Eugene's Landscaping Rules: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles landscaping rules a little differently. In Eugene, Oregon, there are 4 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 Trimming

Eugene regulates how trees, shrubs and vegetation in the public right-of-way along streets, alleys and sidewalks may be trimmed or pruned. EC 7.650 lets the city trim, prune or remove right-of-way vegetation at any time, and bars property owners from pruning street trees except to standards the city manager adopts under EC 2.019.

Key details: Governing section: EC 7.650, Foliage – Trimming, Pruning or Removal. Who may trim: City at any time; owners must follow adopted standards. Planting permit: EC 7.635 requires 10 days' notice before planting. EWEB exception: Utility may trim near power lines without the standard. Maximum fine: $500 per violation under EC 7.990.

Trimming or pruning a right-of-way tree outside the city manager's adopted standards, or planting street trees without the required ten-day permit, is a violation of Eugene Code chapter 7 under EC 7.990, punishable by a fine of up to $500 per violation. The city itself may also trim, prune or remove right-of-way vegetation at any time under EC 7.650(1), or treat unmaintained growth as a nuisance to be abated under chapter 6.

Native Plants

In Eugene's NR Natural Resource zone, EC 9.2530 requires all planting and replanting to use native species from a list the planning director keeps on file, sets a 90-day deadline to replant cleared land, and requires seeded areas to germinate before November 15. The Eugene Code is current through Ordinance 20739, passed June 8, 2026.

Key details: Governing zone: NR Natural Resource zone. Replanting deadline: 90 days after clearing. Seed germination deadline: Before November 15. Plant list authority: Planning director-approved native list. Max fine: $1,000 per day violation continues.

Under EC 9.0275(2), violating any Chapter 9 land use code provision, including the NR zone's native-planting standards, is punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 for each day the violation continues, or up to 100 days in jail, or both. The city manager may also impose a separate administrative civil penalty under EC 9.0270 and EC Chapter 2, and can withhold permits or issue a stop-work order under EC 9.0230 until the violation is corrected.

Tree Removal & Heritage Trees

Eugene requires a permit before felling most trees on private property, with stricter thresholds on larger lots: more than five trees per year on parcels over 20,000 square feet, or any tree at all on smaller parcels, plus a separate permit for any street tree removal.

Key details: Governing sections: EC 6.305, 6.310, 6.320, 6.325. Large-lot threshold: 5 trees/12 months free on parcels 20,000+ sq ft. Small-lot rule: Any felling needs a permit under 20,000 sq ft. Permit timeline: 10 business days (10 trees), 30 days (more). Neighbor notice: Mailed within 200 feet, 15-day comment period.

Felling trees in violation of EC 6.305 or 6.310 is punishable under EC 6.990(3) by a fine of $100 to $4,000 for each tree removed, up to 100 days in jail, or both, and the city attorney may bring legal action at the city manager's request to enforce compliance. The application fee and any replacement-tree valuation are separate from this penalty.

This is one of the stricter rules in Eugene's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Weed Ordinances

Eugene caps weeds and grass on undeveloped property at 10 inches between June 15 and September 30, and separately bans poison oak, poison ivy and hazardous blackberry vines year-round as obnoxious vegetation nuisances under EC 6.815.

Key details: Height limit: 10 inches, weeds and grass. Enforcement season: June 15 - September 30. Notice publication window: May 1 - June 15, 3 times. Private abatement deadline: 10 days after notice. Late penalty: $50 or 10% of abatement cost.

If the city abates obnoxious vegetation itself under EC 6.835, it adds a penalty of $50 or 10 percent of the abatement cost, whichever is greater, to the bill, on top of the abatement expense and administrative overhead; that penalty is waived only if the owner pays the full bill within the 10-day window set by EC 6.840. Unpaid bills become a lien against the property, enforced the same way as street improvement assessment liens.

The Bottom Line

Eugene'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 Eugene is broadly strict or permissive.

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