Plant material and installation requirements.
Coral Springs Land Development Code § 250834
in effectSec. 250834. - Plant material and installation requirements.
(1) Plant selection should be based on the plant's adaptability to the existing conditions present at the landscaped area and native plant communities, particularly considering appropriate hardiness zone, soil type and moisture conditions, light, mature plant size, desired effect, color, and texture. Plant species that are drought and wind tolerant are preferred. For purposes of determining prohibited and controlled plant species, refer to the department of agriculture and consumer services, Chapter 5B-57, Florida Administrative Code ("F.A.C.") Plants named in this rule may not be used, except as allowed in Chapter 5B-57.
(2) All required plant materials shall conform to the Grades and Standards for Florida No. 1 or better as given in Grades and Standards for Nursery Plants, Part 1 (current edition) by the Florida Department of Agriculture, Consumer Services Division. Plant material shall be on the city-approved plant list. Any plants listed on the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council Category 1 list will be identified during plan review and an alternative, more appropriate, plant species will be recommended for use instead. A written explanation regarding the use of plant material not on the city-approved list or on the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council Category 1 list is needed and can be submitted to the city forester for review. If approved, the use of the requested plant material will be restricted to the specific site for which the request is being made.
(3) Plants shall be grouped in accordance with their respective water and maintenance needs. Plants with similar water and cultural (soil, climate, sun, and light) requirements shall be grouped together. The hydrozones shall be shown on the irrigation, layout, and planting plans as required. Where natural conditions are such that irrigation is not required, the presence of site appropriate plants shall not be considered a high water use hydrozone.
(4) The combined size of all high water use hydrozones, other than turfgrass areas, shall be limited to twenty (20) per cent of the total landscaped area. In landscapes irrigated with reclaimed water, the allowable size of all high water-use zones shall not be limited. These high water-use limits do not apply to landscaped areas requiring large amounts of turf for their primary functions.
(5) Standards: All elements of landscaping shall be installed so as to meet applicable City Code requirements. The Coral Springs Landscape Manual is an illustrative interpretation and guide for landscaping in accordance with the standards required. Landscaped areas abutting front-end parking shall require protection from vehicular encroachment by placing curbing at least three (3) feet from the edge of such landscaped areas except in RS, RC-6, and RD-8 districts. Other landscaped areas abutting curved or angular drives shall be curbed. The city manager or their designee shall inspect all landscaping and no certificate of occupancy or similar authorization will be issued unless the landscaping meets the requirements herein provided.
(6) Dimensions: All minimum dimensions of landscape material refer to dimensions at the time of planting.
(7) Topsoil: Topsoil shall be clean and free of construction debris, weeds, rocks, noxious pests and diseases. The topsoil for planting areas shall be amended with horticultural acceptable organic material. All soils used shall be suitable for the intended plant material. The source of the topsoil shall be known to the applicant and shall be acceptable to the city.
(a) The minimum topsoil depth shall be six (6) inches for ground covers, flowers, shrubs and hedges. The minimum topsoil depth for sod shall be three (3) inches.
(b) Trees shall receive twelve (12) inches of topsoil around and beneath the rootball. No topsoil shall be placed on top of the rootball. The root flare of all newly installed trees shall be visible after installation is complete.
(c) Native topsoil on the site shall be retained on-site and used when there is sufficient quantity to cover at least some of the on-site landscaped areas at least twelve (12) inches deep.
(8) Use of organic mulches: A three-inch maximum layer of approved organic mulch material, after initial watering, shall be added to all landscaped areas not covered by buildings, pavement, sod, decorative stones, preserved areas and annual flower beds. Each tree shall have a ring of organic mulch no less than eighteen (18) inches beyond its trunk in all directions. Mulch must be kept a minimum of six (6) inches from the trunk of any tree. The use of heat-treated mulch obtained from Melaleuca, Eucalyptus, or other invasive plant species is encouraged in order to reduce their impact on the environment and to preserve the remaining native plant communities. For this reason the use of Cypress mulch is strongly discouraged.
(9) Stabilization: All trees and palms planted as trees shall be securely guyed, braced and/or staked at the time of planting until establishment. All stabilization systems shall be clearly marked (flagging, painted, etc.) to prevent hazards. An approved stabilization detail is contained in the city's Landscape Manual. Trees shall be restaked in the event of blow over or other failures of the staking and guying. The use of nails, wire, rope, or any other methods which damage the tree or palm is prohibited. All plants shall be installed so that the top of the rootball remains even with the soil grade. All guys and staking material must be removed when the tree is stable and established but in no case more than one (1) year after initial planting of tree. Failure to do so will be considered tree abuse and will lead to enforcement action which may include fines and removal and replacement of impacted plant material.
(10) Protection of public infrastructure: All shade and medium trees installed within six (6) feet of [a] public infrastructure shall utilize a root barrier system, as approved by the city.
(11) Proximity to overhead utilities: No large trees shall be located closer than twenty (20) feet from street lights. The spacing of trees from electric utility lines must follow those guidelines established by Florida Power and Light publication "Right Tree, Right Place". No palms shall be located closer than one hundred fifty (150) per cent of the average mature frond length for the species from street lights or overhead utility lines.
(12) Ground cover: Ground covers shall be planted with a minimum of seventy-five (75) per cent coverage, with one hundred (100) per cent coverage occurring within three (3) months of installation.
(13) Vines: Vines shall be a minimum of thirty (30) inches in supported height immediately after planting and may be used in conjunction with fences, visual screens or walls.
(14) Native species required: Fifty (50) per cent of the trees required shall be water-conserving, native plant material indigenous to South Florida. Fifty (50) per cent of shrubs required shall be installed as native plant material. Compliance with this section will be required for any development or redevelopment projects submitted after the effective date of this revision (2007).
(15) Nuisance vegetation (exotics): The eradication of nuisance vegetation (exotics) is required on all sites, including abutting rights-of-way, prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy. Privately owned natural areas shall be included in this requirement.
(16) Growth of plant material: Growth of plant material at maturity shall be considered prior to planting, where future conflicts such as views, signs, overhead and underground utilities, security lighting, fire access, drainage easements and traffic circulation, might arise.
(17) Trees:
(a) No one (1) species of tree shall exceed twenty-five (25) per cent of the minimum number of trees required. Neither existing trees nor trees in excess of the minimum number required shall be subject to this limitation.
(b) Palms: Palms shall be considered trees in accordance with standards set forth in the current official "Landscape Manual" available at the development services department. The minimum height of a palm at planting shall be twelve (12) feet. This minimum height shall be measured from the base of the palm to the tip of the bud of the palm. However, if a palm is not commercially available at the twelve-foot overall planting height, the city forester may approve the placement of a palm with a minimum overall planting height of ten (10) feet. All palms that have substantial gray wood characteristics at the time of maturity shall have a minimum of two (2) feet of gray wood at the time of planting.
(c) Shade trees: Shade trees shall be considered in accordance with standards set forth in the current official "Landscape Manual" available at the development services department. In all zoning districts, shade trees shall have a minimum trunk diameter of two (2) inches measured at four and one-half (4½) feet from top of rootball at the time of planting. In all zoning districts, shade trees shall be a minimum of twelve (12) feet overall height with a spread approaching five (5) feet and a minimum of four and one-half (4½) feet clear trunk immediately after installation. Exceptions to the above can be made for trees whose natural growth habit differs from these standards.
(d) Medium trees: For medium trees, as defined herein, the minimum planting height shall be ten (10) feet overall planting height at the time of installation. However, if a medium tree is not commercially available at the ten-foot overall planting height, the development services department may approve the placement of a medium tree with a minimum overall planting height of eight (8) feet. Trees with a multiple trunk growth characteristic shall have no more than five (5) main trunks. All medium trees shall have a minimum of three and one-half (3½) feet of clear trunk at the time of planting. Exceptions to the above can be made for trees whose natural growth habit differs from these standards.
(e) Small trees: For small trees, as defined herein, the minimum planting height shall be eight (8) feet overall planting height at the time of installation. However, if a small tree is not commercially available at the eight-foot overall planting height, the development services department may approve the placement of a small tree with a minimum overall planting height of six (6) feet. Trees with a multiple trunk growth characteristic shall have no more than five (5) main trunks. All small trees shall have a minimum of thirty (30) inches of clear trunk at the time of planting. Exceptions to the above can be made for trees whose natural growth habit differs from these standards.
(f) Sod: Sod shall be clean, free of weeds and noxious pests or diseases. Grass seed shall be delivered to the job site in bags with Florida Department of Agriculture tags attached, indicating the seed grower's compliance with the department's quality control program.
(18) Shrubs:
(a) Shrubs shall have a minimum height of eighteen (18) to twenty-four (24) inches with a minimum spacing between eighteen (18) and twenty-four (24) inches, when measured immediately after planting.
(b) Hedges, where required, shall be planted and maintained so as to form a continuous visual screen. Shrubs used as hedges shall be Florida Department of Agriculture Grade No. 1 or better with a minimum height of twenty-four (24) inches and a spread between eighteen (18) and twenty-four (24) inches, when measured immediately after planting and shall be capable of reaching a minimum of three (3) feet in height within two (2) years from the date of planting. Hedges shall be planted with branches touching, so as to create a solid screen with no visual spaces between plants at time of installation. Plant spacing shall be adjusted according to plant sizes so long as a solid screen is achieved.
(19) Turf areas shall be sodded with a species of grass that will survive as a permanent lawn in Coral Springs (assuming adequate watering and fertilizing). Sod provided must be viable, reasonably free of weeds, and capable of growth and development. In general, sod strips shall be aligned with tightly fitted joints and no overlap of butts or sides. Subgrade of lawn area shall be reasonably free of all stones, sticks, roots and other matter prior to the placement of sod. However, grass areas may be seeded to meet these requirements provided that the area presents a finished appearance and complete coverage before a certificate of occupancy is issued. Ground covers used in lieu of grass in whole or in part shall be planted in such a manner as to present a finished appearance and complete coverage. Mulch rings should extend to at least three (3) feet around freestanding trees and shrubs.
(20) Irrigated turf areas, as opposed to non-irrigated turf areas, are considered to be a high water use hydrozone. Irrigated turf shall not be treated as a fill-in material but rather as a planned element of the landscape.
(21) Irrigated turfgrass areas shall be consolidated and limited to those areas on the site that receive pedestrian traffic, provide for recreation use, provide cover for septic tank drainfields and required drainfield reserve areas, or provide soil erosion control such as on slopes or in swales. As a matter of public safety, no turfgrass that requires mowing shall be allowed on slopes greater than 4:1 or within ten (10) feet of the water's edge, except where needed to control erosion. Turf areas shall be identified on the landscape plan as required. The following provisions will apply to new development or redevelopment that involves the demolition and rebuilding of an existing structure.
(a) No more than seventy (70) per cent of the landscaped area for single-family and duplex dwellings may be in turfgrass.
(b) No more than sixty (60) per cent of the landscaped area for multifamily dwellings may be in turfgrass.
(c) No more than fifty (50) per cent of the landscaped area for other development uses may be in turfgrass.
(22) Drought-tolerant landscaping.
(a) A minimum of forty (40) per cent of the non-turfgrass landscaped area on single family and duplex dwellings must be in low water use or drought-tolerant landscaping, with the exception of agricultural, rural and estate zoning districts.
(b) A minimum of forty (40) per cent of the non-turfgrass landscaped area of multifamily dwellings must be in low water use or drought-tolerant landscaping.
(c) A minimum of fifty (50) per cent of the landscaped area of all other development uses must be in low water use or drought-tolerant landscaping.
(23) All native trees which are preserved on site may be counted toward the minimum native tree percentage required. For the purposes of satisfying the requirements established in this section, not more than twenty-five (25) per cent of the required trees brought on site may be of the same species. Fifty (50) per cent of the required trees brought on site shall be native species. Fifty (50) per cent of the required shrubbery brought on site shall be native species.
(Ord. No. 95-038, § 21, 6-20-95; Ord. No. 2011-117, § 2, 7-5-11; Ord. No. 2014-129, § 3, 1-21-15; Ord. No. 2023-101, § 179, 4-19-23)
Source: City of Coral Springs, Florida, Code of Ordinances, Charter and Land Development Code (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/fl/coral_springs/codes/land_development_code?nodeId=CH25ZOOR_ARTIXMILARE_S250834PLMAINREFetched: 11/8/2026