Titusville Ordinance 44-2026: City Council Second Reading on Artificial Turf Rules on October 27

The Titusville City Council will hold the second reading and public hearing on Ordinance No. 44-2026 on Tuesday, October 27, 2026. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber at City Hall. The ordinance would update the city's artificial turf rules to match Florida Department of Environmental Protection Rule 62-308.100, "Synthetic Turf." It is item 9.D on the agenda. On October 7, 2026, the Planning and Zoning Commission voted 5 to 0 to recommend approval with two changes.

What Ordinance No. 44-2026 Would Change

The ordinance amends three sections of Chapter 30 of the City Code. They are Section 30-63 on shoreline protection setbacks, Section 30-321 on plant materials, and Section 30-325 on artificial turf. The staff report states that the draft brings the city's rules into compliance with the new state standards.

Most of the changes are in Section 30-325. The draft in the agenda packet would make these changes.

• Permeability. The current code calls for a minimum permeability of 30 inches per hour per square yard. The draft changes this to a maximum of 10 inches per hour per square yard for all layers. It deletes the rule that treated turf below the minimum as 100 percent impervious area needing a stormwater management permit.

• Subgrade. The base under the turf would be made of natural materials such as crushed rock or crushed concrete. It would be washed before installation.

• Color and warranty. Only green turf would be allowed. The 15 year manufacturer's warranty rule stays in place.

• Materials. Turf, backing, and infill could not contain heavy metals or intentionally added PFAS chemicals. This replaces the current rule that turf be lead free.

• Infill. Infill, if used, would be clean silica sand, rock, shell, or other natural material. Rubber or other synthetic infill would be allowed only within the footprint of playground equipment.

• Water and trees. Turf could not be placed within 10 feet of a natural or man-made waterbody unless a physical barrier, such as a seawall or bulkhead, separates them. It could not be placed inside tree drip lines unless the tree is a noxious weed or a certified arborist certifies that it would not harm the tree.

• Irrigation. In-ground irrigation systems could not be used to water turf areas. Existing irrigation heads would be removed and pipes capped.

The draft also bars turf in a swale, ditch, stormwater pond, or a pond's littoral zone, in addition to the public right-of-way. Turf would have to allow access to any septic tank for routine pumpout. A new subsection (t) states that turf shall not cause or contribute to violations of state water quality standards.

In Section 30-321, turf would be limited to single family lots of one acre or less. The draft deletes a sentence that limited turf to side or rear yards concealed from view from the adjacent right-of-way. In Section 30-63, artificial grass or turf stays on the list of uses prohibited in the shoreline setback area.

The State Law Behind the Change

The ordinance cites Chapter 2025-140, Laws of Florida. That law began as House Bill 683 of 2025. The House passed it 114 to 0 and the Senate passed it 36 to 0. It was approved by the Governor on June 13, 2025, and took effect July 1, 2025.

Section 1 of the law created section 125.572, Florida Statutes, titled "Regulation of synthetic turf." The statute defines synthetic turf as a manufactured product that resembles natural grass and is used as a surface for landscaping and recreational areas. It directs the Department of Environmental Protection to adopt minimum standards for installing synthetic turf on single-family residential properties of 1 acre or less.

Once the department adopted its rules, the statute bars local governments from two things. They may not adopt or enforce any rule or policy that prohibits a property owner from installing synthetic turf that meets the state standards for single-family residential property. They also may not regulate synthetic turf in a way that is inconsistent with those standards.

The department adopted Rule 62-308.100 effective May 19, 2026. The rule states that it does not create or require any new department permit for installing synthetic turf. It allows a local government to set a permeability standard of a maximum of 10 inches per hour for all layers.

What the Ordinance Means for Property Owners and Businesses

For owners of single family lots of one acre or less, the draft sets the standards turf would need to meet. Several current rules stay in place. Turf could not be used in place of required plants. Turf would still have to be kept in a "like new" condition, free of dirt, debris, stains, and weeds. Indoor and outdoor carpeting could not be used as a substitute for turf.

The draft also changes when a permit is needed. The current code does not require a permit for turf that meets the standards and is not part of a building permit. The draft deletes that language. In its place, it states that artificial turf shall require a permit and stormwater review and shall be inspected for consistency with the section.

The city's business impact estimate states that the ordinance is required for compliance with state law. It states that businesses will benefit from the certainty of regulations consistent with law. It states that the number of businesses affected is impossible to predict.

The Planning and Zoning Recommendation and the October 27 Hearing

The Planning and Zoning Commission, which also serves as the Local Planning Agency, held its public hearing on the ordinance on October 7, 2026. It voted 5 to 0 to recommend approval with two changes. The first is to remove subsection (t) in Section 30-325 because it is redundant. The second is to allow an exemption for up to 120 square feet of artificial turf without a permit. The draft ordinance in the October 27 agenda packet does not show those two changes.

The October 13, 2026 Council agenda listed the first reading as item 10.E. The staff report lists three options for Council. They are to adopt the ordinance as written, adopt it with changes, or not adopt it. The ordinance states that it takes effect upon adoption by the City Council under the City Charter.

The city's published notice states that the proposed ordinance may be inspected in the City Clerk's Office during normal business hours, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. The agenda states that anyone who decides to appeal a Council decision may need a verbatim record of the proceedings. Physically handicapped persons are asked to submit a written request to the chairperson at least 48 hours before the meeting.

The notice states that all interested parties may appear at the meeting and be heard on the proposed ordinance. The hearing is Tuesday, October 27 at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber on the second floor of City Hall, 555 S. Washington Avenue, Titusville.