West Palm Beach, FL Invasive Plant Rules: Prohibited Species (2026)
Key Facts
- Prohibited species count
- 9 named species plus state noxious list
- Example species
- Australian pine, Brazilian pepper, Melaleuca
- Applies to
- All planting citywide, Sec. 94-445
- CO condition
- Removal required before certificate of occupancy
- Removal permit
- No standard permit justification needed
- State cross-reference
- Rule 5B-57.007 F.A.C. noxious weed list
Summary
West Palm Beach's landscape code, Sec. 94-445(4)i, names nine species, including Australian pine, Brazilian pepper, and Melaleuca, as prohibited trees that may not be planted anywhere in the city and must be removed as part of maintenance or development. Sec. 94-448 backs the ban with enforcement: prohibited trees found on a redevelopment site must be removed and disposed of before the city will issue a certificate of occupancy.
i. Prohibited trees. The following tree species are considered invasive and will overtake other plant habitats. The following tree species are therefore considered unacceptable for use as landscape trees and shall not be planted within the city and shall be removed as required for maintenance and development: 1. Casuarina species (Australian pine tree) 2. Schinus terebinthifolius (Brazilian pepper tree) 3. Melaleuca quinquenervia (Melaleuca tree) 4. Bischofia javanica (Bishopwood) 5. Acacia auriculaeformis (Earleaf Acacia). 6. Schefflera actinophylla (Schefflera). 7. Albizia lebbeck (Woman's Tongue). 8. Cupianopsis anacardioides (Carrotwood). 9. Plants listed in Rule 5B-57.007 F.A.C, noxious weed list from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services as revised from time to time.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 76).
Full Breakdown
Sec. C. The ban applies citywide: these trees shall not be planted within the city and shall be removed as required for maintenance and development. Sec. 94-448 folds that list into the city's tree-protection permitting: subsection (d)(2)e allows a tree-removal permit for any prohibited tree without the justification otherwise required for protected trees, subsection (d)(3)c exempts their removal from the standard tree-alteration permit process entirely, and subsection (f)(11) requires that all prohibited trees on a site be removed and disposed of from the entire site before a certificate of occupancy can be obtained.
The prohibition also interacts with the city's land clearing permit rule at Sec. 94-449(d)(1), which conditions permit issuance on removal and disposal of any prohibited trees present. Because the list is tied to the state noxious weed rule, additional species designated by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services are automatically incorporated without a separate city ordinance amendment.
Violations & Fines
Planting a listed species anywhere in the city violates Sec. 94-445(4)i and is enforced as a general zoning violation under Sec. 94-9: a fine of up to $500, with each day of continued violation counted separately, plus available code enforcement remedies under chapter 26. A certificate of occupancy will not issue on redevelopment until every prohibited tree on the site is removed and disposed of under Sec. 94-448(f)(11).
Frequently Asked Questions
What trees are banned from being planted in West Palm Beach?
Do I need a special permit to remove a prohibited invasive tree?
Can I get a certificate of occupancy if invasive trees remain on my redevelopment site?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in West Palm Beach
Florida rules heatmap·Compare West Palm Beach 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 Palm Beach County handle prohibited species.