Do You Need a Tree Removal Permit in DeLand? (2026)

Whether you need a permit to remove a tree in DeLand, Florida depends on three things: whether the property is inside city limits or in unincorporated Volusia County, the tree's size and species, and whether it is classed as protected or historic. The two governments run separate rules. This guide explains who to call and what to ask. It does not quote thresholds, fees or fines, because those are set by ordinance and change.

When Is a Permit Required in DeLand, Florida?

A tree removal permit in DeLand is usually required when the tree is a protected species above the local size threshold or stands in a regulated area. Which threshold applies depends on whether the lot is inside city limits or in unincorporated Volusia County, so the first step is finding out which government has jurisdiction.

A DeLand mailing address does not settle that. Plenty of 32720 and 32724 addresses sit outside the city boundary. The Volusia County Property Appraiser's record for the parcel shows the taxing authority, which tells you whether the city or the county regulates the lot.

City of DeLand Tree Removal Permit Rules

The City of DeLand regulates tree removal to keep its canopy, including the live oaks downtown and around Stetson University. Situations that commonly call for a city permit:

• Protected species above the size threshold. Native hardwoods such as live oak and laurel oak are the usual examples. The threshold is measured as trunk diameter at breast height (DBH). Ask the city for the current figure.
• Trees in historic districts. DeLand's historic neighborhoods can carry extra tree protections.
• Trees in environmentally sensitive areas. Wetland buffers and conservation easements are regulated separately from the yard tree rules.
• Trees required by a site plan. A tree planted to satisfy a landscaping condition may need approval and a replacement before it comes out.

The City of DeLand Development Services Department can tell you whether a specific tree needs a permit. Current contact details are on the city's website, deland.org. Have the address, the species if you know it, the approximate trunk diameter and the reason for removal ready. The city may ask for a site visit or an arborist report.

Volusia County Tree Removal Permit Rules

Property in unincorporated Volusia County, which includes much of DeLeon Springs and the rural land around DeLand, falls under the county's tree protection ordinance. Situations that commonly call for a county permit:

• Trees above the county's size threshold. The threshold is a DBH measurement and can vary with species and zoning. Ask the county for the figure that applies to your parcel.
• Protected native species. Live oak, laurel oak, sand live oak and other native hardwoods are the usual examples.
• Trees in environmental or conservation areas.
• Commercial and multi-family sites. Rules for these are generally stricter than for a single-family lot.

Volusia County Growth and Resource Management reviews zoning, environmental overlays and any tree inventory on file for the parcel. Current contact details are on the county's website, volusia.org.

What Trees Are Exempt from Permit Requirements?

Trees that are dead, hazardous, diseased or invasive are commonly exempt from permit requirements in both DeLand and Volusia County. Exempt does not mean undocumented. The city or county can ask for proof of the tree's condition, so get the exemption confirmed, ideally in writing, before the saw starts.

Dead or Dying Trees

A tree that is dead or in irreversible decline is usually exempt. The catch is proving it, since a dormant or drought-stressed tree can look dead from the driveway. Our guide to the signs of a dangerous tree in DeLand shows what real decline looks like. A written assessment through our arborist consultation service gives the city or county something to review.

Hazardous Trees

Trees that pose an immediate threat to a structure, a utility or the public are typically exempt. Trunk cracks, split co-dominant stems, a fresh lean toward a building and lifted roots are the usual evidence. Photograph the hazard before any work.

Florida also has a state law on this point. Section 163.045, Florida Statutes, limits what a local government can require of a residential property owner who holds documentation from an ISA-certified arborist or a Florida-licensed landscape architect that a tree poses an unacceptable risk. The statute has conditions and has been amended, so read the current text and confirm with the city or county how it applies to your tree before relying on it.

When a tree has already failed onto a house or is about to, safety comes first. Our post on what to do when a tree falls on your house in DeLand covers the first hour. Tell the city or county afterward if their rules require it.

Diseased or Pest-Infested Trees

Trees with an untreatable disease, such as laurel wilt in redbay, or a severe pest infestation may be exempt. Expect to be asked for an arborist's report naming the disease or pest.

Invasive Exotic Species

Brazilian pepper, melaleuca and Australian pine are invasive exotics in Florida and are generally not protected. Removing them is usually welcomed. Confirm the species first, because a misidentified native is still a violation.

Trees Below the Size Threshold

Small trees are often exempt, but the cutoff differs between the city and the county and can differ by species. Measure the trunk at 4.5 feet above the ground and give that figure when you call.

What Happens If You Remove a Tree Without a Required Permit?

Removing a protected tree without a required permit exposes the property owner to a fine, a replacement planting order and possibly a stop-work order. The amounts come from the City of DeLand or Volusia County code, which is why confirming the rules before cutting is worth a phone call.

• Fines. Set by the applicable code and often scaled to the size of the tree removed. Ask the city or county for the current schedule.
• Replacement planting. You may have to plant several trees to make up the lost canopy. Our post on tree mitigation in DeLand and Volusia County explains how that works.
• Stop-work orders. If the removal is part of a construction project, work on the whole site can be halted until the violation is resolved.
• Code enforcement action. Unresolved violations can be pursued further under the code.

How Do You Apply for a Tree Removal Permit in DeLand?

You apply for a tree removal permit in DeLand through the City of DeLand Development Services Department. Unincorporated property goes through Volusia County Growth and Resource Management instead. Both ask for the tree's location, species, trunk diameter and the reason for removal, and both may inspect before deciding.

City of DeLand Permit Process

1. Contact Development Services. Confirm whether a permit is required for your tree.
2. Submit the application. Give the property address, tree location, species, DBH and reason for removal.
3. Add supporting documents. Photos, an arborist report or a hazard assessment may be requested.
4. Pay the permit fee. Ask the city for the current fee schedule.
5. Wait for approval. Ask how long review is running and whether a site inspection is needed.
6. Remove the tree. Once approved, have the work done and keep the permit on site while it happens.

Volusia County Permit Process

1. Contact Growth and Resource Management. Confirm the parcel is unincorporated and whether a permit applies.
2. Check zoning and environmental overlays. County staff review restrictions on the parcel.
3. Submit the tree removal application. Include location, species, size and justification.
4. Provide a tree survey if asked. Some properties need protected trees surveyed and mapped.
5. Pay the permit fee. Ask the county for the current schedule for your property type.
6. Wait for review. Sites with many trees or sensitive areas generally take longer. Ask for an estimate when you apply.

Can a Tree Service Handle the Permit for You?

A tree service can help with a removal permit by measuring the tree, identifying the species and documenting its condition, but the property owner stays legally responsible. God's Country Tree Service LLC gives permit guidance for DeLand and Volusia County jobs during the estimate visit and tells you which office to confirm with.

Whichever company you hire, settle these before work starts:

• Who applies for the permit, and in whose name
• Whether the permit fee is inside the removal quote or added to it
• That you get a copy of the approved permit for your records

Do not let any crew start on a protected tree before the approval is in hand. If a contractor says "we do this all the time, you don't need a permit," check with the city or county yourself. It takes one phone call.

What If Your Neighbor's Tree Needs to Be Removed?

A neighbor's tree generally cannot be removed without the neighbor's permission, even when it is plainly hazardous. The tree is part of their property. You can document the problem and ask them in writing to deal with it, and in some cases the city or county will step in.

Take dated photos and send the neighbor a written notice describing the hazard. If they do nothing and the tree later damages your property, that record can support an insurance claim. Our post on how Florida homeowners insurance treats fallen trees explains why prior notice matters. A tree leaning over a street or sidewalk is a public safety matter, so report it to the city or county.

Should You Remove a Tree Yourself or Hire a Professional?

Removing a tree yourself is reasonable only for small trees well away from buildings and wires. Anything that needs a chainsaw used from a ladder, stands near a power line or could reach a structure when it falls belongs with a licensed, insured tree removal company.

God's Country Tree Service LLC has removed trees in DeLand and Volusia County since 2014. On the estimate visit we look at the tree's size, species and condition and point out anything that bears on a permit, so you know what to ask the city or county. If budget is the next question, see what drives tree removal cost in DeLand.

Tree Removal Permit FAQs