Magistrate orders county review of Garvey yard under Florida‑friendly rules, gives 60 days to resolve

At the February 2026 Alachua County special‑magistrate hearing, the magistrate ordered county staff to perform a Florida‑friendly landscaping inspection of a property owned by Jacqueline Garvey and gave the owner 60 days to address any issues identified.

Michael Williams, Alachua County code enforcement officer, presented photographs and notices showing vegetation exceeding the county’s 18‑inch height standard in certain setback areas. Garvey testified that the plantings are intentional and intended to support pollinators. Larson McBride, who said he has been appointed to the City of Gainesville Tree Advisory Board and the Land Conservation Board, offered to submit photographs showing plantings such as beautyberry and rose bushes, arguing the yard is a purposeful Florida‑friendly landscape.

"The photos that Code submitted for evidence... do demonstrate that there's vegetative growth greater than 18 inches, but... they're rose bushes and beauty berry bushes," McBride said, noting the plantings were intentional. The magistrate agreed that a county Florida‑friendly representative should inspect the property to determine what may remain and what requires removal or adjustment.

The magistrate set a 60‑day period for the county inspection and for the owner to make any adjustments identified by staff; if the county determines the yard meets Florida‑friendly criteria, the citation can be withdrawn and no further enforcement would proceed on that finding.

The magistrate instructed county staff to notify the respondent of outcomes by mail and to provide a report that can be used to conclude the matter if compliance or qualification is confirmed.