Landscaping Rules in Alachua County, FL (2026)
4 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Alachua County, Florida.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
Alachua County requires a tree removal permit before any regulated tree, native species eight inches or larger in diameter, comes down on unincorporated land, under Alachua County Code § 406.16.2. Lots of record of one acre or less skip mitigation if no champion or heritage tree is removed; clearing a champion or heritage tree, or clearing beyond one acre, triggers permit review and replacement planting under Table 406.15.1.
Tree Removal Permits in Unincorporated Alachua County
Significant RestrictionsAlachua County Code § 406.16.2
All construction activity on a lot of record that is to be used for residential purposes is subject to the requirements for tree removal set forth below... (2)A tree removal permit and any associated mitigation are not required on residential lots of record one (1) acre or less provided no champion or heritage trees are removed and all other ULDC requirements are met. If a champion or heritage ...
Weed Ordinances
Alachua County Code § 74.36 caps 'nuisance overgrowth', weeds, grasses, shrubs, and underbrush left to grow uncontrolled, at 18 inches from the soil on any improved property in unincorporated Alachua County, excluding seed-head height. Agricultural, conservation, waterway, and government-owned land are exempt; the owner of improved property is responsible for mowing, cutting, and clearing.
Max Weed & Grass Height, Alachua County
Some RestrictionsAlachua County Code § 74.36
(a)Prohibition. Nuisance overgrowth in excess of 18 inches in height, measured from the soil level, and excluding the height of seed heads, is prohibited on any improved property, as defined, unless exempted as provided in this article. It is the responsibility of the owner of the improved property to mow, cut, and clear nuisance overgrowth.(b)Exemptions from prohibitions. The following propert...
Water Restrictions
Alachua County limits landscape irrigation to fixed days and hours under Code § 77.49. During Daylight Saving Time, odd-address homes water Wednesday and Saturday, even-address homes water Thursday and Sunday, and non-residential property waters Tuesday and Friday: never between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., and never more than three-fourths inch per zone per day.
Alachua County Lawn Watering Day Schedule
Some RestrictionsAlachua County Code § 77.49
(a)When Daylight Savings Time is in effect (second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November), 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.; and(2)Residential landscape irriga...
Native Plants
New landscaping on development sites in unincorporated Alachua County must be at least 75 percent native species across trees, shrubs, and groundcovers. Up to 10 percent of that requirement can be met with edible native species, and keystone species get design preference.
Native Plant Landscaping Rules in Alachua County
Some RestrictionsAlachua County Code § 407.44(b)
Native species. At least seventy-five (75) percent each of new tree, shrub, and groundcover plantings shall be native species. Cultivars of native species are considered native species.(1)Up to ten (10) percent of these requirements may be met with edible species identified in Table 407.50.1. and Table 407.50.2.(2)Preference should be given to keystone species as identified in Table 407.50.1. a...
Landscaping Rules by City in Alachua County
1 cities in Alachua County have their own landscaping rules rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Alachua County ordinances
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