Nassau County, FL Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)
Key Facts
- Street intersection clear zone
- Below 3 ft or above 8 ft in FDOT triangle
- Driveway sight triangle
- 15 ft along driveway and ROW from corner
- Trees/palms
- Allowed if limbs/foliage trimmed clear
- Other plantings
- Ground cover only inside the triangle
- Applies to
- All of unincorporated Nassau County
Summary
In unincorporated Nassau County, trees and palms near street and driveway intersections must be trimmed so no limbs or foliage sit between three and eight feet off the ground inside the sight triangle, keeping cross visibility clear for drivers under section 37.05.E of the Land Development Code.
At the intersection of two (2) streets, all landscaping within that area defined by the Florida Department of Transportation sight triangle, as outlined in the FDOT Design Standards for Design, Construction, Maintenance and Utility Operations on the State Highway System shall be installed and maintained below three (3) feet in height or above eight (8) feet in height. ... The sight triangle shall be measured from the point of intersection, fifteen (15) feet along the access way and then fifteen (15) feet along the right-of-way, with the third side being a line connecting the two (2) points. Cross visibility within the sight triangle shall be unobstructed between the height of three (3) feet and eight (8) feet measured from the ground line. Trees and palms shall have their limbs and foliage trimmed in a manner that no limbs or foliage will extend in to the cross visibility area.
Full Breakdown
Nassau County's landscaping article sets two overlapping sight-triangle standards. At the intersection of two streets, all landscaping within the sight triangle defined by the Florida Department of Transportation's design standards for the state highway system must stay below three feet in height or above eight feet. Where a driveway meets a right-of-way, the code measures a smaller sight triangle from the point of intersection, fifteen feet along the driveway and fifteen feet along the right-of-way, connected by a third line, and requires the same three-to-eight-foot clear zone between those two points.
Existing trees and palms are not banned from this area outright: the code specifically allows them to remain if their limbs and foliage are trimmed so nothing extends into the cross-visibility zone. Only ground cover plants, not shrubs or hedges, may otherwise be planted inside the triangle. D that happen to sit near a corner or driveway apron.
Violations & Fines
Property owners are responsible for maintaining any required or existing landscaping under section 37.05.K, including trimming trees and palms out of the sight triangle. The planning department administers the landscaping article, and unresolved obstructions can be referred for code enforcement action before the special magistrate, which can order corrective trimming and withhold approvals on the property until visibility is restored.
Frequently Asked Questions
How high can landscaping be near a Nassau County street intersection?
Can I keep a mature tree next to my driveway if it's inside the sight triangle?
What can I plant inside a Nassau County sight triangle?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Nassau County
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Nassau County to another location·View the Florida landscaping rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.