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State rules prompt updates to turf code; planning board forwards Ordinance 10-26 with staff direction
Summary
The board recommended Ordinance 10-26 to align local turf rules with DEP rule 62-308.100 and HB 683 (2025), and asked staff and legal to tighten language preventing off-site runoff and to resolve any local/state conflicts before Council consideration.
The Planning & Zoning Board on June 23 recommended that Village Council consider Ordinance 10-26, which updates local restrictions on artificial turf and synthetic grass to conform with recent state standards.
Community Development Director Jay Hubsch said the changes respond to House Bill 683 (2025) and Florida DEP rule 62-308.100, adopted May 9, 2026. The new state rule creates minimum standards for synthetic turf on single-family lots of one acre or less; Hubsch said that covers most Tequesta residential lots and thus requires local code updates.
Hubsch told the board the DEP standards include a 10-foot setback from natural or man-made water bodies, a requirement that turf materials not contain heavy metals or PFAS, a permeability requirement for turf and limits on subgrade compaction, and a prohibition on using in-ground irrigation to water synthetic turf. "The DEP clarified that artificial turf must not contain heavy metals or PFAS," Hubsch said, noting the village retained authority to regulate turf on properties not covered by the state rule (commercial, multi-family, larger lots and rights-of-way).
Residents raised runoff and stormwater concerns. Grace Sperry said artificial turf behaves like an impermeable surface and asked that the code require applicants to show that runoff will be retained on-site rather than increase flows to neighbors or the municipal storm system. "Fake grass is effectively an impermeable area," Sperry said, urging stricter on-site retention requirements.
Staff responded that the village’s existing stormwater management criteria will be applied during permitting but agreed to review whether the state-derived language can be strengthened locally to prevent any loophole for off-site runoff. A board member moved that the recommendation include direction to staff and legal to address installation, repair and maintenance language (sections 7 and 8) to ensure no opportunity exists to divert stormwater offsite; the motion passed.
The board’s recommended approval and the staff/legal direction will be forwarded to Village Council for final action. Staff said it will analyze how the state rule and local stormwater criteria interact and return refined language to Council if needed.
