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.
Lee County, FL
Lee County parks are open daily with opening and closing hours posted at each park; no one may remain in a closed park or section. Except for authorized camp...
Lee County, FL
Lee County treats light escaping toward the beach as a violation of its sea-turtle ordinance. A rebuttable presumption of violation exists when artificial li...
Lee County, FL
On unincorporated Gulf-facing beaches, Lee County bans artificial light directly or indirectly visible from the beach during sea-turtle nesting season, defin...
Lee County, FL
Lee County has no dedicated garage-sale sign rule, but off-site promotional and special-event signs on others' property require a permit and a security bond ...
Lee County, FL
In unincorporated Lee County, a property owner may place political or campaign signs of up to four square feet on their own property. Signs may go up no earl...
Lee County, FL
Lee County has no separate tiny-home category. A permanent tiny home on a foundation is treated as a single-family dwelling or, if secondary to a main house,...
See how Lee County's native plants rules stack up against other locations.
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