Eastern Hillsborough County including areas around Balm, Lithia, Wimauma, and the Green Swamp fringe contains significant wildland-urban interface with pine flatwoods and palmetto fuels. The Keetch-Byram Drought Index triggers county burn bans, and Fire Rescue maintains pre-positioned brush trucks.
Hillsborough County Fire Rescue coordinates with the Florida Forest Service Lakeland District and the Southwest Florida Water Management District on wildfire response. When KBDI exceeds 600, the Board of County Commissioners may declare a local burn ban under FL 125.0109 suspending open burning and consumer fireworks except as preempted by state law. New subdivisions near conservation lands are encouraged to adopt Firewise standards including ignition-resistant roofing and five-foot non-combustible zones.
Violating an active burn ban: up to 500 dollar fine and misdemeanor charge under FL 125.69. Suppression cost recovery may apply to negligent ignitions.
Hillsborough County, FL
Hillsborough County Animal Control Ordinance treats continuous barking over 10 minutes, or intermittent barking over 30 minutes, as a public nuisance enforce...
Hillsborough County, FL
Construction noise in unincorporated Hillsborough County is restricted to 7 AM through 7 PM Monday to Saturday, with no Sunday or legal holiday work except f...
Hillsborough County, FL
Hillsborough County has no leaf-blower-specific ordinance. Gas blowers are allowed during construction/landscape hours (7 AM to 7 PM) and must not exceed gen...
Hillsborough County, FL
In unincorporated Hillsborough County, retaining walls are regulated under Land Development Code Part 6.07.00 (Fences and Walls) for setback and dimensional ...
Hillsborough County, FL
Corner lots in Hillsborough County must maintain a sight visibility triangle: no fence, wall, or landscaping over 30 inches within 25 feet of the intersectin...
Hillsborough County, FL
Florida has no shared-cost fence law. FL §823.11 prohibits spite fences erected maliciously. Each owner is responsible for their own fence in Hillsborough Co...
See how Hillsborough County's wildfire zones rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.