Landscaping Rules in Fort Myers, FL (2026)
5 verified landscaping rules for Fort Myers, Florida, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Trimming
Fort Myers bans trimming, cutting or removing street trees in the right-of-way or required street trees without city approval, with a written-request process.
Street Tree Trimming Rules in Fort Myers
Significant RestrictionsFort Myers Land Development Code § 138-80
It is hereby prohibited to trim, cut, remove or deface any tree located within the street right-of-way or a street tree required by this Code, unless such work is done by or at the direction of the city... Any cutting, trimming, removing or defacing of such trees shall result in a fine of $250.00. Each occurrence of such offense is subject to a $250.00 fine. Total removal cost shall be a minimu...
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
Cutting down any tree 4 inches or more in trunk diameter within Fort Myers city limits requires a city permit first, and mangroves need one regardless of size.
Fort Myers Tree Removal Permit
Significant RestrictionsFort Myers Land Development Code § 138-101
On any real property (other than as exempted in subsection (c) of this section) located within the limits of the city, it shall be unlawful for any person to deliberately remove any tree having a diameter at breast height (DBH) of four inches or greater without first having procured a permit as provided in this division.
Weed Ordinances
Fort Myers requires owners and occupants to cut weeds, grass, and underbrush to no more than 12 inches, or the city cuts it and bills a $50 abatement fee.
Fort Myers Weed and Wild Growth Rule
Some RestrictionsFort Myers Code of Ordinances § 54-119
All owners, agents, custodians, lessees and occupants of real property within the city shall, in accordance with the notice set forth in section 54-118, cut and keep cut, to a height of not exceeding 12 inches, all wild growth on any property owned, controlled or occupied by them within the city and shall remove any junk, trash, garbage, filth, abandoned automobiles and appliances, or other nox...
Water Restrictions
Fort Myers restricts landscape irrigation to two assigned days each week based on address parity, and bans all watering between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. year-round under the city's water conservation ordinance.
Fort Myers Lawn Watering Days and Hours
Some RestrictionsFort Myers Code of Ordinances § 90-74
Landscape irrigation shall be prohibited between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., except as otherwise provided.1.During any time change from Standard to Daylight Savings or vice versa, a 30-day grace period shall be permitted. Residents will not be cited for watering within one hour before the beginning or one hour after the end times provided above within the 30-day grace period.b.Irrigat...
Native Plants
Fort Myers requires at least 75% of trees and 50% of shrubs used in required landscaping to be Florida native species, under the city's Land Development Code vegetation chapter.
Fort Myers Native Plant Landscaping Rule
Some RestrictionsFort Myers Land Development Code § 138-42(b)
(b)Native varieties. At least seventy-five percent (75%) of the trees and fifty percent (50%) of the shrubs used to fulfill requirements of this chapter must be Florida native species.
Looking for Lee County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Fort Myers city rules.
Landscaping Rules in Lee County →