Pasco County commissioners have approved a revised tree preservation ordinance, raising removal costs for developers and offering incentives to retain trees. The new rules increase fees to $75 per inch for standard trees and $150 for heritage trees, while providing $300 per inch for preservation. Developers must retain 20% of upland trees 10 inches in diameter and submit tree surveys. A Tree Mitigation Fund will collect fees from non-replaced trees. Public feedback called for stricter protections, with some urging higher fees and canopy targets. The revision, after nearly two years, aims to reduce development-related tree loss.
Pasco County Approves Updated Tree Preservation Ordinance
