Landscape Regulations & Review

Purpose

Landscape is a valuable component of any city. When properly designed, installed, and maintained, landscaping adds identity, character, and value to our community. Selection of plant material is critical when designing for aesthetics, water efficiency, and safety.

For many years, the City has been recognized as a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation. The City is committed to maintaining and increasing the overall aesthetic and environmental quality of our public, commercial, and non-residential properties.

The City's Development and Neighborhood Services Department performs landscape inspections for new construction projects and annually inspects properties for compliance with approved plans to ensure that vegetation has not been lost due to natural disasters or poor maintenance. The City staff works with the community to improve deficiencies in the landscape as well as aide in plant placement and selection. We continuously strive to keep Greenacres a place that our residents and business owners can be proud of.

Landscape Code

The City of Greenacres Landscape Code is located in the Zoning Code, Chapter 16, Article VII. Landscaping provides tremendous value to our community. Providing more than just aesthetic value, landscape increases the value of the built environment by providing oxygen, improving air quality, conserving water, providing shade, reducing pollution, and supporting wildlife.

For more information about landscaping, or tree removal, please call the Planning, GIS, and Engineering Division at 561-642-2052 or via email at pnz@greenacresfl.gov.

Tree Removal or Relocation

A permit is required if you are planning to remove or relocate a tree on your commercial or residential property. To obtain a permit, you must submit a completed Application for Tree Removal to the City's Building Division. It is important to remember that the submission of the application does not authorize the removal of trees. Furthermore, work may not be performed until the application is approved and a permit is issued.

Tree Removal or Relocation Justification

The following conditions must be proven to the City to issue a tree removal or relocation permit (Section 16-1248):

1. The tree constitutes an unreasonable impediment to the continuance or development of a permitted use of the property by virtue of its location in a buildable area or yard area where structures or improvements are to be placed and, at the determination of the City, suitable alternatives do not exist.
2. The tree is diseased, injured, in danger of falling, is too close to an existing or proposed structure so as to endanger the structure, interferes with utility services, creates unsafe vision clearances, or conflicts with other ordinances or regulations (Structure defined as foundation, not sidewalk or driveway).
3. The tree is in excess of the tree requirements for a property containing a single-family residence or duplex and is not listed as a preferred native tree or palm in Table 16-1307 of the City's Zoning Code;
4. The tree has been destroyed or died.
5. The tree proposed to be removed is growing too close in proximity to another tree to permit normal growth and development of the affected tree (Cannot be mitigated through proper arboriculture practices).
6. The tree is not considered a designated historic or specimen tree:
   1. Older than (15) years;
   2. Very large size for its species; and/or
   3. Of a rare variety.

Tree Removal Permit Exemptions

1. Prohibited trees listed in Table 16-1312(a) of the City's Zoning Code may be removed for any reason without a permit for vegetation removal.
2. Other than for trees, the permit requirement for vegetation removal at single-family and duplex residential lots may be waived at the discretion of the Development and Neighborhood Services Department Director or designee if the vegetation to be removed is replaced at a 1:1 ratio.
3. Trees with a trunk less than one (1) inch in diameter, measured at a point which is at least four and one-half (4.5') feet above finished grade, may be removed without a permit.
4. As referenced in F.S. § 163.045, residential property shall be defined as fee-simple, single-family, attached or detached, or duplex lots. Those parcels or lots that comprise the common elements or community property, in whole or in part, within a PCD, PUD, and/or MXD shall not be defined as or deemed to be "residential property" for the purposes of F.S. § 163.045. Residential properties that utilize the state statute exemption are required to file the required documentation from an arborist certified by the International Society of Arboriculture or a Florida licensed landscape architect that provides a reason and justification that the tree presents a danger to persons or property with the City's Development and Neighborhood Services Department . 

Plant the Right Tree in the Right Place

Think about how large a tree will grow and make sure where you plant a tree can accommodate the full-grown tree. Prevent future tree problems! Plant shade trees a minimum of five-ten feet away from driveways, houses, property lines, and overhead wires. Some trees spread very wide (live oaks) and some trees are very tall and columnar (bald cypress). Some are very salt tolerant and are a great choice on the beach (sea grapes, silver buttonwood) and some like wet areas (magnolia, red maple, bald cypress). Find the right tree for your location. Required replacement trees may NOT be planted in the public right-of-way. This is the green area typically between the sidewalk and edge of the road. To learn more about different trees visit: floridayards.org/fyplants. For more information on tree care visit the International Society of Arboriculture’s (ISA) webpage for tree owners: treesaregood.org/treeowner/treeownerinformation.aspx