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Fertilizer-Free Zone

A fertilizer-free zone is an area where you may not fertilize at any time of the year. These designated zones are near seawalls, wetlands, ponds, lakes or any body of water. When fertilizer reaches the water, it causes poor water quality and algae blooms, which in turn reduce oxygen and cause fish kills.

Pinellas County’s Fertilizer Ordinance

Fertilizer shall NOT be applied within 10 feet from the top bank of any surface water, landward edge of the top of a seawall, or wetland. The “top of bank” is the flat land portion before land begins to slope downward towards a waterbody/seawall.

En Español version

What is a fertilizer-free zone? If there is a slope, the fertilizer-free zone begins 10 feet back (away from the water), from the top of the bank. If there is no slope, then fertilizer-free zone is 10 feet from the waterbody or seawall. Fertilizer is allowed October 1 through May 31. In areas where fertilizer is allowed, never apply more than one pound of nitrogen in granular form, or no more than half a pound of nitrogen in liquid form, per one thousand square feet.