The Miami-Dade County Sheriff's Office posted a video on social media on Thursday to remind that taking fruit from trees on private property without permission is illegal, and doing so can lead to fines starting at $200 and even criminal charges for theft.
The notice arrives right in the middle of mango season in South Florida, when the temptation to pick the fruit hanging over a fence or peeking above a sidewalk is greater than ever.
The rule is clear: If the tree is not yours, neither is the fruit
The Section 21-118 of the Miami-Dade County Code prohibits taking, removing, or damaging plants, fruits, or nursery products from any private or public property without the owner's consent.
If the tree is planted on private property, the fruit belongs to the owner, even if the branches extend beyond the fence or the fruit is just inches away from the public sidewalk.
The regulation also applies to trees in un-fenced areas, such as front gardens and public right-of-ways.
“If the tree is planted on private property, the fruit belongs to the owner. If you have any doubts, always ask for permission before picking it,” the Sheriff’s Office warned in its post.
How much can it cost you?
Violations may result in a $200 civil citation.
The most serious cases can result in criminal charges for theft, with penalties of up to $500 in fines or 60 days in jail according to the county's general code.
Entering someone else's property to collect mangoes can also constitute trespassing, an offense in Florida that is punishable by up to 60 days in jail.
What the law says about branches that invade your yard
The lawyer David Barman, a professor of business law at Florida International University, clarifies that there is an important distinction under common law: "If the fruit falls in your yard or on the sidewalk, it is definitely yours. If it is on the branch of your neighbor's tree but hangs over your fence, it remains your neighbor's fruit. If you pick it before it falls, it is theft."
The most relevant legal precedent in Florida is the case Gallo v. Heller (1987), which established that property owners are not responsible for the natural growth of their trees into neighboring properties, but that the neighbor may trim the branches that encroach on their space at their own expense.
A season marked by repeated incidents
The Sheriff’s attention-grabbing statement is not coincidental.
So far in July, two different mango thieves were caught on camera jumping over the fence of a property in Miami on the 7th and 13th of this month, using fruit pickers to steal the mangos from the owner's tree, identified only as "Wilfredo."
In April 2023, two men stopped their vehicle on a highway in Miami-Dade and climbed onto the roof of the car to reach mangoes from a tree on private property.
The most serious incident occurred in April 2021, when a man stabbed two teenagers aged 14 and 15 who had entered his property in Hialeah to steal mangos. One of the young people suffered a thigh injury that damaged an artery and required emergency surgery.
The simplest advice: ask first
In 2026, a winter freeze delayed the peak of the season until late July and August, keeping the trees heavy with fruit and the temptation very much alive.
Many homeowners in Miami-Dade indicate that they prefer people to just knock on the door: nine out of ten times they would be willing to share the fruit free of charge.
The bartender sums it up with a lesson he repeats every semester in his classes: "I tell my students that if we followed the rules of kindergarten, we wouldn't need most of the laws. Be kind, and if your tree has a lot of fruit, be a good neighbor and share it. And if you want fruit, don't assume you can just take it—ask first."
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