Palm Bay, FL Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)
Key Facts
- Spacing
- Canopy tree every 50 linear ft
- Parkway width
- Minimum 6 ft wide
- Palm cap
- Max 25% of street trees
- Utility setback
- 10 ft from underground lines
Summary
New residential developments in Palm Bay must plant canopy street trees every 50 feet in a parkway strip at least 6 feet wide, with palms capped at 25% of the total.
Street trees shall consist of canopy trees planted every fifty (50) linear feet within a minimum six (6) foot-wide parkway located between the travel lane and the sidewalk. Small trees may be permitted in areas where there is a conflict with overhead powerlines. Palm trees may not be utilized to meet this requirement unless they are grouped with a minimum of two (2) palms for each required canopy tree. No more than twenty-five percent (25%) of proposed street trees may be palms.
(C) Palm trees may not be utilized to meet this requirement, unless they are grouped with a minimum of two (2) used for each canopy tree. A maximum of twenty-five percent (25%) of all proposed residential street trees may be palm trees.
(D) Street trees shall not be planted within ten (10) feet of an underground utility line or within a public or private utility easement. Street trees shall also not be within the site visibility triangle. (Ord. 2024-33, passed 9-19-24)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-41: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. 2026-13, passed 5-21-26).
Full Breakdown
Palm Bay's street tree standard, § 175.026, requires every proposed residential development to submit a street tree plan showing canopy trees spaced no more than 50 linear feet apart within a parkway at least 6 feet wide, set between the travel lane and the sidewalk. Small trees may substitute where overhead power lines conflict with canopy species. Palms count toward the requirement only if grouped two per required canopy tree, and may never exceed 25% of the total. Trees also cannot be planted within 10 feet of an underground utility line or inside the site visibility triangle.
Violations & Fines
Development that doesn't submit or follow an approved street tree plan can be held up at site plan or plat approval; over-planting palms past the 25% cap or ignoring utility setbacks requires correction before permits proceed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far apart must street trees be planted in new Palm Bay subdivisions?
Can a developer use palm trees to meet the street tree requirement?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Palm Bay
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Palm Bay to another location·View the Florida tree protection overview
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Parkway Planting in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Brevard County handle parkway planting.