Landscaping Rules in Sarasota, FL (2026)
6 verified landscaping rules for Sarasota, Florida, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Trimming
City of Sarasota law bars trees from hanging over a public sidewalk or right-of-way: owners must keep them trimmed to at least 10 feet of clearance over a sidewalk and 14 1/2 feet over a street, under Zoning Code Section VII-313. Anyone hired to trim trees in the city needs a local business tax receipt and insurance under Section VII-317.
City of Sarasota Street Tree Trimming Rules
Some RestrictionsSarasota Zoning Code §§ VII-313, VII-317, VII-325
Sec. VII-313. Trees abutting public property. The owner or occupant of real property shall not permit trees located thereon to extend over any public sidewalk or other public right-of-way unless the trees or trees are kept trimmed from the sidewalk to a height of ten feet and to a height of 14½ feet over any street or public right-of-way. Sec. VII-317. Local business tax receipts and insurance ...
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
City of Sarasota bans removing a grand (heritage) tree, a large live oak, pine, or cedar, unless the director of development services grants a specific exemption.
City of Sarasota Grand Tree Protection
Heavy RestrictionsSarasota Zoning Code § VII-310
A tree is considered a grand tree if it is determined to have a good or moderate suitability rating by a city arborist ... and is either a Live Oak (Quercus virginia) or Sand Live Oak (Quercus geminata) that has a DBH measurement of 24 inches or greater... The removal of a grand tree located upon public or private property is hereby prohibited unless exempted in accordance with subparagraph (c)...
Weed Ordinances
City of Sarasota bans overgrown weeds and grass on any lot, 10 inches on developed property, 12 inches on vacant land, with liens for uncorrected violations.
City of Sarasota Weed Overgrowth Limits
Some RestrictionsSarasota City Code § 16-49(b)
It shall be unlawful for any owner to maintain or to permit the excessive growth of weeds, grass, underbrush or other vegetation upon any developed or improved lot in the city in a manner which might communicate fire or serve as a breeding place for or harbor insects, rodents, snakes or other pests or vermin... For purposes of this paragraph, "excessive growth" shall mean the growth of grass, w...
Water Restrictions
The City of Sarasota adopts the Southwest Florida Water Management District's irrigation-day and irrigation-hour rules by reference, so ignoring the district's watering schedule is also a city code violation.
Sarasota Landscape Watering Rules
Some RestrictionsSarasota City Code § 37-108
The provisions of Chapter 40D-21, Florida Administrative Code, as the same may be amended from time to time, are hereby incorporated and adopted by reference into this article. It shall be a violation of this article to violate any provision of Florida Administrative Code, Chapter 40D-21, including but not limited to regulations establishing days and hours when lawns or landscaping may be irrig...
Native Plants
City of Sarasota development landscape plans must use at least 75 percent Florida-friendly vegetation overall, and at least 50 percent of required canopy and understory trees must be native to Florida, under Zoning Code Article VII, Division 3. Plants on the state's invasive Category I list or Chapter 5B-57 prohibited-species list cannot be substituted to meet the requirement.
City of Sarasota Native Plant Landscaping Standards
Some RestrictionsSarasota Zoning Code § VII-308(a), (b), (h)(3)
(a) General. Plant materials used in conformance with the provisions of this section shall be based on the plant's adaptability to the existing conditions present at the landscaped area and native plant communities, particularly considering appropriate hardiness zone, soil type and moisture conditions, light, mature plant size, desired effect, color and texture... For all required vegetation, a...
Composting
City of Sarasota lets residents mulch and compost their own yard waste in place of curbside collection, as long as it stays entirely on their own property.
City of Sarasota Home Composting Rule
Light RestrictionsSarasota City Code § 16-19(c)
As an alternative to yard waste or yard trash collection pursuant to this section, yard waste or yard trash may be disposed of by mulching and composting, provided that such mulching and composting shall be confined to the user's property.(d)In the event yard waste or yard trash is not properly prepared pursuant to this article, the yard waste or yard trash will be collected by the city as a sp...
Looking for Sarasota County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Sarasota city rules.
Landscaping Rules in Sarasota County →