Top-rated landscapers in Sanford, FL

Sanford sets its own rules for trees, historic districts and watering, follows Seminole County's fertilizer ordinance, and adds shoreline and flood zone rules near Lake Monroe. For statewide topics such as lawn grasses and licensing, see the Florida guide.

Tree permits in Sanford

The city's planning FAQ says an Arbor Permit is required before you cut down, remove, relocate or damage any living tree. A "tree" is any woody plant that normally grows at least 15 feet tall, usually with a single trunk. The application goes to Planning and Development Services, 407.688.5140, and the city's posted fee schedule lists no fee for single-family homes.

Under the city's Schedule J:

• Removal reasons: the tree must block a planned structure, be dead, diseased or likely to fall, endanger a building, interfere with utilities, or block safe sight lines.
• Replacement: the city can require it on site, three for one when the new trees are smaller.
• Exempt species: camphor, Chinese tallow, Brazilian pepper, chinaberry and cherry laurel, among others.
• No topping: topping or hatracking a code-required tree is unlawful, and one- and two-family homes need at least one front-yard tree.

State law lets a homeowner skip local approval when an ISA certified arborist or Florida-licensed landscape architect documents that a tree poses an unacceptable risk; see the Florida guide.

Street trees and storm season

Planting or removing a tree in the public right-of-way needs a separate right-of-way utilization permit under Schedule J. The city's right-of-way trimming clears canopies to 17 feet over streets and 9 feet over sidewalks.

The city asks residents to trim early in the season and stop once a storm warning is issued, since trucks pull off the roads and curbside branch piles become projectiles. Clippings blown into the street clog storm drains and flood streets, so aim the mower chute at the lawn.

Historic districts: fences and site work

In Sanford's Downtown Commercial, Sanford Residential and Sanford Avenue historic districts, any exterior work, including site work, needs a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) first. In the Georgetown district, only demolition and new construction do. The city's Schedule S sets the yard rules:

• Fences: chain link and vinyl are prohibited in the historic districts. A new, replaced or modified fence needs a COA, front-yard fences should be simple vertical pickets, and gaps between pickets can't exceed 3 inches.
• Driveways: where visible from the street, poured concrete, pavers, gravel or natural mulch, confined by curbing.

Fertilizer: Seminole County's rules

Seminole County's FAQ says Sanford has adopted the county's fertilizer ordinance. Its rules:

• June 1 to September 30: no fertilizer with nitrogen or phosphorus. Iron and micronutrient "summer blends" are allowed.
• October 1 to May 31: at least 65% of the nitrogen must be slow-release.
• Phosphorus: banned year-round unless a UF/IFAS-approved soil test shows a deficiency.
• Near water: none within 15 feet of a pond, lake, canal, stream or wetland.
• Weather: none during National Weather Service flood, tropical storm or hurricane watches or warnings, or when 2 inches or more of rain is expected within 24 hours.
• Spreaders: broadcast and rotary spreaders need a deflector shield.

Watering and reclaimed water

The city has adopted the St. Johns River Water Management District's schedule: two days a week during daylight saving time, one in winter, by odd or even address, never between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. The Orlando guide lists the days. The rules cover private wells, and new irrigation systems need rain sensors. A district water shortage order can cut watering to one day a week.

The city's watering brochure adds:

• Reclaimed water: three days a week year-round (even addresses Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday; odd or no address Monday, Wednesday and Saturday), never 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• New lawns and landscaping: exempt for the first 30 days.
• Fines: a warning, then $25, $50, $75 and $100 on your utility bill, then code enforcement.

Reclaimed water costs less than drinking water. Call 407.688.5100 with questions.

Lakefront and flood zone lots

Sanford's environmentally sensitive lands rules set a shoreline protection zone on lakefronts reaching 50 feet landward of the water's edge, where only passive recreation is allowed. Exemptions include a cleared boat or swimming corridor (up to 15 feet wide in the water, 25 feet on land), footpaths up to 4 feet wide, and fences that need no fill.

In a mapped flood zone, the city says any development, filling or excavating needs a Floodplain Development Permit, and the water management district, the state and the Army Corps of Engineers may add requirements.

Local help: Seminole County Extension

The UF/IFAS Extension Seminole County office is at 250 W. County Home Road in Sanford, (407) 665-5560. Its Master Gardener help desk (407-665-5550, [email protected]) identifies plants, bugs, weeds and diseases. A soil pH test costs $2, run on Thursdays with results within a week; full nutrient tests go to the UF/IFAS lab in Gainesville. See how to test your lawn soil.

What it costs

Quotes vary with lot size, access and the work. These national ranges from our cost guides are a starting point:

• Tree removal: about $385 to $1,070 for most trees, and more for very large or hard-to-reach ones. See tree removal costs.
• Tree trimming: about $430 to $640 per tree on average. See tree trimming costs.
• Lawn care: monthly plans about $100 to $500, mowing about $44 to $71 per visit. See lawn care costs.
• Sprinkler system: about $1,600 to $3,600 installed. See sprinkler system costs.

Hiring a pro in Sanford

• Get two or three written quotes with the scope and timeline spelled out.
• For tree work, ask who files the Arbor Permit (or for the arborist's risk assessment), whether replacement trees are in the price, and rule out topping.
• In a historic district, get the COA before a fence, driveway or site work starts, and skip chain link and vinyl.
• For fertilizing, expect no nitrogen or phosphorus from June 1 to September 30 and a 15-foot buffer from water.
• For irrigation, have the installer set your watering days (or the reclaimed schedule) and add a rain sensor.
• Near Lake Monroe or a flood zone, ask who checks the city's shoreline and floodplain rules before clearing or adding fill.