Citrus County expands fertilizer restrictions to include summer rainy season; board approves 4-1

Citrus County commissioners on July 29 approved revisions to the county's fertilizer ordinance that add a summer rainy-season prohibition and stricter product requirements. The motion, introduced by Commissioner Jana Barrick and seconded by a colleague, passed 4-1. The revised ordinance prohibits application of fertilizers containing nitrogen or phosphorus from June 1 through Sept. 30, establishes a minimum slow-release nitrogen requirement (the motion asked for 65% slow-release), and forbids phosphorus application unless a soil test shows a deficiency. The board also removed a blanket exemption for commercial applicators and directed staff to include "point-of-sale" education and outreach. Presenting for Sierra Club and local environmental groups, Michael McGrath and other speakers urged a stricter rainy-season ban and a 50% to 65% minimum slow-release threshold. The board heard more than a dozen public speakers representing conservation groups, the Florida Native Plant Society, local volunteers and fishermen, and youth advocates who said cleaner water is essential to the county's economy and environment. Speakers cited Basin Management Action Plans (BMAPs) and state Department of Environmental Protection nitrogen-loading inventories showing urban fertilizer as a meaningful source of nitrogen to local springs. Commissioner Barrick framed the motion as targeted policy changes: "Rainy season fertilizer ban: prohibit the application of fertilizers containing nitrogen and or phosphorus from June 1 through September 30 of each year," she read into the record. Supporters argued the changes are low-cost, high-benefit measures to reduce nutrient runoff into springs and rivers; opponents warned of enforcement challenges and urged more data on measured benefits of previous ordinances. Staff and the consultant pointed to public education, compliance decals for commercial applicators, and existing extension training as enforcement and outreach tools. The board approved the motion and asked county staff to return with ordinance language, enforcement and public-education plans, and any necessary point-of-sale signage agreements for local retailers. The measure will be folded into county code and enforced by code staff under existing local authority.