Polk County, FL Landscaping Rules: Artificial Turf (2026)

Polk County's LDC landscaping section (720) is written around living plant material grass, groundcover, shrubs and trees selected for water efficiency; it sets canopy, native-tree and water-use-zone requirements that artificial turf does not satisfy. The code neither bans nor specifically permits synthetic turf on private residential lots, so a homeowner may install it, but it will not count toward required landscaped or canopy area for development approvals. Turf grass itself must not be planted in strips narrower than four feet, where native or drought-tolerant groundcover is encouraged instead. HOAs and city ordinances may impose their own limits on artificial turf.