Palm Bay, FL Invasive Plant Rules: Prohibited Species (2026)
Key Facts
- Banned category
- Class I invasive species
- Removal deadline
- Before certificate of occupancy
- Example species
- Brazilian pepper, camphor, carrotwood
- Source list
- Florida Invasive Species Council, annual
Summary
Palm Bay bans all Class I invasive plant species, Brazilian pepper, camphor, carrotwood and others, from any landscaping plan and requires their removal before a certificate of occupancy issues.
Prohibited species. All Class I invasive plant species, as established annually by the Florida Invasive Species Council are prohibited. If any of these species are existing on the property at the time of development, they must be removed before development will receive a certificate of occupancy; they may not to be used as substitutes to fulfill the requirements in this section, nor shall they be planted on site. These species include but are not limited to:
BOTANICAL NAME COMMON NAMES BOTANICAL NAME COMMON NAMES Casuarina Australian pine, beefwood Melaleuca Cajeput, punk tree, paperbark tree Eucalyptus Eucalyptus, gum tree Schinus terebinthifolius Brazilian pepper Ricinus cummunis Castor bean Melia azedarach Chinaberry Enterolobium cyclocarpum Ear tree, elephant ear Cinnamomum camphora Camphor tree Sapium sebiferum Chinese Tallow Cupaniopsis anacardioides Carrotwood Leucaena leucocephala White Leadtree
(D) Trees. Any self-supporting woody plant which is of a species having an average mature height of fifteen (15) feet or greater and having trunks which can be maintained in a clean condition with over five (5) feet of clear wood measured from the ground at maturity. No single species of tree shall be used to total more than fifty percent (50%) of the required number of trees.
(1) Avoiding conflicts. Tree species known to cause damage to roadways
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-41: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. 2026-13, passed 5-21-26).
Full Breakdown
Under § 175.027(C), Palm Bay prohibits planting any Class I invasive plant species, as designated annually by the Florida Invasive Species Council, anywhere in a required landscaping plan. If a site slated for development already has these species growing on it, they must be cleared before the city will issue a certificate of occupancy, and they cannot be counted as substitute plantings to satisfy any landscaping requirement. The code lists examples including Australian pine, melaleuca, eucalyptus, Brazilian pepper, castor bean, chinaberry, camphor tree, Chinese tallow, carrotwood, and white leadtree.
Violations & Fines
Sites with prohibited species left in place cannot obtain a certificate of occupancy until the plants are removed, and using them to satisfy landscaping requirements voids that portion of an approved plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I plant Brazilian pepper or camphor trees in Palm Bay?
What happens if invasive species are already growing on a site I'm developing?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Palm Bay
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Palm Bay to another location·View the Florida invasive plant rules overview
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Prohibited Species in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Brevard County handle prohibited species.