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.