Landscaping in St. Petersburg, Florida

Salt spray from the bay and the Gulf

Most of St. Petersburg is a short distance from salt water. The salt-tolerance line is about an eighth of a mile from salt water, and coastal soils are sandy and high in pH. Blocks near Tampa Bay, Boca Ciega Bay or the Gulf beaches fall inside that band.

Fences, sturdy shrubs or a group of trees can shelter more tender plants from strong wind. On a waterfront lot, the planting plan often starts with the windbreak.

Inland blocks have less salt spray but still sandy soil, so mulch and plant selection matter. The design page lists plant palettes and the sod page compares grasses.

St. Petersburg's watering rules

St. Petersburg has its own schedule. As of October 2026 the city lists the following for potable and private well water:

• Even-numbered addresses water on Saturday only. Odd-numbered addresses, and locations with no address, water on Sunday only.
• Allowed hours are 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. or 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Lots under an acre use one of the two slots.
• Hand watering of non-lawn landscaping is allowed any day before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m.
• Reclaimed water is described as voluntary, with the city asking customers to water no more than three days a week.
• New plants and new sod on potable or well water need a 30-day variance from the Water Resources Department.

The city order was set to run until October 1, 2026, unless extended, modified or rescinded. The Southwest Florida Water Management District has since extended its district-wide order through March 31, 2027. The city may not yet have updated its rules, so confirm the current rule with the city before you plant or water. Citations can be issued without a prior warning.

Properties served by Pinellas County Utilities rather than the city follow the county's schedule, instead.

Older neighborhoods and historic districts

The Old Northeast neighborhood, formally the North Shore Historic District, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 20, 2003. A National Register listing is an honor and does not by itself control what you plant. A local historic district is different. The city has local districts, such as the Northwest Kenwood Local Historic District.

In a local district, exterior work can need a Certificate of Appropriateness from the city. A 2021 city staff review of a fence in Kenwood shows how that review works. Staff cited the district's design guidelines and a recommendation that front fences be 3 feet or less, and it noted that fences and vegetation within the visibility triangle at a corner must be no more than 36 inches.

Whether your property is in a local district, and whether a patio, wall or fence needs a certificate, is a question for the city. Your landscaper should check it before drawing a design.

Fertilizer limits

Pinellas County's fertilizer ordinance bans nitrogen and phosphorus from June 1 to September 30. It also limits annual nitrogen to 4 pounds per 1,000 square feet and keeps fertilizer 10 feet from surface water and seawalls. Rules can differ by city, so ask your landscaper which version applies at your address.

Waterfront owners have a special reason to care. Fertilizer that washes off a seawall lot goes straight into the bay.

What to ask your landscaper

On the call or the first visit, ask:

• Is the property in a local historic district or an HOA, and who files for approval?
• Which plants were chosen for salt spray at this exact address?
• How will new plants or sod be watered under the city's variance and day rules?
• How does the plan handle storm runoff on a flat, sandy lot?
• Who removes the old lawn or beds, and where does the debris go?