Lubbock's Invasive Plant Rules: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles invasive plant rules a little differently. In Lubbock, Texas, there are 2 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Tree-of-Heaven Removal

Lubbock's parks and recreation article expressly names tree of heaven on its prohibited street tree species list. It cannot be planted as a thoroughfare street tree, and the parks director will only excuse the ban with a written exception request.

Key details: Species named: Tree of heaven, by name. Scope: Street/parkway plantings only. Exception process: Written request to parks director. Also prohibited: Mimosa, hackberry, cottonwood, elms, others. Enforcement path: Chapter 14 nuisance abatement.

Planting or maintaining a prohibited species, including tree of heaven, as a parkway street tree without a director-approved written exception is a code violation; the city may issue written notice under Chapter 14 and, if uncorrected, enter and remove the tree with costs assessed against the property owner, subject to an owner's right of appeal.

Prohibited Species

Lubbock's Unified Development Code keeps invasive and noxious plants out of the landscaping that developers must install. Under UDC Sec. 39.03.019, a species only counts toward a project's required landscaping if it is native or non-invasive and does not appear on the Texas State Noxious Weed List or the city's own Prohibited Plant List. Community gardens face an outright ban on invasive plants.

Key details: Governing section: UDC Sec. 39.03.019.a.4. Disqualifying lists: TX Noxious Weed List; Prohibited Plant List. Applies to: New development, redevelopment, major expansions. Enforcement lever: No permanent C.O. until plan complies. Community gardens: Invasive species flatly prohibited, Sec. 39.02.018.

A landscape plan that relies on an invasive or noxious species for its required credit is not approved as submitted, and Sec. 39.03.002.b bars the city from issuing a permanent certificate of occupancy until the site's landscaping is built out in conformance with the approved plan, forcing a revision before the project can open. Registered community gardens that plant or allow invasive species to grow are out of compliance with Sec. 39.02.018.b.2.E and with the garden's separate duty to stay free of nuisances under subsection D, exposing the garden's registration and site plan to Code Enforcement review by the Director of Planning.

The Bottom Line

Lubbock's invasive plant rules rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Lubbock is broadly strict or permissive.

All of the above reflects Lubbock's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.