Seminole County, FL Landscaping Rules: Artificial Turf (2026)
Key Facts
- Applies to
- Registered foreclosed/abandoned property
- Permitted landscaping
- Grass, ground cover, rock/bark, artificial turf/sod
- Maintenance duty
- Watering, mowing, yard-waste removal
- Inspection frequency
- At least monthly by local manager
- Enforcement
- Code Enforcement citation or notice of violation
- Legal basis
- Chapter 95, Article III
Summary
Seminole County Code Section 95.26(c) lists artificial turf or sod as acceptable landscaping for foreclosed and abandoned properties registered under the County's Vacant Property Program, alongside grass, ground cover, bushes, shrubs, hedges, and decorative rock or bark. The mortgagee or owner must still water, mow, and remove yard waste to keep the lot from looking abandoned.
Sec. 95.26. - Maintenance requirements. ... (c) Front, side, and rear yard landscaping shall be maintained in accordance with the County's regulations and standards at the time registration was required. Landscaping shall include, but is not limited to: grass; ground cover; bushes; shrubs; hedges or similar plantings; decorative rock or bark; or artificial turf/sod. Maintenance shall include, but is not limited to: watering; cutting and mowing of landscape; and removal of yard waste.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 23 Update 1 | Land Development Code: Supplement 2).
Full Breakdown
23. 26(c) sets the landscaping standard for those registered properties: "Front, side, and rear yard landscaping shall be maintained in accordance with the County's regulations and standards at the time registration was required. Landscaping shall include, but is not limited to: grass; ground cover; bushes; shrubs; hedges or similar plantings; decorative rock or bark; or artificial turf/sod. " This is a maintenance-program allowance for registered vacant and foreclosed real property, not a general zoning rule for occupied residential yards countywide; residential landscaping standards outside this foreclosure program sit in the separate Land Development Code, which this file does not contain. 26(b) requires graffiti removal from the exterior. 23, to inspect, water, mow, and otherwise maintain the landscaping at least monthly.
Violations & Fines
Section 95.26(e) makes failure to properly maintain a registered property, including its landscaping, a violation of the County Code "subject to enforcement by any means available to the County, including issuance of a citation or notice of violation/notice of hearing by a Code Enforcement Officer." On a finding by the Code Enforcement Board or Special Magistrate, the County may take abatement action at the owner's or mortgagee's expense to bring the landscaping into compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I install artificial turf in my yard anywhere in Seminole County?
What properties does this artificial turf allowance actually cover?
Do banks still have to maintain the lawn if they use artificial turf?
What happens if a registered vacant property's landscaping is not maintained?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Seminole County
How Seminole County compares: Most Artificial Turf-Friendly Cities·Florida rules heatmap·Compare Seminole County to another location·View the Florida landscaping rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.