Florida Statute 373.185 establishes Florida-Friendly Landscaping (FFL) as a protected statewide policy. A local government ordinance or HOA covenant may not prohibit any property owner from implementing FFL on their land. Palm Coast — a 20-year Tree City USA — encourages native and drought-tolerant landscaping through its Urban Forestry program. The UF/IFAS Florida-Friendly Landscaping Program publishes the official nine principles.
FS 373.185(2) defines Florida-Friendly Landscaping as 'quality landscapes that conserve water, protect the environment, are adaptable to local conditions, and are drought tolerant.' Subsection (3) states: 'A deed restriction or covenant may not prohibit or be enforced so as to prohibit any property owner from implementing Florida-friendly landscaping, as defined in s. 373.185, on his or her land.' The same protection applies to local governments by the policy declarations in FS 373.185(1). The UF/IFAS Florida-Friendly Landscaping Program publishes the nine FFL principles: right plant/right place, water efficiently, fertilize appropriately, mulch, attract wildlife, manage yard pests responsibly, recycle yard waste, reduce stormwater runoff, and protect the waterfront. Palm Coast — designated a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation for 20 consecutive years and supported by a full-time Urban Forester (Carol Mini, 386-986-3722) — actively encourages native and drought-tolerant landscape choices through its Green Team and Arbor Day programs. An HOA in Palm Coast may still apply reasonable architectural-review standards for aesthetic compatibility, but it cannot ban FFL outright. Plants suited to USDA Zone 9a/9b (Palm Coast) are organized by sun, salt and moisture tolerance in the UF/IFAS FFL Plant Guide.
An HOA covenant or City rule that effectively bans Florida-Friendly Landscaping is unenforceable under FS 373.185. Homeowners can raise FS 373.185 as a defense in HOA enforcement actions. There is no Palm Coast enforcement against an owner who replaces turf with native or drought-tolerant species, provided the 10-inch nuisance height standard and FDACS noxious-weed obligations are still met.
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