Palm Beach County, FL Invasive Plant Rules: Prohibited Species (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing article
- Code §§ 11-361 through 11-367
- Removal deadline
- By Jan. 1, per Attachment B schedule
- Max penalty
- $1,000 per day, per violation
- Enforcing agency
- Environmental Resources Management (ERM)
- No-exemption species
- Old-world climbing fern, air potato vine
Summary
Palm Beach County requires property owners to eradicate prohibited invasive non-native plants such as melaleuca, Brazilian pepper, and Australian pine by set deadlines under the county's Countywide Prohibited Invasive Non-Native Vegetation Removal Ordinance, enforced by Environmental Resources Management.
By January 1, of the applicable year provided on Attachment B, a parcel owner shall remove or caused to be removed or eradicated, the prohibited invasive non-native vegetation as listed on Attachment B unless an exemption is provided under section 11-366. Attachment B is not set out herein, but is on file and available for inspection in the office of the clerk of the county board of commissioners.(b)Upon removal of prohibited invasive non-native vegetation under this article or any ordinance requiring removal of this nuisance vegetation, the parcel owner shall maintain the parcel free of prohibited invasive non-native vegetation.(c)Qualified parcel owners who receive incentives under this article shall maintain the parcel free of prohibited invasive non-native vegetation.(d)Complete removal or eradication of all prohibited invasive non-native vegetation as listed on Attachment B, shall be completed for an entire parcel prior to the certificate of occupancy. Planting or installation of this vegetation is prohibited. (Ord. No. 03-011, § 4, 2-25-03)
Full Breakdown
Article XIV of the county code requires a parcel owner to remove or eradicate the species listed on Attachment B by the deadline set for that species, then keep the parcel free of regrowth. The rule reaches both unincorporated and incorporated Palm Beach County, unless a specific municipality has adopted its own ordinance, which then prevails there under Charter Art. 1, § 1.3. Old-world climbing fern and air potato vine must be removed with no exemption available. Parcels within a 500-foot buffer of a listed natural area face the same removal duty plus added incentive funding. Environmental Resources Management (ERM) inspects and issues notices; unresolved cases go to the Groundwater and Natural Resources Protection Board (GNRPB).
Violations & Fines
GNRPB may impose corrective orders and civil penalties up to $1,000 per day, per violation, plus the county's investigation and attorney's fees. Selling a parcel without disclosing a pending violation creates a rebuttable presumption of fraud against the seller.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this apply inside cities like West Palm Beach or Boca Raton?
Which plants are actually prohibited?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Palm Beach County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Palm Beach County to another location·View the Florida invasive plant rules overview
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