How Allentown Handles Landscaping Rules: A Practical Guide

Allentown maintains 134 local ordinances across all categories, and 5 of those deal specifically with landscaping rules. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Allentown falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Tree Trimming

In Allentown, the owner of property abutting a public right-of-way is responsible for the care and maintenance of any shade (street) tree growing in that right-of-way. A City permit from the Department of Public Works is required before pruning, removing, planting, stump-grinding, or applying pesticide/fertilizer to a street tree, and all work must follow the City's Arboricultural Specifications and Standards of Practice under Article 911 of the 1962 Codified Ordinances.

Key details: Code Section: Article 911 of the 1962 Codified Ordinances; Ch. 597 (Trees), Art. I (Shade Trees). Who maintains street trees: Owner of abutting property. Permit required for: Planting, pruning, removal, stump grinding, pesticide/fertilizer. Licensed contractor required: Yes, for pruning, removal, pesticide/fertilizer (City-licensed ISA contractor). Permit term: Expires 60 days from issue.

Performing tree work in the right-of-way without a permit, using an unlicensed contractor where one is required, or failing to provide required replacement trees within 6 months is a violation of Article 911 of the 1962 Codified Ordinances and subjects the property owner to penalties. Replacement trees not planted within 6 months (or that do not meet City standards) may be planted by the City, with an administrative fee plus all replacement costs charged to the property owner of record.

Compared to other cities, Allentown takes a harder line on tree trimming. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Water Restrictions

Allentown has no permanent day-of-week or time-of-day lawn-watering ordinance. Outdoor watering is restricted only when the Governor declares a drought emergency, at which point Pennsylvania's statewide nonessential-water-use ban (4 Pa. Code Chapter 119) prohibits watering grass except for narrow exceptions. The Lehigh County Authority (LCA), which supplies Allentown, issues its own voluntary or mandatory conservation requests tied to the state drought status.

Key details: Code Section: 4 Pa. Code Chapter 119 (esp. Section 119.4). Permanent local watering ban: None in Allentown city code. Trigger: Governor-declared drought emergency. Allowed grass watering hours (emergency): 5 p.m. to 9 a.m., hand-held only, for new seed/sod. Water supplier: Lehigh County Authority (LCA).

During a declared drought emergency, violations of the statewide nonessential-water-use ban are summary offenses under 4 Pa. Code Chapter 119 and the Emergency Management Services Code (35 Pa.C.S. Section 7707), enforceable by law enforcement. Outside an emergency, LCA conservation requests are generally voluntary unless LCA imposes contractual or tariff-based restrictions on its customers.

Weed Ordinances

Allentown defines weeds broadly as rank vegetable growth (grass, ragweed, dandelion, brush, and similar vegetation) that emits unpleasant or noxious odors or pollen, conceals filthy deposits, or harbors mosquitoes, insects, or vermin. Under Chapter 393 (Neighborhood Improvement), property owners may not allow weeds to exceed 10 inches in height and have an affirmative duty to cut them; the City may abate after one annual notice.

Key details: Code Section: Chapter 393 (Neighborhood Improvement) - Weeds. Weed definition: Rank growth: grass, ragweed, dandelion, brush, etc.. Height limit: 10 inches. Owner duty: Cut weeds to prevent overgrowth. City abatement: Allowed after one annual notice; cost billed to owner.

Maintaining weeds taller than 10 inches is a Chapter 393 violation. After a single annual notice, the City or its contractors may cut the weeds and assess the cost (plus administrative fees) against the property owner; unpaid amounts can be filed as a municipal claim or lien. Repeat or aggravated conditions can be cited under the Property Maintenance Code.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Allentown actively enforces its weed ordinances requirements.

Artificial Turf

Allentown's abandoned-property registry law lists artificial turf or sod designed for residential installation as acceptable yard maintenance on registered vacant and defaulted properties, alongside grass, ground covers, and decorative rock or bark.

Key details: Governing chapter: Ch. 135, Abandoned Real Property; Blight. Turf allowed: Artificial turf/sod for residential install. Not acceptable: Weeds, gravel, broken concrete, asphalt. Applies to: Registered vacant/defaulted properties only. Registration fee: $200, nonrefundable.

A property owner or mortgagee who lets a registered property's yard fall out of compliance, including installing prohibited materials like gravel or broken concrete instead of acceptable ground cover, faces a citation or notice of violation under § 135-6.G, enforced by the Code Enforcement Officer or Magisterial District Judge, on top of the $200 nonrefundable registration fee and the $500 civil penalty under § 135-13 for registration violations.

The rules around artificial turf in Allentown lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

Native Plants

Allentown's zoning code lets property owners plant a native meadow instead of a mowed lawn to satisfy the ground-vegetation requirement. Section 660-74.C allows "alternative lawn or meadow plantings" anywhere a lawn is required, provided a meadow lawn is made up of grasses, naturally spreading groundcovers, and wildflowers native to the area, rather than ornamental or invasive species.

Key details: Governing section: § 660-74, Ground vegetation. Applies to: All zones except N1-N5. Meadow content rule: Grasses, groundcovers, wildflowers native to area. Establishment deadline: 90 days of planting. Related buffer rule: Native plants encouraged in data center buffers.

Ground vegetation that fails to meet the § 660-74 requirements, such as bare, unplanted areas or a meadow seeded with non-native species outside the 90-day establishment window, is a zoning code violation the Zoning Officer can enforce with a notice of violation and, if uncorrected, a citation. Property owners who let a required lawn or planting bed die or go unmaintained can be ordered to reseed, replant, or otherwise restore compliant ground cover.

The rules around native plants in Allentown lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

The Bottom Line

Allentown'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 Allentown is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Allentown can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.