Fort Lauderdale, FL Landscaping Rules: Native Plants (2026)

Under Code of Ordinances Sec. 28-1B(c)(3), "Florida-Friendly landscape," the city has adopted an affirmative policy in favor of natural, water-wise yards: "It is the city's policy to encourage Florida-Friendly Landscapes throughout its service area. " The same section, Sec. 28-1B(a), defines a Florida-Friendly Landscape as one that "conserve[s] water, protect[s] the environment, [is] adaptable to local conditions, and [is] drought tolerant," built on principles including planting the right plant in the right place, efficient watering, mulching, attraction of wildlife, responsible pest management, recycling yard waste, reduced stormwater runoff and waterfront protection, plus planning and design, soil analysis, use of compost, practical turf use and proper maintenance.

Sec. 28-1B sits inside the city's broader water conservation article (Secs. 28-1 through 28-1C, enacted by Ord. No. C-09-13 on 6-16-09 and amended by Ord. No. C-21-34 on 11-16-21), which otherwise regulates irrigation days, hours and system design. The Florida-Friendly clause was written to head off exactly the fights that come up elsewhere in Florida: a homeowners association or a code officer objecting to a yard planted in native groundcover, wildflowers or reduced turf instead of a conventional St. Augustine lawn. Because the ordinance frames the policy as protective rather than permissive, a resident cited or challenged over a native, low-water yard has a specific city code section to point to, not just a general state preference.