Removal of a Specimen (18-inch DBH or greater) or Majestic (36-inch DBH or greater) tree under Hernando County Code § 10-23, or removal of any required Chapter 10 landscape tree, generally triggers replacement. For commercial projects, § 10-23 requires a minimum of fifteen (15) trees per acre, including at least five (5) shade trees. Replacement is scaled to the DBH of the removed tree and inspected as a condition of permit closeout. FS 163.045-exempt hazardous-tree removals on single-family residential lots are NOT subject to County replacement requirements when proper ISA-certified arborist documentation is retained.
Hernando County Code Chapter 10 (Community Appearance), Article II (Landscaping) provides the substantive replacement framework. Section 10-23 (Tree Preservation) requires commercial projects to retain or install a minimum of 15 trees per acre with at least 5 shade trees, and obliges Majestic trees (36-inch DBH or greater) to be preserved. Section 10-26 governs Vegetative Buffer Requirements (perimeter buffer plantings between incompatible land uses). Section 10-29 sets Residential Lot Landscaping Requirements for new residential construction. Replacement plantings for protected trees are typically calibrated to the DBH of the removed tree (inch-for-inch or proportionate replacement of equivalent caliper inches), drawn from native or Florida-Friendly species suitable to USDA Zone 9a/9b. Replacements are inspected as a condition of permit closeout and Certificate of Occupancy. Mangroves are not replaceable under Chapter 10 — mangrove trimming or removal is permitted separately by FDEP under FS 403.9321-403.9333. FS 163.045-exempt removals on single-family residential lots (with on-site ISA-certified arborist or FL landscape architect documentation under ISA BMP Tree Risk Assessment, 2nd Ed., 2017) are NOT subject to County replacement requirements.
Failure to install required replacement trees voids the underlying Land Clearing Permit under § 10-22 and blocks issuance of the Certificate of Occupancy for new construction. Existing owners can be cited by Code Enforcement under Chapter 10 with mandatory installation and Code Enforcement Magistrate fines under Chapter 2. Replacement trees that die within the County's establishment period can shift replacement liability back to the owner.
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