St. Johns County, FL Invasive Plant Rules: Prohibited Species (2026)
Key Facts
- Buffer width
- 10-25 ft (up to 50 ft in some cases)
- Prohibited plants
- Turf grass, exotic/non-native species
- Required replanting
- Species native to original ecological community
- Enforcing office
- County Administrator / Growth Management
- Application requirement
- Planting plan filed with Development application
- Governing section
- LDC § 4.01.06 (Wetlands, Estuaries, Water Bodies)
Summary
Unincorporated St. Johns County bans turf grass and exotic or non-native plants from Upland Buffers that must be restored around wetlands, estuaries and natural water bodies. Growth Management requires replanting with vegetation native to the original ecological community whenever a required buffer is disturbed by permitted fill work or stormwater bank construction, under Land Development Code Section 4.01.06.
3. In an area where the Upland Buffer is or will be comprised of fill material, or the bank of a stormwater system, with permits by state and federal regulating agencies, the area shall be reestablished as a natural Upland Buffer by the replanting of plants that are natural and native to the original ecological community. Turf grasses and exotic or non-native plants are expressly prohibited. Upland Buffer planting plans shall be provided with the Development application.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
1, any new development must maintain a natural vegetative Upland Buffer, generally 10 to 25 feet and up to 50 feet in some cases, measured from the St. Johns River Water Management District or Florida DEP wetland jurisdictional line, between developed areas and Contiguous Wetlands. 3 requires the area to be reestablished with plants natural and native to the original ecological community. Turf grasses and exotic or non-native plants are expressly prohibited in that replanting, and a planting plan must be submitted with the Development application before the County Administrator's Growth Management staff will approve it.
1 requires that any native vegetation removed or destroyed within the Upland Buffer in violation of the Code be restored with comparable native species. 4 for unavoidable wetland impacts, such as a road crossing, a utility crossing, or a single driveway to a legal residential lot, but the County Administrator cannot approve a variance for a self-created hardship, such as siting a road or driveway in wetlands purely to preserve upland area for development elsewhere on the parcel.
Violations & Fines
Buffer and replanting violations run through the Code's general enforcement path at Part 10.05.00. The County Administrator issues a notice under Chapter 162, Florida Statutes, specifying the violation and required correction. If uncorrected, the violator can be prosecuted as a misdemeanor under Section 125.69, F.S., or cited under the Chapter 162 citation procedure, with each day a violation continues counted as a separate offense. The Board of County Commissioners may also seek a civil injunction and recover attorney's fees and costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I plant turf grass or ornamental exotics in my required wetland buffer?
What counts as an Upland Buffer under this rule?
What happens if I clear native vegetation out of the buffer?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Johns County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare St. Johns County to another location·View the Florida invasive plant rules overview
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