Seminole, FL encourages Florida-Friendly Landscaping under FS 373.185, which prevents HOAs and local governments from prohibiting drought-tolerant native plantings. The City supports Pinellas County extension programs for native plant guidance.
Florida Statute 373.185 prohibits any deed restriction, covenant, or local ordinance from preventing a property owner from implementing Florida-Friendly Landscaping practices, including the use of native plants and drought-tolerant species. The City of Seminole follows this statute and incorporates Florida-Friendly principles into its landscape buffer and tree mitigation provisions of Chapter 62 and Chapter 86. Homeowners are encouraged to use native species such as saw palmetto, muhly grass, beautyberry, and live oak for new plantings and replacement trees. The Pinellas County UF/IFAS Extension office provides free design guidance and approved species lists. While properties must still meet basic ground cover and weed-height standards, full turf is not required.
HOA enforcement actions are preempted under FS 373.185. City code violations remain limited to weed-height, ground-cover, and stormwater nuisance issues.
See how other cities in Pinellas County handle native plants.
See how Seminole's native plants rules stack up against other locations.
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