Miami Gardens, FL Invasive Plant Rules: Prohibited Species (2026)

Miami-Dade County's prohibited plant regulations are among the strictest in the nation, driven by the need to protect the Everglades, Biscayne Bay, tropical hardwood hammocks, and pine rockland ecosystems. Under Chapter 18A of the county code, it is illegal to sell, propagate, or plant listed prohibited species anywhere in the county. The prohibited list includes Australian pine (Casuarina), Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolia), melaleuca (paper bark tree), carrotwood (Cupaniopsis anacardioides), bishop wood, and numerous other documented invasive species. A separate 'controlled species' category restricts plants that cannot be planted within 500 feet of native plant communities. The list is developed in coordination with the University of Florida IFAS Extension and the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council (FLEPPC) Category I and II invasive lists. The county periodically updates the prohibited list as new invasive species are identified. Property owners with existing prohibited species on their property may be required to remove them as part of development or permitting processes. The county's tropical climate, proximity to Caribbean and Central American plant pathways, and sensitive ecosystems make invasive species management a top environmental priority.