Brevard County, FL Tree Protection: Protected Tree Species (2026)
Key Facts
- Hardwood threshold
- 10 inches dbh (14 for pines)
- Specimen tree threshold
- 24 inches dbh for large species
- Small-lot exemption
- Full exemption at 1.25 acres or less
- Enforcing agency
- Natural Resources Management Office (NRMO)
- Scope
- Unincorporated Brevard only, not the cities
Summary
Brevard County protects hardwoods 10+ inches dbh, pines 14+ inches dbh, and specimen trees 24+ inches dbh from removal during development in unincorporated areas; a land clearing permit and preservation plan are required unless the lot is exempt.
Protected tree means, with the exception of nonnative invasive or undesirable plants, a hardwood tree having dbh of ten inches or greater located on the mainland or Merit Island or having a dbh of 1.5 inches on the barrier island; or a softwood tree, such as a pine, having a dbh of 14 inches or greater or 1.5 inches on the barrier island.
Recognized knowledgeable person means an individual knowledgeable in the identification and evaluation of vegetative resources, such as a forester, biologist, ecologist, horticulturist, Florida registered landscape architect, licensed landscape contractor, certified International Society of Arboriculture arborist, certified nurseryman, Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association Certified Landscape Designer or a person having acceptable experience. Acceptable experience shall include a minimum of a four-year degree in horticulture, ecology, forestry, botany, landscape architecture or a minimum of four years of fulltime experience in the identification and evaluation of vegetative resources.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 135).
Full Breakdown
Brevard County's Natural Resources Management Office enforces tree preservation under Chapter 62 of the county code. A 'protected tree' is any hardwood 10 inches dbh or more (14 inches for pines); a 'specimen tree' is a large hardwood or softwood 24 inches dbh or greater, or an understory tree 10 inches dbh or greater. Development must preserve protected trees and get a land clearing permit unless exempt: single-family lots of 1.25 acres or less are fully exempt, and lots up to 2.5 acres are exempt from most standards but must still protect specimen trees. The rules apply only in unincorporated Brevard, not Palm Bay, Melbourne, Titusville, Cocoa, or other cities with their own codes.
Violations & Fines
Violations are punished under § 62-5 and § 1-7; each quarter acre of illegal clearing, and each protected tree removed, counts as a separate offense, plus mandatory restoration and possible stop-work orders.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this apply inside Palm Bay or Melbourne?
Can I remove a protected tree on my property?
Can I remove a dead or hazardous tree without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Brevard County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Brevard County to another location·View the Florida tree protection overview
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