Water-Related News

North Port encouraging the voluntary non-use of fertilizer year-around

On Tuesday, October 9, 2018, North Port City Commission unanimously approved a resolution to encourage the voluntary non-use of fertilizer year-around. Read the full resolution here »

The City of North Port recognizes that fertilizers from many sources can enter into our waterways and may contribute to algal blooms including the Florida red tide organism, Karenia brevis, which has caused widespread detrimental effect along the coastal communities. These nutrient pollutants can affect the regional watershed, and the City of North Port desires to be part of a regional effort to improve water quality. Water quality is critical to the Charlotte Harbor estuarine system and watershed. It is also critical to the City of North Port’s environmental, economic, and recreational prosperity and to the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the City.

The City of North Port’s Fertilizer Ordinance has a restricted period of June 1 through September 30 each year which prohibits use of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer on turf, but landscape plants can still be fertilized with fertilizer containing 50% or more slow release nitrogen. In the period after September 30 and before June 1, fertilizing of both turf and landscape plants are allowed. In a previous Commission meeting on September 25, 2018, it was the desire of the North Port Commission to adopt a resolution as soon as possible to encourage non-use of fertilizers year-round for the health, well-being and safety of the community.

This new resolution approved on October 9, 2018, will contribute to a regional effort to reduce fertilizer runoff into waterbodies that flow to the estuary and ocean. This resolution encourages a voluntary non-use of fertilizer year-around, which is more restrictive than the City’s fertilizer ordinance.