How Bowling Green Handles Landscaping Rules: A Practical Guide

Bowling Green maintains 105 local ordinances across all categories, and 8 of those deal specifically with landscaping rules. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Bowling Green falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Tree Trimming

Bowling Green Code of Ordinances Chapter XXVI § 26-7 (Vegetation Maintenance) requires that any and all pruning of a PUBLIC tree comply with the ANSI A300 (Part 1)-2001 Pruning standard. Trees that grow over a public right-of-way must be maintained so the lowest limb is at least 15 feet above the right-of-way. Property owners may not allow vegetation to obstruct sidewalks, streets, or sight lines. Pruning of private trees on private property is not regulated by the City — but Kentucky follows the 'Massachusetts Rule' on overhanging branches.

Key details: City Authority: Code of Ordinances Ch. XXVI § 26-7 (Vegetation Maintenance). Pruning Standard: ANSI A300 (Part 1)-2001 (public trees). ROW Clearance: 15 ft minimum lowest limb over public ROW. Topping: Discouraged — see § 26-6 Tree Topping. Tree City USA: Bowling Green since 1994.

Failure to maintain the 15-foot ROW clearance, or pruning a public tree without ANSI A300 compliance, is a violation of § 26-7 enforceable through § 26-10 (Abatement), § 26-11 (Penalties), and § 26-12 (Enforcement). Damaging or improperly topping a public tree exposes the actor to civil restitution to the City. Tree care companies operating in the City are separately regulated under § 26-9.

Grass Height Limits

Bowling Green has adopted the 2015 International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) under Chapter 27 of the Code of Ordinances. IPMC Section 302.4, as amended locally, designates 10 inches as the maximum height of weeds or plant growth on properties in the City — except parcels used for agricultural purposes. Crops, trees, bushes, flowers, and other ornamental plants are excluded from the height measurement; the property owner is responsible for grass on their lot and into the adjacent right-of-way (property line to curb).

Key details: Max Height: 10 inches (grass, weeds, plant growth). Authority: IPMC § 302.4 + Bowling Green Code Ch. 27. Applies To: All non-agricultural property + adjacent ROW. Compliance Window: ~7 days from Notice of Violation. Enforcement: Code Compliance — 270-393-3444.

Per the City's Weeds Citizen Resource Guide, a Code Enforcement Officer who finds plant growth over 10 inches issues a notice of violation with typically a 7-day correction window. If the owner fails to cut, City-authorized employees or contractors may enter the property and cut the weeds, with the costs charged to the property owner under Chapter 27 abatement procedures and the Bowling Green Code Enforcement and Nuisance Board (BGCENB).

Tree Removal & Heritage Trees

Bowling Green Code § 26-8 (Tree Removal) states: 'No person shall remove, cut above the ground or disturb any public tree without approval of the City of Bowling Green except to perform routine maintenance.' Requests for approval go through the City. Removal must include the entire tree and stump, refill the area with soil, re-seed or replant, cause no damage to City or third-party property, and be performed safely. Removal of trees on private property by the owner is not regulated by the City — Kentucky has no statewide private-tree protection law.

Key details: City Authority: Code of Ordinances Ch. XXVI § 26-8 (Tree Removal). Trigger: Any removal/cutting/disturbance of a PUBLIC tree. Standard: Entire tree + stump; refill, re-seed; no damage. Contact: City of Bowling Green — Public Works 270-393-3628. Private Trees: No City permit on private property.

Unauthorized removal or destruction of a public tree is enforceable under § 26-10 (Abatement), § 26-11 (Penalties), and § 26-12 (Enforcement) of Chapter XXVI, and may be referred to the Bowling Green Code Enforcement and Nuisance Board (Code § 2-21). Tree care companies failing to follow § 26-9 face license consequences. Cutting trees on a neighbor's land exposes the cutter to treble damages under KRS 364.130.

Water Restrictions

Bowling Green Municipal Utilities (BGMU) supplies water to City customers and many Warren County customers via the Barren River intake. BGMU does not impose mandatory year-round watering schedules. The utility encourages voluntary conservation — water during cool parts of the day, check irrigation for over-spray onto pavement, fix leaks. Kentucky has no statewide watering restriction. Mandatory restrictions are reserved for declared drought conditions or system emergencies under the BGMU Rules and Regulations.

Key details: Water Provider: Bowling Green Municipal Utilities (BGMU). Source: Barren River intake. Mandatory Schedule: None in normal conditions. Posture: Voluntary conservation. Drought Authority: BGMU Rules & Regs (April 2023).

Outside of a declared shortage, there is no specific irrigation-schedule violation. During a declared shortage, BGMU may enforce restrictions under its Rules and Regulations with rate surcharges, citations through the Bowling Green Code Enforcement and Nuisance Board (§ 2-21), or service interruption for repeated non-compliance. Wasteful runoff (water flowing into the street) can be cited as a nuisance independent of drought status.

The rules around water restrictions in Bowling Green lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

Weed Ordinances

Bowling Green enforces nuisance vegetation through Chapter 27 (Property Maintenance) — the City's adopted 2015 International Property Maintenance Code — specifically IPMC § 302.4, which declares any weeds or plant growth, including grass, in excess of 10 inches to be a nuisance. Crops, trees, bushes, flowers and other ornamental plants are excluded. The owner is responsible to the curb line, including the right-of-way. Citations go to the Bowling Green Code Enforcement and Nuisance Board (Code § 2-21).

Key details: Standard: IPMC § 302.4 — 10 inches max. Adoption: Bowling Green Code Ch. 27 (2015 IPMC). Exemption: Agricultural parcels; intentional ornamentals. Responsibility Line: To the curb (includes ROW). Compliance Window: ~7 days.

Per the City's Citizen Resource Guide, the first step is a Notice of Violation with typically a 7-day correction window. If uncorrected, the City may abate (City-contracted mowing) and charge the cost to the property owner under Chapter 27, with a fine and administrative cost recoverable as a lien. Persistent violations go before the BGCENB, which can impose civil fines under KRS 65.8801–8839.

Rainwater Harvesting

Kentucky imposes no state-level restriction on residential rainwater harvesting. Bowling Green has no ordinance prohibiting or restricting rain barrels or cisterns for residential use. Rainwater harvesting is encouraged in Bowling Green's karst environment because every gallon captured is a gallon that does not enter the karst stormwater system carrying yard chemicals. The City's Stormwater Best Management Practices Manual (§ 21-2 of the Code) treats rainwater harvesting as a credited stormwater BMP.

Key details: State Law: No restriction — KY allows freely. City Status: No prohibitive ordinance. Stormwater Credit: Recognized BMP — Ch. XXI § 21-2. BMP Manual: City Stormwater BMP Manual (Sep 2011). Plumbing: Indoor connections — KY Plumbing Code (815 KAR 20:191).

No City code violations for rainwater harvesting at residential scale. Indoor plumbing connections (e.g., toilet flushing, washing machines) must comply with the Kentucky Plumbing Code and may require a plumbing permit through the Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction (DHBC). Cisterns above certain volumes near structures may trigger building permit requirements under the Kentucky Building Code (KRS 198B).

Bowling Green is more permissive than most cities when it comes to rainwater harvesting. That said, there are still limits.

Native Plants

Bowling Green has no City ordinance restricting native, drought-tolerant, or pollinator-friendly landscaping on private property. The Bowling Green Community Tree Advisory Board (Code § 26-4) publishes a 'Right Tree, Right Place' guide and an Invasive Plants list that actively encourages native species. The City's 10-inch height rule (IPMC § 302.4) excludes 'trees, bushes, flowers or other ornamental plants,' so intentional native and pollinator gardens are compatible with the property maintenance code.

Key details: City Position: Encouraged — Tree Advisory Board (since 1994). Authority: Ch. XXVI § 26-4 (Tree Advisory Board). Approved Lists: City 'Right Tree, Right Place' + Invasive list. Height Rule Exemption: IPMC 302.4 excludes ornamentals. HOA Override: No state HOA preemption in KY.

No City enforcement action against installing native plants on private property. An unmaintained native bed that becomes overgrown with non-ornamental weeds or grass over 10 inches in unintended areas can still be cited under IPMC § 302.4. HOA disputes are civil matters.

Bowling Green is more permissive than most cities when it comes to native plants. That said, there are still limits.

Artificial Turf

Bowling Green has no ordinance prohibiting artificial turf on residential property. No City permit is required to install synthetic turf on a private lot. The City-County Joint Zoning Ordinance (Article 4.6.8) requires LIVE plant material — not synthetic turf — to satisfy required Vehicle Use Area (VUA) landscape buffers and interior parking-lot landscaping at commercial sites. HOA covenants may impose private restrictions independent of City rules.

Key details: City Position: Allowed — no permit on private residential lots. Zoning Authority: Warren County/BG Joint Zoning Ord. Art. 4.6.8. Commercial Limit: Cannot replace required live VUA landscape. Permitting Body: City County Planning Commission of Warren County. HOA Authority: May restrict — no KY preemption.

Installing artificial turf in lieu of required Joint Zoning Ordinance Article 4.6.8 landscape buffers will fail site plan review and can prevent Certificate of Occupancy at commercial or multi-family projects. HOA covenant violations are civil matters under the recorded covenants.

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Bowling Green gives residents more flexibility on artificial turf.

The Bottom Line

Compared to many U.S. cities, Bowling Green gives residents more room on landscaping rules. 4 of the 8 rules here are rated permissive. But permissive does not mean unregulated. There are still requirements, and the city does enforce them when violations are reported.

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