Davie, FL Landscaping Rules: Artificial Turf (2026)
Key Facts
- Max lot coverage
- 10% of lot area
- Front yard turf
- not permitted
- Side yard turf
- must be behind a fence
- Bufferyards/easements
- turf prohibited
Summary
Davie's Land Development Code allows artificial turf as a sod alternative in Broward County but caps it at 10% of a lot's area, bars it from required front yards and bufferyards, and requires side-yard turf to sit behind a fence.
(B)Location and maximum area.1.Artificial or synthetic turf shall not comprise more than ten (10) percent of the horizontal area of a lot.2.Artificial or synthetic turf is not permitted within any required bufferyard or scenic corridor.3.Artificial or synthetic turf is not permitted within any canal maintenance easement, lake maintenance easement, or area of a lot designed to satisfy stormwater detention or retention requirements (wet or dry), regardless of whether such easements or requirements are those of the town, an independent water control district or any combination of such requirements.4.Artificial or synthetic turf is not permitted within any required front yard or the area between the front property line and nearest portion of the principal building, whichever is greater. When installed within a side yard, artificial or synthetic turf areas must be located behind a fence, as viewed from the street. (Ord. No. O2024-015, § 2(Exh. A), 5-15-24)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 75).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 12-118 permits artificial or synthetic turf as an alternative to natural sod if installed over a properly graded, minimum 3-inch porous aggregate subgrade with a water-permeable backing, anchored at all edges with no visible seams. Turf cannot exceed 10 percent of a lot's horizontal area and is barred from required bufferyards, scenic corridors, canal or lake maintenance easements, and stormwater detention or retention areas. It is also prohibited in required front yards or the area between the front property line and the house, whichever is greater; turf placed in a side yard must sit behind a fence as viewed from the street.
Violations & Fines
Installing artificial turf beyond the 10-percent lot cap or within a barred area is a Land Development Code violation subject to Davie's Chapter 6 Code Enforcement Special Magistrate process.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much of my Davie yard can be artificial turf?
Is artificial turf allowed in a Davie side yard?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Davie
How Davie compares: Most Artificial Turf-Friendly Cities·Florida rules heatmap·Compare Davie to another location·View the Florida landscaping rules overview
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Artificial Turf in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Broward County handle artificial turf.