Clermont commission adopts new landscape and irrigation rules aimed at saving water

The Clermont Planning and Zoning Commission on May 6 approved recommendations to change the Land Development Code and city irrigation rules to reduce landscape water use and encourage drought-tolerant plantings.

Ordinance 2025-017 (land development code amendments) and Ordinance 2025-018 (irrigation and landscaping regulations) passed on unanimous 7-0 votes and will be transmitted to City Council with the commission's recommendation. City staff said the measures respond to guidance from the St. Johns River Water Management District.

Staff described the changes as focused on water conservation. Key provisions include a required soil amendment (top-layer compost prior to planting), required "smart" WiFi-based irrigation controllers that respond to weather, a reduction in allowed non-drought-tolerant sod from 60% to 25% of landscaped area, an expanded approved plant list referencing IFAS Florida-friendly species, and a reduced annual irrigation budget from 35 inches to 28 inches per year.

Planning staff said the preferred tree lists in the code will be moved into a separate, updatable landscape-standards document so species lists can be revised by resolution rather than ordinance. Staff also said a public-information campaign will accompany the changes and that the standards document will be posted to the city website.

A public commenter from Massey Wellness Way asked the commission to consider reclaimed water and questioned requirements for private wells. "How about we look at something that can cause less regulations?" the commenter said. Staff responded that reclaimed-water options and alternative sources are being explored separately and noted that homeowners' irrigation using private wells would still be subject to conservation rules because those wells draw from the same aquifer. Staff also said the city has monitoring tools to detect excessive irrigation use and will provide notices to customers.

Commissioners asked staff for clarity on how the rules apply to new development, redevelopment and existing communities and encouraged an education program and tree giveaways to help residents adopt drought-tolerant landscaping. The commission approved Ordinances 2025-017 and 2025-018 by roll call; both measures now proceed to City Council for final consideration.

No immediate fee or construction approvals were imposed by the commission vote; the changes set standards and regulatory limits to be enforced under the city code and the city's water-use monitoring program.