Lee County's development landscape standards require a large share of native Florida trees and shrubs from Appendix E, and Florida law (FS 373.185) bars HOAs from prohibiting water-conserving Florida-friendly landscaping. Native gardens are protected, not banned.
Lee County LDC Chapter 10, Division 6 (open space, buffering, and landscaping) sets plant-material standards for development, requiring a substantial share of native Florida species (at least 75 percent of trees and 50 percent of shrubs used to meet landscape requirements are native) and preferring drought-tolerant, Florida-friendly plantings. Protected native species are in LDC Appendix E. Statewide, FS 373.185 defines Florida-friendly landscaping as quality landscapes that conserve water, protect the environment, are adaptable to local conditions, and are drought tolerant, and bars deed restrictions or covenants from prohibiting it. Individual homeowners are not required to convert existing yards, but new development landscaping must meet the native-plant percentages.
For permitted development, failing to meet the native-plant percentages or plant-material standards can block landscape-plan or certificate-of-occupancy approval. An HOA that prohibits compliant Florida-friendly or native landscaping acts contrary to FS 373.185(3)(b).
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Cape Coral, FL
Cape Coral §12-22 (Noise Control Ordinance, amended Dec 2019) prohibits noise plainly audible at 50 feet between 11 PM and 7 AM from any radio, TV, musical i...
Cape Coral, FL
Cape Coral Land Development Code Section 5.2.7 limits residential fences in the front setback, allows up to 6 feet in side and rear yards, and requires open ...
Cape Coral, FL
Dogs in Cape Coral must be under direct control on a leash not exceeding 8 feet in length under Lee County Animal Control Ordinance. Cape Coral Code Chapter ...
Cape Coral, FL
Cape Coral generally allows lawn ornaments, statues, flamingos, garden gnomes, and similar decorative items without a permit. Cape Coral Code Section 5.5.13 ...
Cape Coral, FL
Inflatable holiday displays (giant snowmen, Halloween figures, Easter bunnies) are not specifically regulated by Cape Coral's Code of Ordinances and are gene...
Cape Coral, FL
Cape Coral does not have a dedicated holiday-light ordinance and treats seasonal lighting as a normal residential accessory use, generally allowed without a ...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Lee County.
See how Cape Coral's native plants rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.