To First Annotated Code of Naples, FL
Florida Code of Ordinances
City of Naples, Florida
Article III: Landscaping and Tree
Protection
Res. No. 07-11807
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Adopted Oct. 17, 2007 (Supplement No.6, Update 1)
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The seat of Collier County, Naples is located on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico and immediately west of the Everglades, in Southwest Florida. Naples is the southernmost town on the Gulf Coast mainland of Florida. It is an extremely wealthy community, of approximately 30,000 year around city residents, containing some of the highest property values in the nation. It claims to have the most millionaires per capita of any town in the United States and according to the City of Naples, 250 of its residents are Fortune 500 CEO’s. It’s also the self-proclaimed Golf Capital of North America with approximately one hundred golf courses located within the town and surrounding area. Practically every aspect of Naples is a result of landscape architecture with strict design regulations and precise maintenance standards. This is an annotation of the City of Naples and Collier Country landscape codes that have worked to produce one of the most pristine communities in the world.
Some general requirements of the code addresses: plan approval, installation, maintenance, protection of landscaped areas, grade of landscape areas, and preservation of existing plant material. All new construction, before a building permit can be issued, must have a landscape plan approved by the city manager. The plan must include: parking, vehicular use areas, all structures, pools, ponds, hydrants, irrigation, landscape materials, and storm-water management. Landscaping must be installed as shown in the final approved plan and must be installed according to specified landscape installation methods. Property owners are responsible for maintaining all landscaped areas to present a healthy appearance kept free from neglect. If trees, shrubs, or other plant materials die, they must be replaced within 30 days. All landscapes areas much be protected from vehicle travel by wheel stops. Preservation of existing landscaping is encouraged when healthy plant material exists on a site before development.
Naples, Florida’s code of developmental standards discusses setback areas in commercial districts, size of landscaped areas and tree quantity regulations. The following standards do not apply to single-family residential districts. Each separate landscaped area must be a minimum of 30 square feet and have a minimum dimension of 5’ and include at least 1 approved tree. The number of trees cannot be less than 1 for each 180 square feet area. The remainder of the required landscaped area must be appropriately designed with shrubs, groundcovers, turf-grasses, or other approved material.
In the plant material specification of the code, it addresses trees, shrubs, hedges, vines, groundcovers, and turf-grass. The codes states that plant materials used must conform to Florida No.1 or better as defined in Grades and Standards for Nursery Plants, part I, 1963, and part II, published by the Florida Department of Agriculture.
Trees: All trees must have an average crown of 15’ or greater and a trunk that is maintained free of branches from ground level to 5’ up on trunk. Trees that have an average crown of less than 15’ may be grouped to create the equivalent of a 15’ crown spread. Trees must be a minimum of 7’ in height immediately after planting. Trees that contain roots known to damage roadways and structures cannot be planted within 6’ of such elements. An exception can be made if the root system is completely enclosed with the minimum dimensions of 5’ square and 3’ deep and with the construction requirements of 4” think concrete reinforced with #6 road mesh or approved equivalent.
Shrubs and Hedges: Shrubs and hedges must be a minimum of 2’ in height immediately after planting. Hedges (where required) must be planted and maintained to form a continuous solid screen within one year after date of planting.
Vines: Must be 30” minimum height immediately after planting and may possibly be used along with fences or walls to meet specified barrier minimums as defined.
Groundcovers: Groundcovers must be planted to present a substantially complete coverage area and finished appearance. They must be used with a decorative pine or cypress mulch, or other similar material. Shell stone or gravel cannot be used for more than 20% of the covered area.
Turf-grass: Turf-grass areas planted must be of approved species. Grass areas may be sodded, sprigged or seeded, or plugged, except that solid sold must be used in swales or other areas prone to erosion.
The vehicular use area of the code addresses VUAs adjacent to public right-of-ways and interior property lines, as well as interior landscaping and plant materials. VUAs adjacent to public right-of-ways must contain a tree planting island with a minimum area of 30 square feet and a minimum dimension of 5’ for each 10 parking spaces. Each island must be planted with at least 1 tree a minimum of 10’ in height. In front yard setback areas that are required to be landscaped, an area at least 6’ in depth must be located between the right-of-way and the parking area or VUA that is exposed to the adjacent right-of-way. Specific commercial districts require larger areas which take precedence over this minimum regulation. Minimum number of trees is 1 for each 30 linear feet. Each landscaped area is a minimum of 30 square feet with a minimum dimension of 5’. The section on VUAs adjacent to interior property lines addresses additional issues such as minimum opaqueness and the allowance of structures in replacement of plant materials. Interior landscaping for VUAs discusses specifications that differ slightly from the requirements for VUAs that are adjacent to right-of-ways and property lines. The last portion discusses exceptions to these regulations.
Parking spaces may be only 16’ in length when adjacent to perimeter landscaped areas, as long as the width of the required landscaped area is increased 2’ and contains wheel stops.
Standards for New Single-Family and Two-Family Dwellings: Any portion of the development site that isn’t for use of buildings, sidewalks, and driveways or other impermeable material must be planted with turf-grass or a combination of trees, groundcover, turf-grass, and other landscaping material. No area can be maintained with barren soil or sand except for planting beds.
Reviewer’s Comments: I can say from working experience that the City of Naples and Collier County Landscape Codes are fairly understandable. The ordinances are definitely strict and the results are evident everywhere in the community. As strict as the regulations may be, they still allow for a great amount of creativity and flexibility in design. Landscape Architects are able to work freely by exceeding the code requirements to achieve their creative goals. Naples and Collier County completed a landscape review checklist, which is a resource that allows a designer to quickly confirm that the plan fulfills the code requirements. A second excellent source of information is a full-time Landscape Architect employed with Collier County that works with designers to ensure that they fully understand the code requirements. Naples is an extensive display of Landscape Architecture at its best and Green Laws continue to serve the area productively.
Sources: City of Naples, FL; http://naplesgov.com/
The Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce;
http://www.napleschamber.org/lifestyle/index.aspx
City of Naples Codes of Ordinances;
http://www.municode.com/Resources/gateway.asp?pid=13804&sid=9
Paul A. McKinney