Tampa, FL Landscaping Rules: Artificial Turf (2026)

Tampa residents benefit from one of Florida's strongest pro-artificial-turf state laws. Florida SB 544 (2023), codified in Florida Statutes §720.3075(5), prevents homeowner associations from prohibiting or restricting the installation of artificial turf on a parcel by the owner of that parcel, so long as the product meets minimum quality standards for drainage, appearance, and lead content. HOAs may adopt reasonable aesthetic standards governing color, pile height, and edging but cannot impose an outright ban. At the municipal level, Tampa's Land Development Code allows synthetic turf in most single-family residential zoning districts (RS-50, RS-60, RS-75, RS-100) without a permit or landscape plan review, provided it does not conflict with stormwater requirements. Commercial, multi-family, and industrial sites generally require landscape and stormwater plan approval because large impervious or semi-impervious surfaces can affect runoff calculations under the Tampa Stormwater Management Ordinance (Chapter 21). Property-line setbacks and tree protection zones must be respected; synthetic turf should not be installed within the critical root zone of protected trees. Installations must not drain concentrated runoff onto neighboring properties or into rights-of-way. Heat-island mitigation is a practical consideration — synthetic turf can reach 150°F+ in Tampa summer sun — and homeowners are encouraged to combine turf with shade trees and native beds. FL §720.3075(5) does not preempt local building or stormwater codes, so unusual installations may still require review.