Jacksonville's Fertilizer Ordinance
The Environment is EVERYONE's responsibility! This ordinance affects fertilizer applications to turf, specialty turf, and landscape plants.
Which Practices are for You?
- Homeowners—Florida Yards and Neighborhoods Principles
- Commercial Applicators—Green Industry Best Management Practices
Recordkeeping Requirements
- Records should be retained for three years and must be made available during normal business hours
- Fertilizer application rates, date of application, fertilizer content must be documented
Bulk Storage Facilities
All bulk storage facilities must comply with the IFAS Green Industries Best Management Practices fertilizer storage and handling set forth in Appendix C of the FL Green Industries, Best Management Practices for Protection of Water Resources in Florida. June 2002.
Fertilizer Content & Application Rates
Cannot apply fertilizer during prohibited periods.
- Flood Watch or Warning
- Tropical Storm Watch or Warning
- Hurricane Watch or Warning
- 3-day cone of uncertainty
- Heavy rain
Fertilizer with 30% slow release nitrogen or more can be applied at 1 Ib N/1000 sq ft2 and cannot exceed this rate.
Fertilizer with less than 30% slow release nitrogen should be applied at 0.70 Ibs N/1000 sq ft2 and cannot exceed this rate.
Fertilizer Recommendations to Follow:
- 23lbsN/1000sqft2
- 3-5lbsN/1000sqft2
- 1-2lbsN/1000sqft2
- 2-4lbsN/1000sqft2
- 3-5lbsN/1000sqft2
Phosphate Applications
- Phosphate application cannot exceed 0.25 Ibs
- P2Os/1000 sq ft2 per application
- Phosphate application cannot exceed 0.50 Ibs
- P2O5/1000 sq ft2 per year
- Includes turf and landscape plants
- A soil test must be completed by UF or an
accredited lab for higher rates to be applied
- For new turf or landscape plants a starter
fertilizer may be used, but should not exceed
1.0lbP2O5/1000sqft2
Impervious Surfaces
- Fertilizer applied, spilled, or deposited on impervious surfaces (roads, sidewalks, etc.) should be cleaned up immediately and applied to a legal site or returned to container
- Do not wash, sweep, or blow fertilizer into storm drains, ditches, conveyances, or water bodies
Fertilizer Free Zones— 10' versus 3'
- 1 0' free zone required around water bodies, wetlands, canals, seawalls, etc. if no deflector shield is used
- 3' free zone around water bodies, wetlands, canals, seawalls, etc. if a deflector shield or drop spreader is used
- New plants in this zone may be fertilized for the first 30 days only
Low Maintenance Zones
- Must be established one year from effective date of this ordinance, July 23, 2008.
- Minimum of 6' from any pond, stream, water course, wetland, or seawall
- A swalm/berm system is recommended
- No mowed or cut vegetative material shall be deposited or left remaining in the Low Maintenance Zone or deposited in the water.
- Care should be taken to prevent over-spraying aquatic weed products in this area.
Do not wash, sweep, or blow grass clippings, vegetative material or debris into storm water drains, ditches, conveyances, water bodies, wetlands, or sidewalks, or roadways.