Landscaping Rules in Jacksonville, FL

If you live in Jacksonville or are thinking about moving there, landscaping rules are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Jacksonville has 5 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of landscaping rules, and some of them might surprise you.

Water Restrictions

Jacksonville limits landscape irrigation to specific days by address parity and season, with a citywide 10 a.m.-4 p.m. no-watering window year-round.

Key details: Governing section: Ordinance Code Sec. 366.504. DST odd addresses: Wed & Sat only. DST even addresses: Thu & Sun only. No-water window: 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. daily. First offense penalty: Written warning only.

First violation draws a written warning; second is a $50 ticket; subsequent violations are $250 tickets. Each day of violation is a separate offense, enforced by the Director, JSO, or state law enforcement.

Weed Ordinances

Jacksonville declares weeds, grass, underbrush and undergrowth over 15 inches tall a public nuisance on any lot, enforceable citywide by Municipal Code Compliance.

Key details: Height limit: 15 inches. Governing section: Ordinance Code § 518.202. Enforcer: Municipal Code Compliance Division. Offense class: Class E, daily. Unpaid abatement: Becomes a lien on title.

Violation is a class E offense under § 518.204, with a separate offense for each day it continues; unpaid abatement costs become a special assessment lien on the property under § 518.210.

Tree Trimming

Jacksonville requires written permission from the Director of Public Works before anyone trims or removes a tree along a public street or on public property, under Ordinance Code Section 746.105.

Key details: Authority: Director of Public Works. Requirement: Written permission before trimming. Applies to: Trees on public streets/property. Penalty: Class D offense; up to $500/day.

Trimming or removing a public street tree without written Public Works permission is a Class D offense; the City can also pursue civil penalties up to $500 per day of violation.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Jacksonville actively enforces its tree trimming requirements.

Native Plants

Jacksonville's landscape code requires new landscaping to preserve existing plant communities and re-establish native species, and lets developers earn full credit toward planting requirements by keeping existing trees and understory instead of installing new stock.

Key details: Governing section: Ordinance Code Sec. 656.1211. Low Water Use Zone: Min. 30% of landscaped area. Preservation credit: Sec. 656.1213, full credit for existing trees. Invasive/controlled species: Planting prohibited. Enforcing office: Building Inspection Division, Landscape Section.

Landscaping that skips these standards violates the Zoning Code; the Building Inspection Division's Landscape Section can reject the permit, and dead, damaged, or noncompliant plantings must be replaced or mitigated under Sec. 656.1206(h).

Tree Removal & Heritage Trees

Jacksonville requires a permit before cutting down any protected tree, six inches DBH near a lot line and up, though owner-occupied single-family and mobile-home lots are exempt from the permit requirement entirely.

Key details: Governing sections: Ordinance Code §§ 656.1205–656.1206. Protected tree threshold: 6" DBH near lot line, 11.5" elsewhere. Permit review time: 10 working days after application. Homeowner exemption: Single-family, mobile-home lots exempt. Violation penalty: Class D offense, per tree removed.

Removing a protected tree without a permit is a class D offense; each tree removed, damaged or destroyed is a separate violation, plus fines and mandatory tree replacement.

This is one of the stricter rules in Jacksonville's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

The Bottom Line

Jacksonville is tougher than many cities when it comes to landscaping rules. Out of the 5 rules covered here, 2 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Jacksonville, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

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