Landscaping Rules in St. Petersburg, FL (2026)
6 verified landscaping rules for St. Petersburg, Florida, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Trimming
City Code § 16.40.060.3.1.F requires branches over a public sidewalk to clear at least 8 feet, and branches over a street or alley to clear at least 14 feet, and bars trees or shrubs from encroaching onto the paved surface itself beyond a 6-inch sod/ground-cover allowance.
St. Petersburg Tree Clearance Over Streets
Some RestrictionsSt. Petersburg City Code § 16.40.060.3.1.F
Vegetation adjacent to public sidewalks and public streets shall not encroach onto the sidewalk or street surface except that sod and ground cover should be kept trimmed to the edge of the sidewalk or street surface but may encroach up to six inches. The branches of trees and shrubs which grow above sidewalks shall provide a minimum of eight feet of vertical clearance and above streets and alle...
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
When removing a tree drops a St. Petersburg one- or two-unit lot below its minimum tree count, City Code § 16.40.060.5.3.F requires planting a replacement shade tree, or paying $500 per tree into the environmental enhancement fund, and § 16.40.060.5.6 adds mandatory Trunk Formula Method mitigation for illegal removals.
St. Petersburg Tree Replacement Requirement
Some RestrictionsSt. Petersburg City Code § 16.40.060.5.3.F
For one- and two-unit residential properties, for each tree removed which makes the property under the minimum required tree standard, one shade tree shall be planted on the property from which the tree was removed. If it is not reasonably possible to comply with the planting requirements of this section, the POD may approve a payment in lieu of planting which shall be utilized to provide addit...
Weed Ordinances
St. Petersburg caps grass and weeds at a maximum overall height of 10 inches under City Code § 16.40.060.3.1.D, with ground cover plant material allowed up to 24 inches. The Planning & Economic Development Department (POD) enforces the limit through a written notice-of-violation process, and the City can clear an overgrown lot itself and lien the property for the cost.
St. Petersburg Grass and Weed Height Limit
Some RestrictionsSt. Petersburg City Code § 16.40.060.3.1.D
Sod (including turf and turfgrass) or other herbaceous growth other than ground cover species shall be maintained at a maximum overall height of ten inches or less; ground cover plant material shall be maintained at an overall height not to exceed 24 inches. Property designated as a preservation area shall not be required to meet these standards.
Water Restrictions
St. Petersburg limits potable-water lawn and landscape irrigation to set hours and, further, to two fixed days a week tied to your street address. Tuesdays/Saturdays for even addresses and A-M, Wednesdays/Sundays for odd addresses and N-Z, under City Code § 27-46.
St. Petersburg Lawn Watering Day Restrictions
Some RestrictionsSt. Petersburg City Code § 27-46
(2) Irrigation of established lawns and landscaping with potable water, private wells, or private connections with surface water bodies shall be permitted only between the hours of 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. ... (4) Irrigation of established lawns and landscaping with potable water, private wells, or private connections with surface water bodies shall be further restrict...
Rainwater Harvesting
Rain barrels and cisterns count as "ancillary equipment" under City Code § 16.50.020.4.2: allowed citywide but subject to the same setback, one-foot ground-height cap, and street-facing screening rules that apply to pool pumps and solar panels, not a special rainwater-specific permit.
St. Petersburg Rainwater Harvesting Device Rules
Some RestrictionsSt. Petersburg City Code § 16.50.020.4.2
For the purposes of this section, "ancillary equipment" means: ... Renewable energy devices and other sustainable development technologies including, but not limited to, solar photovoltaic (pv) panels, solar hot water, solar pool heaters, tankless water heaters, geothermal heat pumps, gray-water systems and rainwater harvesting devices, such as rain barrels and cisterns. ... Ancillary equipment...
Native Plants
St. Petersburg City Code § 16.40.060.3.1(D) normally caps sod and turfgrass at ten inches and other ground cover at 24 inches, but property owners who convert to Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ or wildlife habitat management are excused from those height limits: as long as they keep a written management plan and can show active, ongoing maintenance.
St. Petersburg Florida-Friendly Landscape Height Exemption
Light RestrictionsSt. Petersburg City Code § 16.40.060.3.1(D)
D. Sod (including turf and turfgrass) or other herbaceous growth other than ground cover species shall be maintained at a maximum overall height of ten inches or less; ground cover plant material shall be maintained at an overall height not to exceed 24 inches. Property designated as a preservation area shall not be required to meet these standards. Property owners who employ Florida-Friendly L...
Looking for Pinellas County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement St. Petersburg city rules.
Landscaping Rules in Pinellas County →