If you own or manage property in Palm Beach, the rainy season brings a rule many people miss: a fertilizer blackout. It can affect your lawn schedule, your contracts, and even your closing timeline if fines are involved. The good news is you can stay compliant with a few simple steps.
In this quick guide, you’ll learn the dates that matter, what products are restricted, how to work with your landscaper, and who to call with questions. Let’s dive in.
Know your jurisdiction and dates
The blackout dates depend on where your property sits. Inside the Town of Palm Beach, official notices describe a seasonal prohibition on fertilizers containing nitrogen or phosphorus, commonly listed as June 1 through September 30. You can confirm current guidance in the Town’s alerts and with Code Enforcement at 561-227-7080. See the Town’s seasonal notice under Alerts and Notices for the latest updates.
- Town reference: The Town has historically communicated a June 1 to September 30 blackout. Because municipal updates can shift, always verify the current end date on the Town’s site, including the Green Initiative page, before scheduling applications.
- County-style reference: Many municipalities in Palm Beach County follow a longer rainy-season blackout, often June 1 to October 31. For an example of this county-style schedule, review the Village of North Palm Beach’s fertilizer ordinance overview.
View the Town’s seasonal fertilizer notice and the Town Green Initiative page. For a county-style example, see the Village of North Palm Beach ordinance summary.
Town of Palm Beach at a glance
- Seasonal ban on nitrogen and phosphorus products during the Town’s rainy-season blackout period.
- Common local provisions include a fertilizer-free buffer near water, slow-release nitrogen requirements outside the blackout, and phosphorus only when a soil test shows a need.
- Who to call: Town of Palm Beach Code Enforcement at 561-227-7080.
Palm Beach County and nearby municipalities
- Many jurisdictions in the county use a June 1 to October 31 blackout window.
- Expect similar core provisions: a buffer from waterways, slow-release nitrogen outside the blackout, and soil-test-based phosphorus.
- Always confirm the exact rules for the city or unincorporated area where your parcel is located.
What the ban covers
During the prohibited period for your jurisdiction, you must not apply fertilizers that contain nitrogen (N) or phosphorus (P) to turf or landscape. Outside the blackout, many local rules require a minimum share of slow-release nitrogen, and limit phosphorus to cases where a soil test confirms a deficiency. These common elements are explained in regional ordinance summaries and Florida-Friendly guidance. See the overview at Be Floridian Now and the UF/IFAS lawn care guide on fertilizing your Florida lawn.
Step-by-step compliance checklist
- Confirm your rule and dates
- Check if your address is inside the Town of Palm Beach or in another municipality/unincorporated county. Verify the blackout dates and product rules before any application. Use the Town’s seasonal notice, the Town Green Initiative page, or your local code office.
- Align your landscaper
- Give your contractor the exact dates that apply. Ask about Florida Green Industry Best Management Practices training and copy of licenses. Require receipts and product labels for all applications. UF/IFAS explains GI-BMP training here: Green Industry BMPs overview.
- During the blackout period
- Do not apply fertilizers containing nitrogen or phosphorus unless a narrow local exception applies. Focus on cultural care: proper mowing height, efficient irrigation, mulching clippings, and building soil health. For color, consider potassium or micronutrients when allowed. See UF/IFAS tips on fertilizing your Florida lawn.
- Outside the blackout
- Choose turf products with a high share of slow-release nitrogen, follow label rates, and only apply phosphorus when a soil test shows a deficiency. Keep fertilizer off driveways and away from storm drains. Use a spreader deflector near water bodies. See ordinance basics at Be Floridian Now and UF/IFAS’s lawn fertilization guidance.
- Near water and storm drains
- Maintain a fertilizer-free buffer around any water body. A 10-foot setback is common in local rules, with some jurisdictions allowing a reduced distance when a deflector shield is used. Check your municipality’s code for the exact buffer distance; this example from the Village of North Palm Beach shows how local language is often written.
- New plantings
- Some jurisdictions allow limited fertilization during establishment of new plantings. Confirm whether your local code includes this exception and the timing that applies.
- Keep records
- Retain soil test results if you plan to apply phosphorus outside the blackout. Save application receipts, labels, and your landscaper’s training/license information.
Enforcement, penalties, and contacts
- Town of Palm Beach: Code Enforcement handles compliance and uses civil citations with escalating penalties. See the Town’s published citation schedule and call 561-227-7080 with questions. You can review the Town’s citation framework in the civil citation schedule.
- Palm Beach County: County Code Enforcement and the Special Magistrate process handle violations in unincorporated areas and jurisdictions that adopt the county standard. The Unified Land Development Code provides for administrative fines and potential liens for noncompliance. Learn more in ULDC Article 10 and the County’s Special Magistrate overview.
Why this matters for your property
Keeping nutrients out of local waterways is a shared responsibility, and your lawn practices play a role. UF/IFAS research notes that local fertilizer rules can help, though effectiveness varies by timing and local conditions. The bottom line for homeowners is clear: follow your local ordinance and best practices to reduce nutrient runoff. Read the UF/IFAS summary on the timing of fertilizer ordinances here.
For sellers, buyers, and property managers
If you are preparing to list, go under contract, or take over management, confirm there are no open fertilizer-related code issues. Administrative fines can escalate and may result in liens if left unresolved under county processes. Keep copies of soil tests, application receipts, and your landscaper’s credentials so you can demonstrate compliance during a transaction.
Ready to align your lawn calendar with your selling or buying plans? For local guidance that protects your timeline and your property, connect with Aziza El Wanni.
FAQs
When is the fertilizer blackout in the Town of Palm Beach?
- Town notices commonly cite June 1 through September 30 for products containing nitrogen or phosphorus, but always confirm current dates in the Town’s seasonal fertilizer notice or with Code Enforcement at 561-227-7080.
Can I apply slow-release fertilizer during the blackout?
- No. Blackouts generally prohibit any fertilizer that contains nitrogen or phosphorus during the restricted period; slow-release rules apply outside the blackout. See local ordinance basics at Be Floridian Now.
How far from water should I keep fertilizer applications?
- Many local codes require a buffer, commonly 10 feet from the water’s edge, with some jurisdictions allowing a reduced distance when using a deflector; verify your local rule, as shown in this example ordinance overview.
Can I use phosphorus on my lawn?
- Only if a soil test shows a deficiency and only outside the blackout; many ordinances restrict phosphorus unless testing supports it. See the regional summary at Be Floridian Now.
What should I do if my contractor fertilized during the prohibited period?
- Document the date and product, save receipts, and contact your local code enforcement office; the Town can be reached at 561-227-7080, and county cases follow the ULDC enforcement process described in Article 10.
Are vegetable gardens exempt from these rules?
- Some jurisdictions include exemptions for vegetable gardens or certain composted amendments, but wording varies; check your local ordinance for specifics, noting how exemptions are handled in example codes like this one in Florida’s municipal library system (see example code language).
