This page highlights various aspects of the local code (city and/or county) which is dense. We've broken this down into easier to understand segments. We've shared this in our weekly newsletter but they also live here. Take a look below for a deep dive into our code!
Indian River County’s Landscape & Buffer Ordinance
Below is more information about the Indian River County’s Landscape & Buffer Ordinance. (Ord. No. 90-16, § 1, 9-11-90; Ord. No. 2007-012, § 1, 3-20-07. The full ordinance is available online here)
THE MAIN GOALS OF THE ORDINANCE. This 46 page set of standards was designed to preserve community appearance, property values, and the environment while promoting sustainable landscape practices. The Main Goals of the Ordinance The regulations create clear rules for developers and residents that preserve neighborhoods and nearby natural resources, not just add red tape. Plants and trees provide shade, filter air pollutants, manage stormwater, and improve curb appeal in ways that help both property owners and the broader community. In plain language, the ordinance aims to: Improve visual quality so that streets, parking lots, and building sites look intentional and well designed, for example by requiring tree canopies along streets instead of bare pavement. Strengthen environmental performance by using trees and shrubs to provide cooling shade and cleaner air, such as oaks that reduce pavement heat and help offset the urban “heat island” effect. Promote water conservation by favoring native and drought tolerant plants over high water turf, reducing irrigation demand and stormwater runoff. Support property values by requiring consistent, well designed landscape buffers between different uses, helping protect neighborhood character and home values. Emphasis on Sustainability The code places strong emphasis on preserving existing native vegetation and using drought tolerant species, rather than clearing sites. It encourages efficient irrigation techniques, temporary watering to help new plants establish, and the use of reclaimed water when available so that landscapes stay healthy without long-term high-volume irrigation. A practical example is retaining clusters of existing native trees to create immediate shade which can save water and reduce costs. This approach also supports wildlife habitat and helps maintain the natural feel that defines much of Indian River County’s character. Why It Matters These standards apply to many types of new construction, substantial renovations, and larger projects in unincorporated areas of IRC, ensuring that development enhances rather than erodes the county’s visual and environmental quality. Over time, homeowners, HOAs, and businesses benefit from landscapes that need less water and maintenance while still meeting the code’s appearance and buffering requirements. Key Takeaway: The ordinance is about practical, long-term landscaping regulations that enhance community appearance, conserve water, and support environmental health—ultimately benefiting Indian River County as a whole.
NATIVE vs. PROHIBITED PLANTS Indian River County’s Landscape & Buffer Ordinance, supported by IRNA, encourages residents to prioritize Florida-friendly native plants and avoid invasive exotics that damage local ecosystems. Choosing appropriate plants helps conserve water, protect water quality, support wildlife, and keep landscapes in compliance with county regulations (Section 926.06). Why Native Plants Matter Native plants grow naturally in Florida and are adapted to our soils, rainfall patterns, and temperature fluctuations. Because they evolved here, they typically require less irrigation, fertilizer, and pesticides—supporting the County’s water-conservation goals. Native landscaping also provides critical food and shelter for birds, butterflies, and other wildlife that depend on these species to survive. Under the ordinance, at least 50% of required canopy trees, understory trees, shrubs, vines, and groundcovers must be native species. This means required landscape areas cannot be planted entirely with non-native ornamentals commonly sold at big-box stores. Examples of Good Native Choices Appendix A of the ordinance lists many attractive and familiar native plants suitable for home landscapes. Native trees include live oak, laurel oak, cabbage palm, slash pine, longleaf pine, red maple, dahoon holly, and Southern magnolia—with certain species better suited to wet lowlands or sandy uplands. Common native shrubs include beautyberry, wax myrtle, Walter’s viburnum, gallberry, cocoplum, coontie, firebush, and Simpson’s stopper—many of which provide berries or nectar for wildlife. Native groundcovers and flowers include beach sunflower, blanket flower, sea oats, gopher apple, sunshine mimosa, pink muhly grass, native blue porterweed, and native ferns. Recommended native vines include coral honeysuckle, passionflower (maypop), native grapes, Virginia creeper, and Carolina jasmine. Using these plants meets both native-plant percentage and drought-tolerance requirements. See more about natives here.For assistance, residents can visit the Indian River County UF/IFAS Extension office in the County Administration Building or visit the UF/IFAS website here. What’s Prohibited & Why Chapter 926 prohibits invasive exotic plants listed on the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council’s Category I list because they spread aggressively, displace native species, and disrupt natural ecosystems. Plants listed in Appendix B may not be installed in required landscape areas, and invasive species must be removed during new development or redevelopment before approval is granted. Simple Do & Don’t Checklist Do choose at least 50% native plants, prioritize drought-tolerant species, and replace invasive exotics when updating landscapes. Don’t assume a plant is allowed because it’s sold locally, or plant invasive exotics in required landscape areas.
WHAT TREES AND PALMS CAN YOU PLANT? Indian River County’s Landscape & Buffer Ordinance tree rules are meant to give every property a healthy, long‑lasting canopy—not just a few lonely sticks in the ground. That's why this week's Breaking Down the Code explains how the rules focus on canopy trees, understory trees, and how palms can (and cannot) substitute for them. (Ord. No. 90-16, § 1, 9-11-90; Ord. No. 2007-012, § 1, 3-20-07). This week we're looking at Section 926.15. What Is A Canopy Tree? A canopy tree is a tree that will grow tall and wide enough to provide real shade and a broad crown. The code states that canopy trees must be at least about 12 feet tall with a minimum trunk diameter and crown spread so they already look like trees, not saplings. Examples of suitable canopy trees for unincorporated Indian River County include live oak, laurel oak, cabbage palm (when used in clusters for credit), slash pine, red maple, dahoon holly, and Southern magnolia, with different species suited to wetter low areas or higher, sandy uplands. At least half of the required canopy and understory trees must be native species from the County’s approved list, which supports local wildlife and reduces long‑term water use. Where And How Many Trees? The code also addresses spacing so canopies can develop fully without crowding. Full, broad‑crown trees (like oaks) are typically spaced farther apart than narrow trees (like some hollies or cypress), and mixed plantings must respect minimum distances between different canopy types. This keeps a future canopy from becoming a tangled “tree traffic jam.” Understory trees—smaller trees with a narrower spread—are used where space is tighter or beneath taller canopies. They also have minimum height and trunk size at planting, and palms used as understory trees can only make up a portion of the understory requirement. How Do Palms Count? Palms are allowed and can count toward tree requirements, but only in specific ways. Clusters of at least three native palms (such as sabal palms) can be used to equal one canopy tree, and certain large specimen palms with enough clear trunk and overall height can count as one or even two canopy trees. However, palms used this way are limited to no more than about one‑third of the total canopy tree requirement, so palm‑only landscapes will not satisfy the rules. The key points are straightforward: Use true canopy trees that grow tall and wide enough to shade (think of all the benefits these bring- habitat, shade, water conservation). Choose mostly native species from the IRC’s approved list. If you're not sure, ask. Respect spacing so trees have room to mature. Use native palms as accents and limited substitutes, not as the entire “tree plan.” These guidelines help ensure each property develops a strong, attractive tree canopy that benefits both the site and the wider community.
SHRUBS, GROUNDCOVERS, TURF GRASS, AND MULCH Shrubs are an important part of screening and structure in the landscape—think of them as the walls and fences made of leaves instead of wood. The code requires most shrubs used to meet height and spacing standards so they form a solid visual screen where needed, such as along buffers or in front of parking areas. Shrubs are typically planted in offset double rows to create continuous coverage, and a certain portion must be native species from the County’s approved list. For example, native options like Walter’s viburnum, cocoplum, firebush, gallberry, and Simpson’s stopper can be used to create dense hedges that also support wildlife. Groundcovers and flowers are used to reduce open bare soil and cut down on turf area. The rules call for groundcovers to be planted so that they fill in and present a “finished” look within about a year, not a patchwork that still looks like a construction site. At least 50% of the groundcover area must be made up of native species, which can include plants such as beach sunflower, blanket flower, sunshine mimosa, gopher apple, and pink muhly grass, depending on location and site conditions. Turf grass (think St. Augustine grass) is limited so that landscapes do not become water‑intensive lawns from edge to edge and clippings becoming sources of nutrients to our waterways. According to Indian River County’s Landscape & Buffer Ordinance, turf grass should be capped at roughly 50% of the total irrigated, landscaped area (excluding rights‑of‑way and active recreation fields), encouraging the use of planting beds and native groundcovers instead. Preferred grasses listed by the County are types that require little fertilizer, irrigation, or mowing to achieve an acceptable appearance—more “manageable yard” than “full‑time hobby.” Mulch is also addressed: cypress mulch is specifically prohibited. Other mulch types (ex. pine straw) may be used around plants and in beds, but once a groundcover achieves full coverage, continued mulching of that area is not the intent. Taken together, these rules guide homeowners, HOAs, and designers toward landscapes with a balanced mix of shrubs, groundcovers, and limited turf, using materials that support both appearance and long‑term sustainability.
LANDSCAPING ALONG ROADS & PARKING I have to imagine that most of us don’t spend much time thinking about landscaping along roads and parking lots, but Indian River County’s Landscape & Buffer Ordinance (CH 926) makes sure roadsides and parking areas don’t look like vast seas of asphalt. The regulation requires trees, shrubs, and screening to break up pavement and create a greener streetscape. Roadway Buffers And Frontage Planting According to the ordinance, every project with road frontage must include a landscaped buffer along the entire length facing a thoroughfare plan road, local road, or exclusive driveway (driveways are excluded from the calculation). This buffer, typically 15–20 feet wide depending on the road type, requires a set number of canopy trees, understory trees, and shrubs/100 linear feet to create shade and visual separation from the street. For example, along a thoroughfare plan road, a site might need about 4–5 canopy trees, 5–6 understory trees, and 50 shrubs/ 100 feet of frontage, ensuring the road edge feels like part of the landscape rather than a hard barrier. Freestanding signs get a small exemption from tree calculations, but the overall effect is a consistent green edge that softens the street view for drivers and neighbors. Parking Lot Landscaping & Screening Parking areas must include internal landscaping—think islands and peninsulas with trees—to break up large pavement expanses and provide shade for cars. A key feature is the required four-foot-high visual screen between parking and any adjacent roadway or driveway, using berms with shrubs, dense vegetative hedges, or similar features to hide the sea of parked vehicles from street view. Shrubs for screening are planted on tight centers (24–30 inches) in offset rows for immediate density, and the screen must sit at least 2.5–4 feet above parking grade before occupancy. Visibility triangles at driveways are preserved so trees and shrubs don’t block sightlines, balancing safety with aesthetics. Practical Takeaways For Projects For developers, HOAs, and businesses, IRC’s Landscape & Buffer Ordinance considers roadway buffers and parking landscaping as non‑negotiable parts of site design that enhance curb appeal and functionality. Key steps include: Plan the road buffer early with required tree and shrub counts based on frontage length. Break up parking lots with interior islands containing canopy trees for shade. Install roadway screening before occupancy to meet visual and code standards. Done right, these requirements turn parking lots and road edges into attractive, shaded features that benefit users, neighbors, and the community’s overall look. Can you think of an area in IRC that showcases this portion of the rules?