Flagler County, FL Landscaping Rules: Composting (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Flagler County Code Sec. 27-31(5)
- Requirement
- Screened from public sight and smell
- Enclosure standard
- Fences, walls or coverings, pest-resistant
- If unscreened
- Treated as litter under Sec. 27-30(1)
- Applies to
- Unincorporated Flagler County only
Summary
Unincorporated Flagler County allows a residential compost pile as an exception to its Litter Control article, but only if it is screened or blocked from public view and smell under Sec. 27-31(5), using fences, walls, coverings or similarly durable structures that also keep out flying insects and animals.
(5)A compost pile screened or blocked from the public's view and smell by use of fences, walls, coverings or structures as strong and durable as necessary to control and maintain the sight and smell of the material in the compost pile from the public or neighbors and as strong and durable as necessary to prevent the compost pile from attracting flying insects or animals.
Full Breakdown
Flagler County's Litter Control article, Ch. 27, Art. II, generally treats accumulated organic waste as litter, but Sec. ' In practice this means a compost pile in the unincorporated county is not automatically a litter violation the way an unscreened accumulation of yard trash or garbage would be under Sec. 27-29(k) and Sec. 27-30(1); it has to be actively screened from neighbors' sight and smell and built durably enough to keep it from drawing flies or animals. The article does not set a maximum size, a required setback from a property line, or a specific enclosure material; it leaves the standard functional (does it block sight and smell, and does it keep out pests), which a code enforcement officer applies case by case if a neighbor complains.
Because Sec. 27-28 scopes this article to 'the unincorporated areas of the county,' the exception applies only outside Palm Coast, Flagler Beach, Beverly Beach, Bunnell and Marineland, each of which would apply its own yard-waste or composting rule, if any, inside city limits.
Violations & Fines
An unscreened compost pile that draws a nuisance-litter complaint falls back under Sec. 27-30(1) as an act of litter, exposing the property owner to enforcement under Sec. 27-32(a): a code enforcement board case, a civil action, or a criminal sanction of up to $500.00 per day and up to 60 days in the county jail, with each continuing day a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I keep a compost pile in my yard in unincorporated Flagler County?
Does Flagler County set a size limit for a compost pile?
What happens if my compost pile isn't screened and a neighbor complains?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Flagler County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Flagler County to another location·View the Florida landscaping rules overview
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