South Tampa, Hillsborough County
Landscaping in South Tampa: Flood Lookups and Drainage
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Landscape design and installation for South Tampa yards, with the flood and evacuation lookups to run first.
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Landscaping in South Tampa, part of the City of Tampa, starts with three lookups: your evacuation zone, your FEMA flood zone and the City's flood maps. The City says water can be slow to leave the land in Tampa and that some areas can see tidally influenced flooding. Medscapes designs and installs beds, sod, pavers and drainage, and Doug Wilson, Director of Operations, walks each yard and writes the quote himself.
- Which rules apply
- City of Tampa rules inside city limits
- Evacuation zones
- A through E, checked by address
- Street runoff into a yard
- Report it to the City of Tampa
- Estimate
- Free, on site, quoted by Doug
Evacuation zone, FEMA flood zone and City flood maps answer three different questions
Inside City of Tampa limits, watering days come from the City, which points addresses in unincorporated Hillsborough County and in Temple Terrace to their own rules. As of November 2026, a lawn inside the limits on city or well water gets one watering day a week, and the Tampa page has the days and the City's permit rules. Not every Hillsborough County address that says Tampa sits inside City limits, so confirm yours with the address look-up on the City limits page.
The City tells owners to know their evacuation zone as well as their flood zone, because the two are not the same. As of November 2026, the county says evacuation zones are based on hurricane storm surge zones that the National Hurricane Center determines from ground elevation and the area's vulnerability to surge, while flood zones are areas FEMA maps for the National Flood Insurance Program.
| Lookup | What it answers | Where to run it |
|---|---|---|
| Hillsborough County evacuation zone | Whether the address falls in one of five zones, A through E. As of November 2026, the county posts both 2025 and 2026 evacuation zone maps | The county's Hurricane Evacuation Assessment Tool, by owner name, address or parcel |
| FEMA flood zone | Whether the address sits in a Special Flood Hazard Area, shown as zones labeled A or V, which carry a 1 percent chance of flooding in any given year | The county's FEMA Effective Flood Zone Viewer, or FEMA's Map Service Center, where the City says the official flood map panels are |
| City of Tampa flood maps | Flood-hazard areas and areas of localized flooding that FEMA's maps may not show | Contact the City's Stormwater Division for its maps. The City's separate Natural Hazards Map shows evacuation zones and flood zones for places in the city |
If the City's localized-flooding maps mark a spot near your lot, show Doug that spot at the on-site estimate.
Sources: Hillsborough County: find your evacuation zone; Hillsborough County: evacuation zones and flood zones compared; Hillsborough County: find my flood zone; City of Tampa: flooding; City of Tampa: find your evacuation zone; City of Tampa: city limits map; City of Tampa: allowed watering days and hours.
What the City of Tampa says about rain, tide and storm surge
The City of Tampa says the most frequent flooding in the city is localized flooding, caused by rainy-season thunderstorms and tropical storms. Because the area lacks topographic relief, the City says it is sometimes difficult for water to drain from the land quickly. It adds that Tampa has areas that can see tidally influenced flooding, and that storm surge from tropical systems can do the most widespread damage in the city.
The City also says floodwater may not be deep but can still damage property, and that in a tropical storm or hurricane the flooding will likely be much more widespread than the localized flooding of a seasonal rainstorm.
Sources: City of Tampa: flooding.
When floodwater reaches plants: what UF/IFAS says, in the order it happens
- While water stands
For many plants, standing water leaves the roots without oxygen. UF/IFAS Extension Pinellas says some plants tolerate up to a week or so of flooding and others are damaged after a short time, and that salty or brackish water is especially hard on them.
- As salt water recedes
UF/IFAS Extension Pinellas says to flush the root zone and rinse the plant with fresh water once salt water recedes, and to wash away sediment and debris carefully. UF/IFAS Extension Broward says flooding with saline or brackish water after storms or king tides can kill turf and many sensitive plants. UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions says to stay off wet soil near plants, because walking on it adds compaction that can hurt roots.
- Before you prune
UF/IFAS Extension Pinellas says to watch new growth before any pruning or cutting back. Yellowing, browning, leaf drop, wilting and die-back can be above-ground signs of root damage from standing water. UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions says to prune injured or dead plant parts immediately after a storm. The two differ: the Pinellas post is about flooded landscapes, the Gardening Solutions page about heavy rain.
Sources: UF/IFAS Extension Pinellas: after the storm, flooded landscapes; UF/IFAS Extension Broward County: is your landscape ready for a major storm; UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: dealing with heavy rains.
Water that pools on the lot: rain gardens, pervious surfaces, downspouts and French drains
For water that pools on the lot itself, UF/IFAS guidance covers three fixes.
- Rain garden
- A low section of native or Florida-friendly plants that tolerate wet and dry spells, set at the bottom of a downspout or a natural low spot. UF/IFAS says to keep it at least 10 feet from the house, make it about 4 to 8 inches deep and call 811 before digging.
- Pervious surfaces
- UF/IFAS lists gravel, mulch or pavers as pervious options for driveways, sidewalks and patios to cut runoff. Medscapes lays permeable pavers.
- Downspouts and soil
- UF/IFAS suggests sending downspouts onto lawn or beds, planting dense groundcovers and planting in raised beds if drainage is an issue for your soil.
Medscapes installs drainage and French drains for yards where water lingers. We pull the permits your job needs, and we call Sunshine 811 before digging on every job that needs it.
Sources: City of Tampa: Flooding Issues service; UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: rain gardens; UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: stormwater runoff; UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: dealing with heavy rains.
What Medscapes does for South Tampa yards
Planting beds and renovation
Florida-friendly plants.
See the serviceSod
St. Augustine, zoysia and Bermuda lawns.
Pavers and hardscape
Patios, walkways, driveways, travertine, permeable pavers, seat walls, retaining walls, fire pits and paver sealing.
See the serviceDrainage and French drains
For the spot where water stands after a summer storm.
See the serviceLandscape design
Hand sketches are free on approved projects. 2D and 3D designs are priced per project, and half the design fee goes toward the installation.
See the serviceTree consultations
Tree consultations are in house; tree work goes to a subcontractor.
South Tampa and the county around it
Medscapes is based in Wesley Chapel and works in South Tampa, the rest of the City of Tampa and across Hillsborough County; see all service areas.
- South Tampa
- Tampa
- Wesley Chapel
Palms, stone and planted beds from Medscapes jobs
Medscapes job photos. Select one to enlarge it.
Customers on design, new plantings and lawns
4.7170+ reviews on GoogleWe had a Great Experience with Medscapes. Doug was amazing! He worked with us on a Landscaping design of our entire front and side yards. He made lots of suggestions on plants he would recommend. He and his team selected the plants, and installed them. They worked with us on any tweaks we wanted to make after the install. …
Phyllis Sacone Google review, 2023
Doug & his team listen, interpret and work their magic. They turned a barren back yard into warm, beautiful, grandchild-friendly natural-looking zones. Crews are efficient, careful, thorough and personable. WOW every time Medscapes provides a service.
Mary Jane Gwyn Google review, 2022
I hired MedScapes earlier this year for some landscaping around my home and it turned out fantastic from design to ease of care is exactly what I asked for. When life and a new job got too busy for me to keep up with my basic lawn care, MedScapes was there to handle it for me. Now I come home to a beautifully manicured yard weekly !! …
Ryann Roser Google review, 2024
Our lawn has seriously never looked better. We love the hard working employees and business owner so much that we've recommended their exceptional service to our entire community, friends and family!! They are professional and very thorough. Providing us with an entrancing lawn we can enjoy all year round. …
Savannah Google review, 2018
Doug made the process of understanding what was needed and developing a plan very easy. The crews doing the clean up and new plantings were timely, pleasant, and conscious of making sure things were done right. I've also been very pleased with the weekly lawn maintenance services and their efforts in keeping the yard looking great. …
Pedro Fierro Google review, 2023
The crew was very professional and worked hard throughout the day to make sure the job was done. The front yard looks way better and I can’t wait to see how some of these beautiful plants grow! Everyone was very responsive to questions throughout the process and it was all handled in a timely manner! …
Michelle V. Crespo-Melendrez Google review, 2023
South Tampa questions on flood maps, runoff and storm drains
Not answered here? Call (813) 382-5801 or book a free on-site estimate.
My South Tampa yard has never flooded. Is it still worth running the flood lookups?
The City of Tampa says that not having flooded in the past does not mean a property won't in the future, because flood risk also depends on rainfall, river flow, tidal-surge data, topography, flood-control measures and building and development. It adds that its Stormwater Division has maps of flood-hazard and localized-flooding areas that FEMA's maps may not show.
When does Tampa's rainy season start and end?
The City of Tampa says rainy-season thunderstorms cause its most frequent flooding. The Southwest Florida Water Management District defines the rainy season as June through September, about 7.8 inches a month and about 60 percent of annual rainfall. The National Weather Service in Tampa Bay defines it as May 25 to October 10 for West Central Florida outside Southwest Florida, and says the season may begin earlier or end later.
How do I tell whether my Tampa address is inside City of Tampa limits?
The City says that while many Hillsborough County addresses include "Tampa," not all fall within its limits, and that nearby areas outside the City, including unincorporated parts of the county, can share the label. Its city limits page has an address look-up map. The Tampa page compares the City's rules with the county's.
Can I blow grass clippings or yard debris into a South Tampa storm drain?
No. The City of Tampa says not to place lawn trash or other debris, grass clippings included, in stormwater inlets, ditches or other waterways, and that clippings should be blown back onto the yard or vacuumed. It says dumping into any public drainage system violates City Code Chapter 21-9, and that blocked drains leave rain nowhere to go.
Where do I report street runoff that floods my South Tampa yard?
As of November 2026, the City of Tampa's Flooding Issues service takes reports of flooding caused by rainwater draining from a city street into a house or yard, and asks for the exact location, given as the street name and the two nearest intersecting streets.
What should I bring to a South Tampa estimate?
Have ready a note of where water stands after a summer storm, plus your evacuation zone and FEMA flood zone if you have run the lookups. The estimate is free and on site, and Doug walks the yard and writes the quote himself.
Last updated
Show Doug where water stands in your yard
Use the estimate form or call (813) 382-5801. References are available on request.
- 1Call or book online
- 2Doug walks the yard with you
- 3You get a written quote
Book a free on-site estimateCall (813) 382-5801
Monday to Friday, 7 AM to 5 PM · Based in Wesley Chapel