Invasive Plant Rules in St. Petersburg, FL: What Residents Actually Need to Know

If you live in St. Petersburg or are thinking about moving there, invasive plant rules are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. St. Petersburg has 2 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of invasive plant rules, and some of them might surprise you.

Front Yard Gardens

St. Petersburg City Code § 16.40.060.2.1.2(A) requires every required front yard and street-side yard on one- and two-unit lots to stay permeable, landscaped, vegetative green space. Paving, driveways, walks, patios and porches combined, cannot exceed 45 percent of an inside lot's front yard or 25 percent of a corner lot's combined front and street-side yard area.

Key details: Inside lot paving cap: ≤45% of required front yard. Corner lot paving cap: ≤25% of front/street-side yard. Remaining area: Must be permeable vegetative green space. ADA features: Exempt from the paving calculation. Grandfather date: Yards nonconforming as of Aug. 25, 1977.

Front-yard permeability is checked at permitting and certificate-of-occupancy issuance; exceeding the paving cap after the fact is a Code violation enforceable under the general penalty, § 1-7: a fine up to $500.00, up to 60 days imprisonment, or both, with continuing noncompliance treated as a separate daily offense and referable to the Code Enforcement Board.

Prohibited Species

St. Petersburg City Code § 16.40.060.2.1.6(D) makes it unlawful to plant, cause to be planted, or sell or offer for sale nine listed exotic and nuisance tree species citywide, including Brazilian pepper, Australian pine, Chinese tallow and strangler fig. Any project seeking a landscaping permit must remove all of them from the site and abutting right-of-way before it can get a certificate of occupancy.

Key details: Ban covers: Sale, offering for sale, and planting. Geographic scope: Citywide, within City limits. Listed species: 9, incl. Brazilian pepper, Australian pine, strangler fig. Removal required: Before certificate of occupancy on permitted projects. Must include: A plan to prevent re-growth.

Subsection (D) itself sets no dollar fine, so planting, selling or failing to remove a listed species is enforced as a general Code violation under § 1-7: a fine up to $500.00, up to 60 days imprisonment, or both, with each day the prohibited tree remains treated as a separate offense; on active permits, an unremoved prohibited tree also blocks certificate-of-occupancy approval.

Compared to other cities, St. Petersburg takes a harder line on prohibited species. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

The Bottom Line

St. Petersburg's invasive plant rules rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming St. Petersburg is broadly strict or permissive.

This guide is based on St. Petersburg's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.