Fort Myers, FL Invasive Plant Rules: Prohibited Species (2026)
Key Facts
- Prohibited list
- FLEPPC Category 1 invasive species
- Scope
- Bans installing or using listed species
- Duration
- Sites kept free of species in perpetuity
- Removal incentive
- No permit fee removing Category 1 trees
- Code location
- Land Development Code Ch. 138, Vegetation
Summary
Fort Myers prohibits using or installing any plant on the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council's Category 1 invasive list, and developed sites must stay free of these species permanently.
The use or installation of any plant species as identified in the most recent edition of the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council's Invasive Plant List as a Category 1 invasive plant species shall be prohibited. After development, the site must be maintained in perpetuity, free from prohibited nuisance species defined herein.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 60).
Full Breakdown
Fort Myers's Land Development Code bans the use or installation of any plant species on the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council's Category 1 invasive list: the state's roster of the worst ecological threats, including species like Brazilian pepper and melaleuca. The rule sits in Chapter 138, Vegetation, and applies citywide, including land subsequently annexed. It doesn't stop at planting: developed sites must be maintained in perpetuity free of these prohibited nuisance species, so an existing stand discovered later isn't grandfathered in. The same article waives the tree-removal permit fee when every tree removed is a Category 1 species, rewarding removal.
Violations & Fines
Violations of the vegetation article go to the code enforcement board or are a second-degree misdemeanor: up to 60 days imprisonment and/or a fine up to $500, with each tree a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I plant Brazilian pepper or other Category 1 invasive species in Fort Myers?
Does Fort Myers waive the tree-removal permit fee for invasive species?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fort Myers
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Fort Myers to another location·View the Florida invasive plant rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Prohibited Species in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Lee County handle prohibited species.