Every summer, the St. Pete fertilizer ban puts lawn care on pause across the city. From June 1 through September 30, you cannot apply or buy fertilizer containing nitrogen or phosphorus anywhere in St. Petersburg, and violations can carry fines of up to $500 per day.
Whether you mow your own yard in Shore Acres or run a lawn-care crew covering half of Pinellas, this guide covers what the rules say, when they apply, who is exempt, and how to stay compliant. Everything legal below comes straight from the City of St. Petersburg and the Pinellas County Code of Ordinances.
St. Pete fertilizer ban dates: June 1–September 30
The restricted season runs June 1 through September 30 every year, with no exceptions for weather or lawn condition.
The City of St. Petersburg confirms the dates on its official Stormwater page and in its annual public notices, such as the city’s 2024 fertilizer ban announcement: “the citywide fertilizer ban is in effect from June 1 to September 30 each year.”
There’s also a year-round weather trigger. Under Pinellas County Code § 58-475(b), fertilizer containing nitrogen or phosphorus can never be applied, in any month, when the National Weather Service has issued any of these for Pinellas County:
- Severe thunderstorm watch or warning
- Flood watch or warning
- Tropical storm watch or warning
- Hurricane watch or warning
- A forecast of 2 inches or more of rain within 24 hours
Pinellas County fertilizer ordinance: what’s banned
The ordinance is Pinellas County Code, Chapter 58, Article XIII, and it applies countywide, including incorporated areas like St. Pete (§ 58-485). It targets two nutrients: nitrogen and phosphorus.
During the restricted season (June 1 – Sept 30):
- No application of fertilizer containing nitrogen or phosphorus to turf or landscape plants (§ 58-475(a))
- No retail sale of lawn or landscape fertilizer containing any amount of nitrogen or phosphorus, a rule in effect since June 1, 2011 (§ 58-482(a))
- Retailers cannot even display nitrogen/phosphorus lawn fertilizers on the sales floor during the ban, and must post a notice about the restrictions (§ 58-482(c)-(d))
Year-round rules that apply in every month:
- Phosphorus is effectively banned all year. It can only be applied if a soil test from a state-certified lab documents a deficiency, and the results must be mailed to the Pinellas County Watershed Management Division before application (§ 58-476(b))
- Maximum 4 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft per year (§ 58-476(a))
- Granular nitrogen fertilizers must contain at least 50% slow-release nitrogen (§ 58-476(d))
- Liquid nitrogen applications are capped at 0.5 lb per 1,000 sq ft per application (§ 58-476(e))
- No nitrogen on newly installed turf or new plantings for the first 30 days (§ 58-476(c))
- Fertilizer landing on driveways, sidewalks, or streets must be removed immediately, never washed or blown into storm drains (§ 58-477)
- Deflector shields are required on broadcast/rotary spreaders (§ 58-477(b))
- A 10-foot fertilizer-free zone applies around any surface water, seawall, or wetland (§ 58-478)
- Grass clippings and yard debris must stay out of storm drains, ditches, roadways, and surface waters (§ 58-479)
What you can use during the fertilizer ban
The ban covers nitrogen and phosphorus, not every lawn product. The city itself recommends summer alternatives in its ban announcement:
- Fertilizer-free micronutrient products (iron, magnesium, manganese) keep St. Augustine grass green without nitrogen or phosphorus
- A slow-release fertilizer application in spring, before June 1, carries most lawns through the summer
- Compost and organic mulches applied to improve soil condition are exempt (§ 58-480(a)(5))
One thing to check before assuming your product is compliant: read the N-P-K numbers on the bag. Anything with a non-zero first (N) or second (P) number is off-limits June through September.
Fertilizer ban exemptions: who’s exempt
Section 58-480 exempts the following from the seasonal ban and content/rate rules:
- Golf courses, which must follow FDEP’s golf course BMPs instead
- Specialized turf (athletic fields and similar), managed by specialized turf managers following Green Industry BMPs
- Bona fide farm operations under the Florida Right to Farm Act
- Vegetable gardens, private or community, provided rates don’t exceed UF/IFAS recommendations
- Yard-waste compost, mulches, and similar organic materials applied to improve soil condition
- Tree trunk injection fertilization performed by a certified arborist
Retailers may also sell nitrogen/phosphorus products during the restricted season to specialized turf managers and bona fide farm operators for use on those exempt properties (§ 58-480(b)).
Regular residential lawns, HOAs, and commercial properties are not exempt.
St. Pete fertilizer ban fines and enforcement
Violations are punishable under Pinellas County Code § 1-8: a fine of up to $500 per violation, and for continuing violations, each day counts as a separate offense. The ordinance also allows enforcement through the county’s code enforcement process (Chapter 2, Article VIII) and the Pinellas County Environmental Enforcement Act, which can add civil penalties and administrative action on top (§ 58-483).
Enforcement applies to homeowners, but especially to anyone applying fertilizer for pay.
Rules for landscapers and lawn-care companies
If you get paid to apply fertilizer in St. Pete, the bar is higher (§ 58-481).
Commercial and institutional applicators must hold the state Limited Certification for Urban Landscape Commercial Fertilizer Application (Florida Statutes § 482.1562), carry the certificate while working, and show it on request. Pinellas County’s applicator page confirms applicators must complete the Green Industry BMP (GI-BMP) class and obtain the FDACS limited fertilizer license before applying.
Site supervisors and managers of landscape maintenance companies must complete a county-approved BMP training program. Crew employees must be BMP-trained within 90 days of hire, and until certified they must work under the direct supervision of a certified employee. Companies must keep written training records, and county-issued vehicle decals must be displayed on all vehicles and trailers used for landscape maintenance or fertilizer application.
The City of St. Petersburg advises homeowners to verify their landscaper’s GI-BMP certification. You can look it up at the UF/IFAS certification database, which the city links from its Stormwater page.
Why St. Pete bans fertilizer every summer
St. Pete’s storm drains aren’t connected to any treatment plant. Rainwater flows straight from the street into creeks, lakes, Tampa Bay, and the Gulf, as the city explains on its Stormwater page. Summer is rainy season, and heavy rain washes nitrogen and phosphorus off lawns and into that untreated flow. The result, per the city’s announcement: algae blooms, fish kills, and water quality problems.
Pinellas County adopted the fertilizer ordinance in January 2010 (Ordinance No. 10-06), and the retail sale ban followed in June 2011. The seasonal blackout targets the months when fertilizer is most likely to wash away before your lawn can use it, so the ban protects your wallet as much as the bay.
How to keep St. Augustine grass healthy during the ban
Practical moves the city and county actually recommend:
- Fertilize in spring, not summer. Apply a slow-release product in April or May, before June 1, per the city’s guidance.
- Use iron and micronutrients for summer green-up without breaking the rules.
- Mulch your clippings into the lawn instead of bagging. Pinellas County notes clippings can supply up to 50% of a lawn’s nitrogen needs.
- Mow high: at least 3.5 inches for St. Augustine and Bahia grass, for drought and pest resistance (Pinellas County).
- Keep a 10-foot no-fertilizer, no-mow buffer near any water body or seawall. The city recommends a no-mow zone to filter runoff.
- Skip fertilizer entirely if you use reclaimed water, since it already carries nutrients. Pinellas County offers a fertilizer reduction app for reclaimed water users.
- Replace turf with Florida-friendly or native plants in problem spots, the city’s long-term recommendation.
St. Pete fertilizer ban FAQ
When does the St. Pete fertilizer ban start and end?
June 1 through September 30, every year, per the City of St. Petersburg. The dates never change, so plan your last spring application for May and your first fall application for October.
Can I buy fertilizer in St. Pete during the summer?
No. Since June 1, 2011, retail sale of lawn or landscape fertilizer containing any nitrogen or phosphorus is prohibited throughout Pinellas County during the restricted season, and stores may not display these products on the sales floor (Pinellas County Code § 58-482).
What is the fine for violating the St. Pete fertilizer ban?
Under Pinellas County Code § 1-8, violations carry a fine of up to $500, and each day a violation continues is a separate offense. Code enforcement action and penalties under the county Environmental Enforcement Act can also apply (§ 58-483).
Does the ban apply to my landscaper or just me?
Both. Homeowners can’t apply or have banned products applied to their lawns, and commercial applicators face additional certification, training, record-keeping, and vehicle decal requirements (§ 58-481). The City of St. Petersburg recommends verifying your lawn company’s GI-BMP certification.
Is phosphorus fertilizer ever allowed in St. Pete?
Only with proof. You must have a soil analysis from a state-certified lab showing a phosphorus deficiency and mail the results to the Pinellas County Watershed Management Division before applying (§ 58-476(b)). Even then, it can’t be applied June 1 – September 30 unless an exemption applies.
Are there any exemptions to the fertilizer ban?
Yes. Golf courses, specialized turf (athletic fields), bona fide farms, vegetable gardens (within UF/IFAS rate recommendations), organic composts and mulches, and certified-arborist tree trunk injections are exempt from the seasonal ban (§ 58-480). Ordinary residential and commercial lawns are not.
What can I put on my lawn in July in St. Pete?
Fertilizer-free micronutrient blends (iron is the go-to for greening), compost and organic soil amendments, and nothing containing nitrogen or phosphorus. The city’s summer guidance recommends exactly this approach.
Can I fertilize before a hurricane if it’s not June yet?
No. Any time of year, fertilizer with nitrogen or phosphorus cannot be applied when the National Weather Service has issued a hurricane, tropical storm, flood, or severe thunderstorm watch or warning for Pinellas County, or when 2+ inches of rain is forecast within 24 hours (§ 58-475(b)).
The bottom line
Mark two dates on your calendar: May 31 (last day to fertilize) and October 1 (first day back). Between them, rely on micronutrients, mulch your clippings, mow high, and keep everything, fertilizer, clippings, leaves, away from storm drains and the water.
If you hire out your lawn care, ask one question before June: is your crew GI-BMP certified? A compliant company will have the certificates and the county vehicle decals to prove it.
Curious what compliant lawn care runs in this market? See what fertilization and lawn care typically cost in St. Pete.
For the full legal text, read Pinellas County Code Chapter 58, Article XIII, and for the city’s current seasonal notice, check stpete.org/Fertilizer.
Want a lawn that stays green through the summer blackout without risking a fine? St. Pete Lawncare handles spring slow-release fertilization and summer micronutrient programs on a compliant schedule. Request a free estimate or call (727) 218-4044 to get on the calendar before June 1.
This article is for general information and is not legal advice. Ordinances are amended from time to time, so verify current requirements with the City of St. Petersburg and the Pinellas County Code of Ordinances.
Sources
- City of St. Petersburg, Stormwater / Seasonal Fertilizer Ban: https://www.stpete.org/residents/utilities/stormwater_pavement_and_traffic_operations/index.php
- City of St. Petersburg, “St. Petersburg Fertilizer Ban Effective June 1” (May 30, 2024): https://www.stpete.org/news_detail_T30_R972.php
- City of St. Petersburg, “St. Pete’s Fertilizer Ban Starts June 1” (May 10, 2022): https://www.stpete.org/news_detail_T30_R346.php
- Pinellas County Code of Ordinances, Chapter 58, Article XIII, Landscape Maintenance and Fertilizer Use and Application (Municode): https://library.municode.com/fl/pinellas_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIIPICOCO_CH58EN_ARTXIIILAMAFEUSAP
- Pinellas County Code of Ordinances, § 1-8, General Penalty; Continuing Violations (Municode): https://library.municode.com/fl/pinellas_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIIPICOCO_CH1GEPR
- Pinellas County, Fertilizer & Landscape Information: https://pinellas.gov/fertilizer-landscape-information/
- Pinellas County, Fertilizer Ordinance summary: https://pinellas.gov/pinellas-county-fertilizer-ordinance/
- UF/IFAS GI-BMP certification lookup (linked by City of St. Petersburg): https://gibmp-prod.ifas.ufl.edu/certified