Clearing a lot near Apopka starts with one question: is it inside the City of Apopka or in unincorporated Orange County? The county publishes detailed tree rules for unincorporated land; inside the city, ask the city, since we didn't find its rules in a form we could cite.
Orange County's tree removal permit
- When it's required: for any vacant or undeveloped property, whatever its size, and for a developed property over 2 acres with an occupied single-family home.
- Which trees count: regulated trees are 8 inches or more in diameter at breast height (4.5 feet up) and on the county's recommended stock list. Heritage and specimen trees have their own section of the code.
- What to submit: the application and a tree survey by a professional surveyor, done within two years; sometimes a site or landscape plan. Apply through Orange County Fast Track.
- How long: a sufficiency check within four days, a 14-day review and an arborist's site visit.
- Fees: $121.00 for a single-family or duplex property over 2 acres; no fee for bona fide agriculture or voluntary lot cleaning. Mitigation fees may apply.
Cleaning versus clearing
The county allows "cleaning," removing underbrush such as palmetto and shrubs, as long as regulated trees aren't harmed. Cleaning has to be done with mowing equipment, not heavy earth-moving machinery, so the ground keeps its vegetative cover. Bulldozing a lot is clearing, and the permit rules apply.
Wetlands and stormwater
- Work in wetlands or conservation areas needs approval from the county's Environmental Protection Division first.
- Disturbing 1 acre or more, with stormwater reaching surface waters or a storm sewer, needs Florida DEP's Construction Generic Permit, filed at least 2 calendar days before work.
What clearing costs
| Item | Lawn Love, Dec 2025 |
|---|---|
| Most jobs | $1,565 to $4,520 |
| Lightly forested | $580 to $2,100 per acre |
| Heavily forested | $3,300 to $5,600 per acre |
| Tree removal | $385 to $1,070 per tree |
| Stump removal | $130 to $350 per stump |
| Clearing permits | $200 to $250 |
The debris
Burning land clearing debris needs a Florida Forest Service authorization; yard waste in a pile 8 feet across or less doesn't, if setbacks are met and no local rule bans burning. Hauling and mulching are the other options.
Sources
- Orange County: Tree Removal Permit (unincorporated Orange County)
- Florida Department of Environmental Protection: Construction Activity (stormwater Construction Generic Permit)
- Lawn Love: How much does it cost to clear land? (Sinziana Spiridon, updated December 27, 2025)
- Florida Forest Service: Forest Fire Laws & Open Burning Regulations (DACS-P 00149, revised 5/2015)
Reviewed October 20, 2026. Rules, prices and contacts change, so check the source before relying on it.
Questions and answers
Does Orange County's tree permit apply inside Apopka?
The county's page covers unincorporated Orange County. Inside the City of Apopka, ask the city.
Which trees does Orange County regulate?
Trees 8 inches or more in diameter at breast height (4.5 feet) that appear on the county's recommended stock list, plus heritage and specimen trees under a separate section.
Get your clearing quoted
Use the form or give us a call, and an excavation contractor who covers northwest Orange County reaches out. The quote is free.
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