Port St. Lucie's Landscaping Rules: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles landscaping rules a little differently. In Port St. Lucie, Florida, there are 6 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.

Weed Ordinances

Port St. Lucie addresses weeds together with high grass: all grass and weeds on improved property must be kept mowed below 12 inches under Section 41.08(B). Owners must also keep the swale and liner clear of debris and obstructions.

Key details: Code Section: Sec. 41.08(B) (High grass & weeds). Standard: Mowed below 12 inches on improved property. Enforcement: Neighborhood Services - Code Compliance.

Weed and grass overgrowth violations are cited by Code Compliance. Owners are given time to abate; failure can lead to special-magistrate fines and city abatement (mowing/clearing) of the property with costs assessed to the owner.

Tree Trimming

Port St. Lucie's Tree Protection and Preservation Ordinance protects mature trees with a diameter at breast height (D.B.H.) of 12 inches or greater and native palms with at least 10 feet of clear trunk on public or private property. A Tree Removal Permit from Planning and Zoning is required before removing a protected tree, though platted single-family lots are exempt.

Key details: Code Section: Code of Ordinances Chapter 154 (Landscape & Land Clearing Code). Protected tree: 12 in. D.B.H. or native palm with 10 ft clear trunk. Permit: Tree Removal Permit from Planning & Zoning.

Removing a protected tree without a permit may result in a citation for violating the Code of Ordinances. Any tree removed without a permit must be replaced at a 3-to-1 ratio, the applicant is charged twice the normal tree-removal application fee, and each protected tree removed without a permit is a separate violation.

Grass Height Limits

Port St. Lucie requires all grass on improved property (a lot with a structure built on it) to be mowed below 12 inches. High grass and weeds are among the most common residential code violations in the city.

Key details: Code Section: Sec. 41.08(B). Max grass height: Below 12 inches (improved property). Swale duty: Sec. 41.08(H)(1) - mow & clear swale.

High grass over 12 inches is enforced by Code Compliance; owners receive a notice to mow, and continued noncompliance can result in special-magistrate fines and city abatement (mowing) at the owner's expense, which may be assessed as a lien.

Native Plants

Port St. Lucie encourages Florida-Friendly Landscaping and enforces a fertilizer ordinance to protect the St. Lucie River and Estuary. No nitrogen or phosphorus fertilizer may be applied June 1 to September 30, and none within 10 feet of any water body.

Key details: Ordinance adopted: March 24, 2014 (fertilizer ordinance). Restricted season: No N/P fertilizer June 1 - Sept 30. Fertilizer-free zone: Within 10 ft of water/seawall/wetland.

Violations of the fertilizer ordinance and its requirements can result in monetary fines, set and enforced by the City.

Water Restrictions

Port St. Lucie does not set its own lawn-watering calendar; landscape irrigation is governed by the South Florida Water Management District's mandatory year-round rule (Chapter 40E-24, Florida Administrative Code). Because the city is in St. Lucie County, properties may irrigate three days a week and never between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Key details: Rule: F.A.C. 40E-24.201 (SFWMD year-round). Days (St. Lucie Co.): Odd: Mon/Wed/Sat; Even: Tue/Thu/Sun. Daily no-water window: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m..

The SFWMD year-round rule is enforced by local governments and the District; violations of the watering schedule can result in code-enforcement warnings and fines, with stricter penalties during a declared water shortage. Penalty amounts are set by the enforcing jurisdiction.

Tree Removal & Heritage Trees

Removing a protected tree (12-inch D.B.H. or a native palm with a 10-foot clear trunk) in Port St. Lucie requires a Tree Removal Permit from Planning and Zoning, and mitigation must replace one inch of D.B.H. for each inch removed. Removing one without a permit triggers 3-to-1 replacement and double fees.

Key details: Code Section: Code of Ordinances Chapter 154. Mitigation: 1 inch D.B.H. replaced per inch removed. No-permit penalty: 3-to-1 replacement + double fee.

Failure to obtain a permit before removing a protected tree may result in a Code of Ordinances citation; the tree must be replaced at a 3-to-1 ratio, the applicant is charged twice the normal application fee, and each protected tree removed without a permit is a separate violation.

The Bottom Line

Port St. Lucie's landscaping 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 Port St. Lucie is broadly strict or permissive.

All of the above reflects Port St. Lucie's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.