Tamarac, FL Landscaping Rules: Native Plants (2026)
Key Facts
- Native trees
- at least 50% of required trees, water-conserving
- Native shrubs
- at least 50% of required shrubs
- Palm cap
- no more than 20% of required tree count
- Shade trees
- at least 50% of the required tree count
- Existing vegetation
- healthy native trees can count toward the quota
Summary
Tamarac requires new landscaping to lean heavily native. Half of all required trees and half of all required shrubs on a development site must be native, water-conserving plant material under the Land Development Code, on top of a general native-vegetation placement standard for every landscaped area.
(2)Native Vegetation and Diversity. (a)All landscaped areas shall include placement of native vegetation in substantial conformity with the principles outlined in The Florida-Friendly Landscaping Guide to Plant Selection & Landscape Design (University of Florida) and the Administrative Manual. ( ... f)Trees. ... Fifty percent of the trees required in this section shall be water-conserving native plant material. ( ... g)Shrubs. ... Fifty percent of shrubs required shall be installed as native plant material.
Full Breakdown
Section 10-4.4(K)(2)(a) requires every landscaped area to include native vegetation placed in substantial conformity with the University of Florida's Florida-Friendly Landscaping Guide to Plant Selection & Landscape Design and the City's Administrative Manual. Section 10-4.4(K)(2)(b) encourages xeriscape principles from the South Florida Water Management District's Waterwise publication, incorporated by reference. The numeric requirement sits in section 10-4.4(K)(3): subsection (f) requires that fifty percent of the trees required under the landscaping tables be water-conserving native plant material, and subsection (g) requires that fifty percent of required shrubs be native plant material.
Within the tree quota, palms cannot make up more than twenty percent of the required trees, and shade trees must make up at least fifty percent, under section 10-4.4(K)(3)(f)(i)-(ii). Existing healthy native trees and understory vegetation already on site can count toward these requirements under section 10-4.4(K)(2)(c). A landscape architect or other person authorized under Florida Statutes chapter 481 must prepare and seal the landscape plan showing how the native-plant ratios are met, and the plan needs Director, Planning Board, and City Commission approval as appropriate under section 10-4.4(J) before permits issue.
Violations & Fines
Installing or maintaining landscaping that falls short of the required native-plant ratios is a Land Development Code violation under section 10-5.5(B)(2)(f), enforced by the Code Compliance Division and Special Magistrate under Chapter 2 of the City Code. The Department can withhold a final landscaping inspection and certificate of occupancy, and a property owner has 45 days after notice to install required landscaping under section 10-4.4(P)(2)(g)(ii), beyond which the violation exposes the owner to misdemeanor and civil-fine liability under section 10-5.5(D).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Tamarac require native plants in new landscaping?
Can I count trees I already have toward the native-plant requirement?
Are palm trees limited under Tamarac's native-plant rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tamarac
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Tamarac to another location·View the Florida landscaping rules overview
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How other cities in Broward County handle native plants.