ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY & ADVOCACY

Naples Fertilizer Ordinance Upheld

An organization representing lawn care services, turf managers, and other similar entities challenged in Circuit Court a 2019 decision by the Naples City Council to adopt a fertilizer ordinance that would help improve water quality. In 2021 and then again in 2022, a judge ruled in favor for the City.

The strong and protective fertilizer ordinance was strongly supported by the Conservancy, as one piece of the puzzle to protect our local water quality from nutrient pollution, and in the years prior we worked with the City to implement the ordinance. The judge’s ruling put to rest the claim that the City did not comply with Florida statutory requirements when adopting the ordinance, and supporting the ability of local municipalities to continue to adopt such strong ordinances to protect their waters and quality of life. Over 110 cities and counties in Florida have been proactive in protecting their waterways by adopting more stringent local ordinances that are stronger than the state model.

Particularly during rainy season, fertilizer can run off into waterways and increase nutrient pollution loading in local waterways, contributing to harmful algal blooms. By decreasing the amount of fertilizer on lawns, and employing other best practices, less excess nutrients will reach the bay and other waters.