Fort Myers's Landscaping Rules: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles landscaping rules a little differently. In Fort Myers, Florida, there are 7 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Native Plants

Florida Statute 373.185 establishes Florida-Friendly Landscaping (FFL) as a protected statewide policy. A local government ordinance or HOA covenant may not prohibit any property owner from implementing FFL on his or her land. Cape Coral, Fort Myers, and unincorporated Lee County all sit within SFWMD's program. The UF/IFAS Florida-Friendly Landscaping Program publishes the official nine principles.

Key details: Authorizing Statute: FS 373.185. HOA Preemption: FS 373.185(3) — bans unenforceable. Definition: Conserves water, drought-tolerant, locally adapted. Reference Program: UF/IFAS Florida-Friendly Landscaping. Limit on HOA: Aesthetic review OK, outright ban not OK.

An HOA covenant or City rule that effectively bans Florida-Friendly Landscaping is unenforceable under FS 373.185. Homeowners can raise FS 373.185 as a defense in HOA enforcement actions; case law (e.g., Pelican Bay HOA disputes) generally supports the owner where the landscape meets the FFL definition. There is no City-level enforcement against an owner who replaces turf with native or drought-tolerant species, provided the 12-inch nuisance height standard and noxious-weed obligations are still met.

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Fort Myers gives residents more flexibility on native plants.

Grass Height Limits

Lawns, grass, weeds, and underbrush must be kept cut to no more than 12 inches in height on all property within the City of Fort Myers. Property owners are also responsible for maintaining the same standard in their portion of the City right-of-way. Code Compliance enforces under the City's nuisance vegetation provisions.

Key details: Max Height: 12 inches (grass, weeds, underbrush). Applies To: All property + adjacent ROW strip. Source: Fort Myers Common Code Violations. Enforcement: Fort Myers Code Compliance — 239-321-7940. Address: 1825 Hendry St., Suite 101, Fort Myers 33901.

Code Compliance issues a Notice of Violation with a compliance deadline. If the owner fails to mow, the City contracts the work and assesses the cost plus an administrative fee as a special assessment lien against the parcel. Repeat violations may be referred to the Special Magistrate, who can impose daily fines under Chapter 2, Article V (Code Enforcement).

Weed Ordinances

Fort Myers Code Compliance enforces a citywide 12-inch maximum height for grass, weeds and underbrush on all property, including vacant lots, plus the adjacent right-of-way strip. Violations are corrected by City-contracted abatement billed and liened against the property. The Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (FDACS) regulates state-listed noxious weeds separately.

Key details: Local Height Limit: 12 inches (grass, weeds, underbrush). Applies To: All property incl. vacant lots + ROW strip. State Weed Authority: FDACS — FS Chapter 581. Abatement Remedy: City-contracted mowing + lien. Enforcement: Fort Myers Code Compliance (239-321-7940).

First step is a Notice of Violation with a compliance window. Failure to comply triggers City-contracted abatement — the cost is assessed against the parcel as a special assessment lien plus administrative fee. Persistent violations are referred to the Special Magistrate (Chapter 2, Article V), who can impose daily fines until corrected.

Tree Trimming

On a single-family residential lot, Florida Statute 163.045 prevents the City of Fort Myers from requiring a notice, application, approval, permit, fee, or mitigation to prune, trim, or remove a tree if the owner holds documentation from an ISA-certified arborist or Florida-licensed landscape architect that the tree poses an unacceptable risk under ISA Best Management Practices — Tree Risk Assessment, Second Edition (2017). Routine pruning outside this exemption is unregulated on private property, but ANSI A300 standards are recommended.

Key details: State Preemption: FS 163.045 (single-family residential). Required Documentation: ISA-certified arborist OR FL licensed landscape architect. Risk Standard: ISA BMP — Tree Risk Assessment, 2nd Ed. (2017). City Code (non-residential / ROW): Chapter 138 — Vegetation. Recommended Standard: ANSI A300 pruning standards.

Improperly relying on FS 163.045 without ISA-certified documentation can expose the owner to enforcement under Chapter 138 (Vegetation) for unpermitted vegetation removal. Pruning that damages a City right-of-way tree without permit can result in mitigation charges. HOAs may still impose their own pruning rules within the limits of Chapter 720, FS.

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Fort Myers gives residents more flexibility on tree trimming.

Tree Removal & Heritage Trees

Fort Myers Chapter 138 (Vegetation) of the Land Development Code, including Section 138-46, governs protected-tree removal and requires permitting through the Building, Permitting & Inspections Division (239-321-7925). Florida Statute 163.045 overrides the City permit on single-family residential property when the owner has ISA-certified arborist documentation that the tree is dangerous. Native-species tree removal is specifically listed as a permit-required activity by the City.

Key details: Permit Authority: Building, Permitting & Inspections (239-321-7925). Code Chapter: Chapter 138 (Vegetation), incl. § 138-46. Trigger: Tree removal (native species) — residential & commercial. State Exemption: FS 163.045 — single-family + ISA arborist letter. Contact Email: permits@fortmyers.gov.

Unpermitted removal of a protected or native tree outside the FS 163.045 exemption can lead to a Code Compliance Notice of Violation, mandatory tree replacement under Chapter 138 Article II, and Special Magistrate fines under Chapter 2, Article V. Knowingly mis-certifying a tree as hazardous can expose the certifying arborist or landscape architect to professional discipline.

Water Restrictions

Fort Myers Code of Ordinances Chapter 90, Article III (Water Shortage Regulations) enforces year-round landscape irrigation limits aligned with SFWMD Chapter 40E-24, F.A.C. Irrigation is prohibited daily between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM. Even-numbered addresses may water Thursday and/or Sunday; odd-numbered addresses may water Wednesday and/or Saturday. Hand watering with a self-cancelling nozzle is allowed at any time. Penalties reach $500 per day per violation.

Key details: City Authority: Ch. 90, Art. III — Water Shortage Regulations. State Authority: SFWMD Ch. 40E-24, F.A.C.. Prohibited Hours (City): 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM daily. Prohibited Hours (SFWMD): 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM daily. Even Addresses: Thursday and/or Sunday.

Under Chapter 90, Article III, irrigation outside the allowed window or on the wrong day can be cited by Code Compliance with penalties up to $500 per day per violation. The Utility Billing Department (239-321-8100) handles customer questions. SFWMD enforcement is layered for users outside City utility service.

Compared to other cities, Fort Myers takes a harder line on water restrictions. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Artificial Turf

The City of Fort Myers Code of Ordinances does not prohibit artificial turf on residential property. Florida-Friendly Landscaping (FS 373.185) protects water-conserving alternatives to traditional lawn, but artificial turf is not within the statutory FFL definition — so HOAs may still adopt reasonable rules limiting it. New developments must still meet Chapter 138 (Vegetation) landscape buffer and tree requirements, which generally require living plant material.

Key details: City Position: Allowed on residential lots; no City permit. Code Reference: Chapter 138 (Vegetation) — live plants required in buffers. State Protection: FS 373.185 protects FFL, not synthetic turf. HOA Authority: May regulate under FS Ch. 720. New Development: Does not count toward landscape requirement.

Installing artificial turf as a substitute for required landscape buffer or parking-lot interior plantings will fail Chapter 138 plan review and prevent issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy. HOA artificial-turf disputes are civil matters under FS Chapter 720 and the community's recorded covenants.

Fort Myers is more permissive than most cities when it comes to artificial turf. That said, there are still limits.

The Bottom Line

Compared to many U.S. cities, Fort Myers gives residents more room on landscaping rules. 3 of the 7 rules here are rated permissive. But permissive does not mean unregulated. There are still requirements, and the city does enforce them when violations are reported.

These rules come from Fort Myers's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.