Florida City Gets Landscaping Rules

The Macclenny City Council of Baker County, Fla. has revised the local ordinance regulating landscaping, irrigation and trees. The landscaping committee will have the authority to issue permits and fine violators, although residents can still appeal to the full council.

Macclenny is near Jacksonville on Florida's northeast coast.

The tighter controls on landscaping include irrigation regulations, liens for plant replacement by the city, requiring grass sod around new buildings and buffer zones between residential and irrigation requirements like retention ponds. In addition ,eight-foot walls or fences will be mandated between commercial and residential property and hedges.

Trees will now fall into protected and non- protected categories. Protected species include live oak, sycamore, magnolia, pecan, river birch and pine. The latter drew some discussion due to council members concerns over their status and homeowners desires for removal of the sometimes hazardous trees, that deposit needles and cones.

Permits will be required for homeowners to remove any tree within the city and replacements may be required.