Boca Raton, FL Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- City Code Sec. 28-1644(9)
- Tree spacing
- At least every 35 feet on center
- Minimum planting zone width
- 4 feet
- Tree type required
- Canopy/shade trees
- Zone location
- Between travel lanes and sidewalk
- Applies to
- CIMD and PMD development standards
Summary
Boca Raton requires qualifying mixed-use infill developments to plant canopy or shade trees along every street the property fronts, set inside a dedicated street tree planting zone between the travel lanes and the sidewalk. Trees must go in at intervals of at least every 35 feet on center, and the planting zone itself must be at least 4 feet wide.
(9)Street trees. Street trees, which shall be canopy/shade trees, shall be provided along all streets fronting the property, and shall be situated in a designated street tree planting zone located between the vehicular travel lanes and the sidewalk, planted at regular intervals of at least every 35 feet on center. The width of the street tree planting zone shall be sufficient to accommodate the proper growth of the trees, as determined by the development services director, but shall not be less than 4 feet in width.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 72 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
Sec. " A parallel design standard for the city's Planned Mobility Districts (PMD), Sec. 28-1850(14)(e)(ii), likewise directs that "Street trees shall be planted at a maximum distance between trees of 35 feet on center," reinforcing the same 35-foot spacing standard across the city's newer mixed-use development frameworks. Both standards place the burden of adequate tree spacing and buffer width on the development services director's determination of what a given species needs to grow properly, rather than fixing a single citywide number for every tree type.
These planting-zone rules sit alongside the older Sec. tree preservation ordinance, which separately requires a tree permit before removing an existing specimen or historic tree from covered property.
Violations & Fines
Failing to install street trees at the required 35-foot spacing or within the minimum planting zone width is enforced at the site plan review stage by the development services department, which can withhold approval until the landscape plan conforms. Once approved, removing or failing to maintain required street trees is enforceable under the citywide penalty in Sec. 1-16, up to $500.00 or 60 days imprisonment, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far apart must street trees be planted in a Boca Raton CIMD project?
How wide does the street tree planting zone have to be?
Do Planned Mobility District projects follow the same tree spacing rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Boca Raton
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Boca Raton to another location·View the Florida tree protection overview
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Parkway Planting in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Palm Beach County handle parkway planting.