Landscaping Rules in Melbourne, FL (2026)
5 verified landscaping rules for Melbourne, Florida, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
Cutting down, destroying, or moving any tree in Melbourne requires a land alteration permit from the engineering department, though trimming up to 20 percent of a tree's canopy is exempt. City Code Sec. 9.272 sets the application process, exceptions, and replacement duties for anyone removing trees during development or on an existing site.
Melbourne Tree Removal Permit Rules
Significant RestrictionsMelbourne, FL Code of Ordinances § 9.272(a)(1)
(a)Generally.(1)No person, directly or indirectly, shall cut down, destroy, remove or move, or effectively destroy through damaging any tree located on any property within the city without first obtaining a permit, unless otherwise provided herein in subsection (b) of this section. Trees may be trimmed up to 20 percent of their canopy without obtaining a land alteration permit.
Water Restrictions
Melbourne limits landscape irrigation to two assigned days a week tied to your street address, with a mandatory shutoff between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. year-round. The schedule tightens further under Eastern Standard Time and during declared water shortage emergencies.
Melbourne Lawn Watering Day & Time Rules
Some RestrictionsMelbourne, FL Code of Ordinances § 58-162
(a)When Daylight Savings Time is in effect, landscape irrigation shall occur only in accordance with the following irrigation schedule:(1)Residential landscape irrigation at odd-numbered addresses or no address may occur only on Wednesday and Saturday and shall not occur between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.;(2)Residential landscape irrigation at even-numbered addresses may occur only on Thursday an...
Native Plants
Melbourne's landscape code requires new commercial, multifamily, and industrial developments to make at least 50 percent of required trees native species, capping palms at 25 percent. City Code Sec. 9.273 also directs every landscape plan to use Florida-friendly design and gives credit for keeping existing indigenous plants in place.
Melbourne Native Tree Landscaping Requirement
Some RestrictionsMelbourne, FL Code of Ordinances § 9.273(b)(1), (c)(1)a
(1)Florida-friendly landscaping design principles shall be employed in all landscape plans, and the use of drought tolerant plant material are highly encouraged. Existing indigenous plant material is encouraged to be retained whenever possible, and credit will be allowed for retention of viable plant material on the site.[...] Generally. For all required landscape plans, the total make-up of al...
Artificial Turf
Melbourne's defaulted-mortgage property maintenance code counts artificial turf/sod as approved landscaping, alongside grass and shrubs, while excluding bare weeds, gravel, broken concrete and asphalt. The rule applies to properties a mortgagee has registered as vacant or in default, requiring the yard to be landscaped and maintained under that standard.
Melbourne Artificial Turf Rule for Vacant Properties
Few RestrictionsMelbourne, FL Code of Ordinances § 36-39(c)(1)
Yards shall be landscaped and maintained pursuant to the standards set forth in this Code. The term "landscaping" shall include, but not be limited to, grass, ground covers, bushes, shrubs, hedges or similar plantings, decorative rock or bark or artificial turf/sod designed specifically for residential, commercial or industrial installation, as applicable. The term, "landscaping" shall not incl...
Composting
Melbourne's solid-waste code bans dumping waste on any lot without a license or permit, but it specifically excludes compost piles on private property from that prohibition. Backyard composting is legal city-wide with no permit, bin standard, or setback written into the code.
Melbourne Compost Piles Exempt From Nuisance Code
Few RestrictionsMelbourne, FL Code of Ordinances § 48-29(b)
It shall be deemed unlawful and a violation of this article for any person to deposit or cause to deposit any waste as defined herein upon any lot, parcel or land, public or private, whether vacant or improved, occupied or unoccupied, or upon any other premises, street, alley, roadway, park stream, canal, or other waterway within the city, without first obtaining all required and necessary city...
Looking for Brevard County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Melbourne city rules.
Landscaping Rules in Brevard County →