By John Pacenti
The Florida Legislature’s war on home rule has now left municipalities paralyzed on — of all things — synthetic turf.
The result for residents: install at your own risk.
The problem is a Tallahassee two-step that left the Ocean Ridge Town Commission tied up in knots for two meetings.
The legislature in 2025 took the first step to block local governments from enforcing any ordinance that prohibits single-family property owners from installing synthetic turf, provided it meets statewide standards.
The rub is the Florida Department of Environmental Protection has yet to take the second step to incorporate those new standards to fit the new law — rules that could sometimes take years to hash out.
“All towns, all cities are not enforcing their turf laws at this time because everybody’s waiting to see the preemption that comes from Tallahassee in its final state,” Ocean Ridge Town Manager Michelle Heiser said at the Feb. 2 commission meeting. “So here we are in a predicament.”
It’s another example of the state Legislature cutting into the self-determination of cities, towns and villages. And you can blame “Big Turf” — manufacturers of synthetic turf and developers who contributed to the sponsors of the legislation and then hired powerhouse lobbyist firms to make sure the legislation passed.
Proponents argued that uniformity on turf installation was needed throughout the state.
“Tallahassee is really trying to change the culture in some cities and towns away from overregulation and having community standards that are so strict that it’s very much like an HOA,” Heiser said at the February meeting.
Two former town commissioners didn’t like the idea of the state or the town easing up on artificial turf when the issue resurfaced at the March 2 meeting.
“This is bad stuff. It’s ugly. It doesn’t do all the stuff they say it does,” Terry Brown said during public comments. “It’s successful lobbying by large manufacturers.”
Betty Bingham, another former commissioner, added, “They don’t even really know whether it’s environmentally sound. As it gets older, it makes fumes. It could cause various diseases. It doesn’t absorb water. I don’t see any benefits to artificial turf.”
Heiser first broached the artificial turf issue at the Feb. 2 meeting, saying a homeowner on Harbour Drive North wanted to install some artificial turf after cooperating with the town on a drainage field.
Homeowners in beachside communities are familiar with that patch of property that gets battered by the elements, where nothing seems to grow.
“We’ve got a handful of very patient homeowners,” Heiser said. “I’m just looking for a common-sense approach.”
Multiple considerations ...
The existing code requires artificial turf to appear grass-like, meet a minimum permeability standard, and have an eight-year manufacturer’s warranty. It cannot be installed in the front yard and is limited to 25% of a lot’s size.
In anticipation of FDEP adopting new standards, the commission considered getting rid of the location and size requirements. It also considered just not enforcing the current ordinance, knowing it will be changed once FDEP makes its decision.
“Every local government is going to have to pivot,” Town Attorney Christy Goddeau said at the Feb. 2 meeting.
FDEP is deciding the technical and environmental rulebook for synthetic turf statewide — how permeable it must be, how it’s installed, how it affects drainage, heat, water quality and trees.
“Doesn’t it seem crazy to enforce an ordinance that we know is going?” Vice Mayor Steve Coz asked at the Feb. 2 meeting.
Commissioners then discussed just ignoring its own code. Such a policy seems to be becoming the Ocean Ridge way, as the town has taken a similar approach regarding hedges and the trimming of coconut palms.
Commissioner Carolyn Cassidy wasn’t a fan of carving out exceptions for certain properties. “If we allow one homeowner to go ahead, I mean, how long before the builder, who was forced to rip it out of the front yard very recently, comes in here making noise about it?” she said.
That’s when commissioners said residents could be informed that they could install artificial turf, but would be at the mercy of the FDEP once new rules were handed down.
Goddeau interjected at the March 2 meeting, “I do not recommend adopting something and telling people you could do it, but if it doesn’t comply with the final DEP rule, then what are we going to do? Take code enforcement and go to people’s houses, require them to rip out what they installed?”
... but decision is to wait
Mayor Geoff Pugh said he was never a fan of the town’s artificial turf ordinance. Still, he pressed for a mechanism that keeps the town accountable for what gets installed — floating the idea of a no‑fee permit so the town can at least track products and advise residents on risks as rules evolve.
In the end, the commission punted. It decided not to change its ordinance and to revisit it in July, when FDEP will possibly have its new requirements.
Commissioner Ainar Aijala Jr. put things in perspective a bit, saying it’s not like the whole town will soon be carpeted with artificial turf like Ford Field in Detroit.
“It’s not like there’s a whole lot of our citizens who are going to be put out by this. So let’s just wait,” he said.
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