healthy historic tree needs City Commission approval showing hardship, and mitigation follows a strict replacement ratio under LDC Section 6.15.A.
7.Protection of Historic Trees.a.Historic Trees Defined. For the purposes of this Code, a "historic tree" is defined as:i.An existing live oak (Quercus virginiana) or a bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) with a DBH of 36 inches or greater; orii.An existing tree of any species with a DBH of 36 inches or greater that the City Commission determines to be of unique and intrinsic value to the general public because of its size, age, historic association, or ecological value; oriii.Any existing "champion tree" selected and duly designated at the State, national, or world level by the American Forestry Association.b.Protection Required. Except where allowed in subparagraph [c] below, all historic trees subject to this section shall be retained, during and after development, within a tree protection zone established in accordance with Section 6.15.A.8 Tree Protection Zone.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 78 | Land Development Code: Supplement 36).
Full Breakdown
A of the Land Development Code sets two protected classes. 1 to 8 per acre must keep 50 percent, and sites with more than 8 per acre need retain only 4 per acre. A historic tree is a live oak or bald cypress 36 inches DBH or greater, any tree the City Commission designates for its size, age, or ecological value, or a state, national, or world champion tree. Historic trees must remain inside a tree protection zone during and after development. A healthy historic tree can be removed only with City Commission approval, and only if it blocks development of a lot platted before March 1, 2015 in a way that cuts buildable area below what the zoning district otherwise allows, with mitigation provided.
City staff, not the Commission, may approve removal of a severely diseased, high-risk, or dying historic tree on an arborist's certification, appealable to the Commission. Unpermitted damage or removal requires the landowner to submit a restoration plan within two weeks, replacing specimen trees at two caliper inches for every inch removed. Where retention is impractical in redevelopment areas, tourist zoning districts, or the E-Zone, the City accepts an in-lieu fee of $1,000 per replacement tree, rising to $2,000 per tree where utilities are unavailable, deposited into the City's tree reserve account.
Violations & Fines
Removing or damaging a protected specimen or historic tree without a permit stops work immediately once City staff issues notice, and the landowner has two weeks to submit a restoration plan. Failing to fence a required tree protection zone before grading begins is itself a Code violation. Unresolved tree violations carry the same civil citations as other Land Development Code violations: $100 for a first offense, $250 for repeats, up to $500 if contested in county court.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cut down a live oak on my Daytona Beach property?
What counts as a specimen tree under the Land Development Code?
What happens if a builder removes a protected tree without a permit?
Can a dying historic tree be removed without City Commission approval?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Daytona Beach
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Daytona Beach to another location·View the Florida tree protection overview
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Protected Tree Species in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Volusia County handle protected tree species.