Palm Coast, FL Landscaping Rules: Artificial Turf (2026)

Chapter 35, Division 3 of the Palm Coast Code addresses weeds, high growth, rubbish and trash as public nuisances, and Sec. 35-76 sets the maintenance duties that come with that nuisance declaration. Subsection (d)(2) requires that front, side and rear yard landscaping be maintained in accordance with the city's codes, and then defines what counts as landscaping for that purpose. , 'landscape shall include, but not be limited to, grass, groundcovers, bushes, shrubs, hedges or similar plantings, decorative rock or bark or artificial turf/sod designed specifically for residential installation,' while weeds, gravel, broken concrete, asphalt or similar material do not count as landscape.

That means a homeowner can install artificial turf or sod marketed for residential use in place of natural grass without running afoul of the nuisance ordinance, so long as the yard is otherwise maintained, watered, mowed or trimmed as required and free of weeds, overgrown brush, dead vegetation, trash, junk and debris (Sec. ). The same subsection also requires the property to stay free of graffiti and keeps a pool or spa on the lot clear of pollutants and compliant with the enclosure requirements of the Property Maintenance Code at Sec.

15-109(b). A property owner who fails to meet these maintenance duties can be cited by the city's Code Enforcement Officer and referred to the Code Enforcement Board or Hearing Officer, unless the City Manager or designee determines the condition is an imminent public health threat warranting faster abatement (Sec. , (e)).