Invasive Plant Rules in St. Petersburg, FL (2026)
2 verified invasive plant rules for St. Petersburg, Florida, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Prohibited Species
St. Petersburg City Code § 16.40.060.2.1.6(D) makes it unlawful to plant, cause to be planted, or sell or offer for sale nine listed exotic and nuisance tree species citywide, including Brazilian pepper, Australian pine, Chinese tallow and strangler fig. Any project seeking a landscaping permit must remove all of them from the site and abutting right-of-way before it can get a certificate of occupancy.
St. Petersburg Prohibited Exotic and Nuisance Tree Ban
Heavy RestrictionsSt. Petersburg City Code § 16.40.060.2.1.6(D)
D. Prohibited trees. It is unlawful to plant or cause to be planted, or to sell or offer for sale, within the City limits the following exotic and nuisance plant species. Any development or redevelopment which is required to obtain a landscaping permit or file a landscape plan shall remove all prohibited trees on the property and abutting right-of-way and shall include a plan to prevent re-grow...
Front Yard Gardens
St. Petersburg City Code § 16.40.060.2.1.2(A) requires every required front yard and street-side yard on one- and two-unit lots to stay permeable, landscaped, vegetative green space. Paving, driveways, walks, patios and porches combined, cannot exceed 45 percent of an inside lot's front yard or 25 percent of a corner lot's combined front and street-side yard area.
St. Petersburg Front Yard Green Space Coverage Cap
Some RestrictionsSt. Petersburg City Code § 16.40.060.2.1.2(A)
A. Required permeable green space for yards abutting streets. Required front yards and required side yards abutting streets shall be maintained as permeable landscaped vegetative green space with the exception of driveways, walks, patios, porches and similar paved areas, which areas combined shall not exceed 25 percent of the required front and street side yard areas for corner lots and 45 perc...
Looking for Pinellas County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement St. Petersburg city rules.
Invasive Plant Rules in Pinellas County →