How Alexandria Handles Landscaping Rules: A Practical Guide

Alexandria maintains 116 local ordinances across all categories, and 3 of those deal specifically with landscaping rules. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Alexandria falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Weed Ordinances

Alexandria enforces grass height limits under local ordinance. VA Code §15.2-900 authorizes weed and vegetation removal enforcement.

Key details: Max Height: 12 to 18 inches typical. Notice Period: 7 to 15 days. State Law: VA Code §15.2-900. Abatement: City can mow and bill.

First notice: 7 to 15 days to comply. City abatement: $200 to $500 billed to owner. Lien placed for unpaid abatement.

Tree Trimming

Alexandria property owners must trim trees, shrubs and other vegetation that overhangs or interferes with a public street, sidewalk or other public property. The City Manager can order corrective trimming within 7 to 30 days, and a serious hazard can be cut back on just four hours' notice.

Key details: Duty holder: Person growing or permitting the vegetation. Correction notice window: 7 to 30 days from service. Notice method: Personal service or registered mail. Enforcing official: City Manager; Director of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities. Immediate hazard notice: At least 4 hours before city acts.

Failure to comply with a Sec. 6-2-22 correction notice within its 7-to-30-day deadline allows the Director of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities to send a city crew to trim or prune the vegetation at the property's expense under Sec. 6-2-23, and that abatement does not preclude a separate criminal prosecution for the underlying violation. Immediate hazards can be cut back by the city with as little as four hours' notice under Sec. 6-2-24.

Tree Removal & Heritage Trees

Alexandria requires new residential construction that needs a grading plan to preserve or replant enough trees to reach 25 percent canopy cover on the lot under Zoning Ordinance § 7-2200, exercising the state authority in Va. Code § 15.2-961 that lets localities mandate tree canopy through the site-plan process.

Key details: State authority: Va. Code § 15.2-961 enables local tree-canopy ordinances. Local standard: 25% minimum canopy cover, Zoning Ordinance § 7-2200. Where it applies: R-20, R-12, R-8, R-5, R-2-5 and RA/RB 1-2 unit lots. Exempt districts: Old & Historic Alexandria and Parker-Gray Districts. Approving official: Director signs off as part of grading-plan approval.

Va. Code § 15.2-961(J) ties enforcement to whatever penalty the locality applies to zoning-ordinance violations generally, so a site that fails to reach the 25 percent canopy cover required by Zoning Ordinance § 7-2200 does not receive grading-plan sign-off from the director, and proceeding without that approval is treated the same as any other zoning violation. The statute caps what a locality's canopy ordinance may demand: under subsection K, no local tree-replacement ordinance adopted under this authority may exceed the canopy percentages set out in the statute itself.

The Bottom Line

Alexandria's landscaping 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 Alexandria is broadly strict or permissive.

These rules come from Alexandria's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.