Landscaping Rules in Palm Beach Gardens, FL (2026)
8 verified landscaping rules for Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Trimming
Section 78-328 of the Palm Beach Gardens Code applies its pruning standards to nonresidential uses and common areas in planned developments, and it bans crown reduction of shade trees until the canopy reaches 15 feet in diameter. It also outlaws hatracking outright, and the code enforcement board can fine $250 per hatracked tree, doubling to $500 per tree for a repeat violation.
Palm Beach Gardens Tree Pruning Standards
Significant RestrictionsPalm Beach Gardens Code § 78-328
The pruning standards in this article shall apply only to all nonresidential uses and to common areas in all planned developments and within developments of regional impact. (a)Crown reduction. Crown reduction of shade trees shall be prohibited until the tree canopy has reached at least 15 feet in diameter, excluding the following:(1)To remove limbs or foliage presenting a hazard or in conflict...
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
Section 78-303 of the Palm Beach Gardens Code bars cutting down, destroying, or removing any tree in the city, or damaging one by disturbing the grade inside its drip line, without first getting site plan approval and a permit through the growth management department. Most single-family and duplex homeowners are exempt from this permitting article, but two specific sections still reach residential lots.
Palm Beach Gardens Tree Removal Permit Rule
Significant RestrictionsPalm Beach Gardens Code § 78-303
Unless otherwise provided within this division, land shall not be landscaped, cleared, or grubbed within the city unless written permission is first obtained by site plan approval and a permit as outlined in this division. Furthermore, any tree, except as provided for in this division, shall not be cut down, destroyed, removed, or effectively destroyed as a result of damaging the tree or changi...
Weed Ordinances
Palm Beach Gardens caps weeds and grass at 12 inches on vacant land next to a developed residential lot and on developed residential lots themselves, and at 18 inches on all other land in the city; exceeding either limit is declared a public nuisance under Chapter 34.
Palm Beach Gardens Max Weed and Grass Height
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach Gardens Code § 34-121
The allowing of debris, rubbish, trash, tin cans, papers, or stagnant water to accumulate, or a dense growth of trees, vines, underbrush, weeds, wild growth, or grass in excess of 12 inches in height from the ground on vacant lands contiguous to developed residential lots and on developed residential lots, and in excess of 18 inches from the ground on all other lands, to develop on any lot, tra...
Water Restrictions
Palm Beach Gardens Code Section 74-74 bans landscape irrigation between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. year-round and limits most properties to three watering days a week: odd addresses on Monday, Wednesday, and/or Saturday, even addresses on Tuesday, Thursday, and/or Sunday. Fines climb from $100 for a first violation to $500 for repeat offenses under Section 74-80.
Palm Beach Gardens Lawn Watering Day Limits
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach Gardens Code §§ 74-74(4), 74-80(1)
The City of Palm Beach Gardens hereby adopts the rules of the South Florida Water Management District, set forth at Subsections 40E-24.201(1)-(5) and (7), F.A.C. ... (4)The following requirements shall apply to all users, unless specified otherwise in section 74-73 or section 74-75:a.Landscape irrigation shall be prohibited between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., except as otherwise prov...
Rainwater Harvesting
Palm Beach Gardens Code Section 74-75(3) exempts rain barrels, cisterns, and similar rain-harvesting devices from the city's landscape watering-day and time restrictions, so stored rainwater can be applied on any day or hour. In city-approved community gardens, Section 78-159(71) caps rain barrel size at 55 gallons and allows no more than two 55-gallon composting bins per site.
Palm Beach Gardens Rain Barrel Watering Exemption
Few RestrictionsPalm Beach Gardens Code §§ 74-75(3), 78-159(71)d.5
(3)Any plant material may be watered using low-volume irrigation, as defined in subsection 74-72(11), micro-irrigation, as defined in subsection 74-72(12), low-volume hand-watering method, as defined in subsection 74-72(10), rain barrels, cisterns, or other similar rain-harvesting devices without regard to the watering days or times allowed pursuant to this section. ... Benches, bike racks, rai...
Native Plants
Palm Beach Gardens rewards native species in its landscape point system under City Code section 78-313(c). Nonresidential developments must hit a minimum landscape-point score from Tables 26 and 27, and native trees five inches or more in diameter earn 20 points plus one point per additional inch, well more than non-preferred trees earn. Coastal-area projects must plant 90 percent native species from the city's Preferred Tree Species list.
Native Tree Landscaping Points, Palm Beach Gardens
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach Gardens Code § 78-313(c)
(c)Minimum landscape points. Tables 26 and 27 shall be used to determine the minimum landscape points per open space a project shall be required to provide. Achieving the minimum open space landscape point requirement does not exempt a project from compliance with other requirements of this division. Table 2 ... 7: ... Required Landscape Installation Points Chart Category Points ... Native Tree...
Artificial Turf
In the City of Palm Beach Gardens, artificial turf can count for up to 100 percent of a project's recreational open-space credit under Code section 78-321, but placement is restricted. Residential lots may lay turf only within the impervious-surface cap set for their zoning district, and turf is barred outright from required landscape buffers, parkways, and preserve areas citywide.
Palm Beach Gardens Artificial Turf Rules
Some RestrictionsPalm Beach Gardens Code §§ 78-321(c), 78-322(f)
(c)Artificial turf. Up to one hundred (100) percent of the recreational use (e.g., playground, athletic field) of artificial turf shall be permitted to count toward open space requirements. Artificial turf shall consist of green lifelike individual blades of grass that emulates natural turf. ... The location of artificial turf shall be limited to the following:(1)In residential lots, the quanti...
Composting
Palm Beach Gardens permits residents to keep a mulch or compost pile in the rear of their property under Code Sec. 54-2(b), so long as the yard or garden trash in it contains no combustible matter and will not give off offensive odors or attract harmful insects or rodents during decay. The rule sits inside Chapter 54's yard trash removal section, and a pile that violates those conditions loses its exemption and becomes subject to normal yard trash removal and nuisance enforcement.
Backyard Composting Allowed in Palm Beach Gardens
Few RestrictionsPalm Beach Gardens Code § 54-2(b)
(b)Yard or garden trash containing no combustible matter or which will not, during decay, give off offensive odors or attract harmful insects or rodents may be accumulated by the owner as a mulch or compost pile in the rear of the premises upon which accumulated.
Looking for Palm Beach County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Palm Beach Gardens city rules.
Landscaping Rules in Palm Beach County →