Citrus County emphasizes tree preservation and warns about enforcement, including a cited $12,000 fine
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Summary
County officials described updates to a tree ordinance that add incentives for preservation, established a Beautify Citrus Fund and warned that unauthorized clearing can lead to enforcement, with a special magistrate in the program citing a $12,000 fine and appeal rights.
Steve Howard said Citrus County updated its tree ordinance to create incentives for builders to preserve or replace trees and to establish a Beautify Citrus Fund, adding that clearing or cutting trees on vacant lots without a permit 'could prove costly.'
An unidentified county official said enforcement has increased: code compliance is complaint-based, removal without a permit is deemed 'irreparable harm' under the land development code, and enforcement cases are referred to a special magistrate who determines fines by the size and scope of work.
In the broadcast a speaker identified as a special magistrate stated, "What I'm gonna do is I am going to assess a fine of $12,000," and noted the decision can be appealed by law. County staff urged residents and builders to engage with growth-management and code-compliance staff before modifying sites to avoid fines and to seek voluntary compliance.
County staff provided a contact phone number for the code compliance division: (352) 527-5350, and said growth-management staff can route callers to building-division or land-development experts. The program did not record any formal hearings, votes, or adopted new ordinance language on-air; enforcement and a stated fine were described in the context of current code procedures.