- By MIKE CAMUNAS, Tampa Beacon
- Jul 21, 2025 Updated Jul 21, 2025
LAND O’ LAKES — County commissioners unanimously approved updates to the county's tree preservation ordinance July 15, raising fees developers must pay when removing trees for construction projects.
The five-member board voted to amend Section 802 — the county's Tree Mitigation Fund ordinance — which governs tree preservation and removal countywide. Commissioners discussed the changes at length before approving the resolution.
The ordinance, in place for more than 20 years, now requires developers to pay $75 per inch of trunk diameter when removing trees, up from the previous $50 per inch. For Heritage Trees — defined as live oaks 34 inches or larger in diameter or Southern magnolias 24 inches or larger — the fee increases to $150 per inch.
The updated ordinance states that when "a site cannot accommodate the total number of replacement trees required by the LDC (Land Development Code) because of insufficient planting area, the applicant shall provide a monetary contribution to the Tree Mitigation Fund of $75 per inch. For trees classified as a Heritage Tree, a payment of $150 per inch is required."
The ordinance still encourages tree retention but acknowledges that "tree removal is often an inevitable part of development and as such, replacement of tree canopy is often a necessary and preferred alternative."
The board also amended how the Tree Mitigation Fund money can be spent. The county administrator can now release up to $200,000 per request without board approval. Larger expenditures require commissioners' approval.
After discussion, the board added palm trees to the Heritage Tree classification.
The changes follow a June 5 Planning Commission workshop where residents voiced concerns about tree preservation in rapidly developing communities. Many speakers criticized developers for clear-cutting properties rather than preserving existing trees or implementing mitigation measures.
County leaders acknowledged that newer communities lack the tree canopies that provide shade for streets and homes in older neighborhoods.
The updated ordinance allows Tree Mitigation Fund money to be spent on county-owned land, to assist homeowners and affordable housing projects serving residents earning 80% of area median income or below, to support redevelopment through the Economic Growth Landscaping Program, to help Pasco County schools improve their campuses, and for other public purposes that increase tree canopy coverage.
