Landscaping Rules in Citrus County, FL (2026)
5 rules for unincorporated Citrus County, Florida.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
In unincorporated Citrus County, any tree four inches or more in diameter at breast height is a protected tree under the Land Development Code, and removing one requires a development permit before work begins. Already-developed residential lots are exempt, but agriculture, right-of-way work and dead or invasive trees have their own limited exemptions.
Citrus County Requires Permit to Remove Trees
Some RestrictionsCitrus County LDC §§ 5705, 5715 (Ch. Five, Ord. 2025-A04)
5705. Authority and Scope A. A protected tree (herein called a ‘tree’) shall be any perennial, woody plant measuring four inches or greater in diameter at breast height (dbh), as may be identified by site visit, aerial photos/pictometry, or similar methods. Breast height is defined as four and one-half feet above grade. C. Protected trees, unless exempt from the requirements of this chapter, sh...
Weed Ordinances
Unincorporated Citrus County bans grass, weeds, brush and undergrowth over 18 inches high on residential, commercial, industrial and small agricultural lots, but exempts land left naturally vegetated and unmowed for five straight years.
Citrus County 18-Inch Weed Height Limit
Some RestrictionsCitrus County Code § 20-61
It shall be unlawful for any person owning, leasing, occupying or having control of any property subject to the provisions of this section to permit or maintain grass, weeds, brush and undergrowth in excess of 18 inches in height, or an accumulation of vegetative matter.
Water Restrictions
Unincorporated Citrus County limits established lawn and landscape irrigation to one day a week, assigned by the last digit of the property address, and only during two allowed windows: midnight to 10 a.m. or 4 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. Violators face escalating civil fines starting at $100.00.
Citrus County Lawn Watering Schedule
Some RestrictionsCitrus County Code § 66-37(a)(4)
a.Times. Established lawns and landscapes may be watered from 12:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. or 4:00 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. A user may irrigate established lawns and landscaping during only one of the specified time periods on the allowable watering day.b.Days. Established lawns and landscapes shall be limited to once per week watering as follows: Addresses ending in the number zero or one—Mondays; Addre...
Native Plants
Unincorporated Citrus County exempts naturally vegetated parcels from its 18-inch grass and weed height nuisance limit. Under Code of Ordinances Sec. 20-62(b), land left uncleared and unmowed for five straight years qualifies as "natural vegetation" and is not cited for excessive growth.
Citrus County Natural Vegetation Exemption
Light RestrictionsCitrus County Code § 20-62(b)
The height provisions of this section shall not apply to parcels with natural vegetation, which shall be defined as any parcel of land considered naturally vegetated if the parcel has not been cleared or mowed within the five years preceding the complaint.
Artificial Turf
Within Citrus County's Cardinal Mixed Use (CMU) District along the Cardinal Street corridor, the Land Development Code bars artificial turf and other artificial plant material from required landscaping unless Florida law specifically allows it. The rule governs landscape plans for non-residential and mixed-use development reviewed inside the Cardinal Street Interchange Management Area, not ordinary residential yards elsewhere in unincorporated Citrus County.
Citrus County CMU District Bars Artificial Turf
Significant RestrictionsCitrus County Land Development Code § 3426(A)(6)(b)(iii)(4) (Chapter Three, Use Standards, Cardinal Mixed Use District, Ord. 2026-A16, June 22, 2026)
4. Any plant material listed as prohibited in Chapter 5, Landscaping, Buffering and Tree Preservation, or artificial plant material such as artificial turf, shall be prohibited unless permitted by State law.
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