Florida Yards & Neighborhoods

• Back to Lawn and Garden

The Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Program  (FYN) is now funded through The Department of Environmental Resources Management (DERM), Miami-Dade Water & Sewer Department (MDWSD) and The Miami-Dade Solid Waste Management Department (MDSWMD). We would like to thank these agencies for taking such great interest in this tremendously beneficial program for our community. Our FYN Program provides education on 'Florida-friendly' landscaping principles throughout the county to homeowner associations, landscape maintenance firms, municipalities, and other stakeholder groups. 

Key focal areas include water conservation, improved water quality, proper fertilizer and pesticide use, proper plant selection, and other issues related to protecting water resources.  

Irrigation Retrofit Incentive Program

To increase water use efficiency FYN has partnered with Miami-Dade County Water & Sewer Department (MDWSD)to provided Homeowners Associations (HOA) and Single-Family Homeowners (SFH) within Miami-Dade County with an opportunity to help create water efficient communities on a reimbursement basis. The project process includes initial evaluation of irrigation efficiency, retrofitting of the irrigation system as appropriate, and installation of a tested and proven soil moisture sensor to determine irrigation needs; this process results in water conservation and energy savings for the HOA.

This irrigation incentive project is part of a larger effort to better manage our traditional water supplies while encouraging the development of alternative water supplies and improving the efficiency of our current water use.  Developing efficient practices and using water wisely to enhance our life can help our community avoid the likelihood of future water shortages.

Join today and commit to protecting our most precious natural resource. For a informational brochure click here, or if you would like to apply click here: HOA or SFH.  

Florida Friendly Yard

The Florida Yards & Neighborhoods program recognizes homeowners who use environmentally friendly gardening and landscaping practices. Florida Friendly Yards minimize the use of potable water for irrigation, avoid the runoff of excess fertilizers and pesticides from the yard and provide habitats for wildlife. Florida Friendly Yards can take any form, from more conventional and manicured to more natural. It’s how you maintain your yard that ultimately determines if it’s Florida-friendly.

 Yards are evaluated based on a checklist of Florida-friendly landscaping practices. By meeting the minimum requirements   and collecting at least 36 inches, you can have a Florida Friendly Yard. If you go beyond that, you can achieve a higher level of recognition, up to the Golden Oak status. Owners of Florida Friendly Yards receive a sign to display in the yard and a certificate. You can review the requirements of a Florida Friendly Yard using our online version of The Florida Yardstick Workbook. 

Florida Backyard Wildlife Habitat

FYN has partnered with another University of Florida Extension program called the "Florida Backyard Wildlife Habitat" Program, and is offering a second type of yard certification. The program is being offered to Miami-Dade County residents interested in attracting or providing a refuge for wildlife in their own yards. If you are interested in having your yard certified as a “Florida Backyard Wildlife Habitat” just click here to download the application.  Since this program is not local there is a $5.00 fee for the cost of signage once you have been certified. Please make check payable to: University Of Florida .   

For more information about any of these programs, please feel free to contact:

Laura Vasquez, FYN Coordinator	305 248-3311 x 239	e-mail
Barbara McAdam FYN Program Assistant	305 248-3311 x 245	e-mail