02 • 08 • 2022
Orange County Fertilizer Ordinance Adopted
The Surfrider Foundation Orlando Chapter and coalition partners requested an update to the Orange County urban fertilizer ordinance to protect water quality from nutrient runoff and the algal blooms that impact recreation, food and wildlife. We demonstrated strong support of a strict, no-exemption, rainy season application blackout period from June 1 to September 30, a 25' buffer zone, and adoption of Ocean Friendly Garden planting protocols year-round.
On February 9, 2022 the Orange County Mayor and Commissioners unanimously adopted a new ordinance update to Orange County’s Fertilizer Management Ordinance (Chapter 15, Article XVII) to limit fertilizer application periods and increase buffer zones. Read here.
The Surfrider Foundation Orlando Chapter, in coalition with Sierra Club and Ocean Friendly Garden partners, requested an Environmental Protection Division updates to the Orange County fertilizer ordinance to stop pollution at the source. We promoted and pushed for strong support for a strict, no-exemption, rainy season fertiliizer application blackout period. This would be an addition to the 15 counties and 100 municipalities in Florida that have already included strict bans.
Additionally, the Surfrider Foundation is in support of work to attain a zero application residential and commerical protocol, beyond the black out period by implementing incentive programs for Native Plants and “Florida Friendly” applications. This would close a loophole for commercial application's rainy season variance.
Water quality concerns from eutrophication and nutrient runoff impact wildlife, smother seagrass, foul seafood, and make recreation perilous. Further, fish kills, red tides, and blue-green algal blooms are more frequent by runoff from over fertilized applications.
We applaud the county's adoption of this ordinance and encourage education on such measures as set forth in “Florida Friendly Best Management Practices for Protection of Water Resources by the Green Industries” to prevent pollution of our stormwater runoff and waterways. Further, we congratulate the county's adoption of a larger Fertilizer-Free Zones that prohibits application of fertilizer within 25 feet from the top of the bank of any surface water, leeward edge of a seawall, or designated wetland. The original proposal was for 15 feet.
Congratulations to Orange County for taking charge of pollution at the source and stop urban fertilizer runoff!
Thank you letters can be written to:
mayor@ocfl.net
district1@ocfl.net,
district2@ocfl.net,
district3@ocfl.net,
district4@ocfl.net,
district5@ocfl.net,
district6@ocfl.net
David Jones, Manager. David.Jones2@ocfl.net
Orange County Environmental Protection Division
3165 McCrory Place
Orlando, FL 32803