Water Use Rules in Martin County, FL (2026)

2 rules for unincorporated Martin County, Florida.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Martin County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Turf Replacement Rebates

Martin County's landscape standards cap where irrigated turfgrass can go: new development landscape plans can only place it where people actually walk, play, cover a septic drainfield or hold soil on slopes and swales. Drought-tolerant grasses are preferred over traditional turf, and every turf area has to be measured and shown on the landscape plan.

Martin County Limits Irrigated Turfgrass Areas

Some Restrictions

Sec. 4.664.E.4-5, Martin County Land Development Regulations

The use of drought-tolerant grasses is preferred over traditional turf grass varieties. Grass areas may be sodded, plugged, sprigged or seeded, provided that solid sod shall be used in swales, rights-of-ways or other areas subject to erosion... Irrigated turfgrass areas shall be consolidated and limited to those areas on the site that receive pedestrian traffic, provide for recreation use, prov...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Recycled Water Rules

Martin County's groundwater protection article requires development projects to hook into irrigation-quality reclaimed water whenever a distribution main sits within 100 feet of the property and capacity exists. Potable water cannot be used for irrigation once reclaimed water is available, and existing potable-fed systems must switch over within a year of written notice.

Martin County Requires Use of Reclaimed IQ Water

Some Restrictions

Sec. 159.166.C.5, Martin County Code of Ordinances

Projects shall use irrigation quality (IQ) wastewater when available. Irrigation quality wastewater shall be deemed available when the distribution main is located within 100 feet of the property to be serviced and IQ capacity is available. Potable water shall not be used if reclaimed water is available. Existing irrigation systems using County potable water shall be required to disconnect and ...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

All Martin County ordinances

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