Plantation, FL Landscaping Rules: Tree Trimming (2026)

Section 27-260 of the Code of Ordinances makes every landowner responsible for maintaining landscaping on their own property and on the abutting right-of-way and swale, up to the edge of pavement or water. The standard covers grass, hedges, and trees together: grass cannot be allowed to grow higher than six inches, and landscaping must be kept free of debris, disease, and low-hanging or decaying branches that create a safety hazard, including branches obstructing streetlights and clear sight distance at intersections. Shrubs and hedges planted next to a sidewalk or paved area have a hard three-foot height ceiling so they do not block visibility at driveways and street corners; that limit does not apply to perimeter hedges regulated separately under Section 27-255(b)(4).

Anyone actually cutting a tree, from a homeowner trimming a backyard tree to a contractor working a commercial site, must prune to American National Standards Institute A-300 and Z-133 standards and must first obtain a tree trimming permit from the Department of Public Works; each trimming, relocation or removal application carries its own permit fee under Article XIII. Improper pruning matters: Section 27-261 treats pruning that violates ANSI standards as enforceable tree abuse, requires a certified arborist's signed consent on any trimming application, and bars removing live palm fronds that start above the horizontal plane.

If bad pruning kills or damages a tree, the City can require a full tree removal permit and assess the fines set out in Section 27-267. When the City finds substandard or missing landscaping on inspection, the property owner gets 60 days from notice to bring it back into compliance, with an extension available if the owner shows significant progress and stays in communication with city landscape staff.