Landscaping Rules in Garland, TX: What Residents Actually Need to Know

If you live in Garland or are thinking about moving there, landscaping rules are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Garland has 7 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of landscaping rules, and some of them might surprise you.

Weed Ordinances

Garland classifies overgrown weeds, brush, and rank vegetation over 12 inches as a public nuisance subject to city abatement, with separate provisions targeting noxious species and harborage for vermin.

Key details: Weeds, Briars, Brush: Weeds, briars, brush piles over 12" treated as nuisance. Notice Period 7-10: Notice period 7-10 days before city abatement. Costs Plus Admin: Costs plus admin fee become a property lien. Annual Blanket Notice: Annual blanket notice allowed for repeat offenders. Fines Up $500: Fines up to $500 per offense.

The rules around weed ordinances in Garland lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

Artificial Turf

Garland permits artificial turf in rear and side yards and as a portion of front yard landscaping, subject to product quality, drainage, and percentage limits set in the Unified Development Code.

Key details: Permanent outdoor-grade synthetic: Permanent outdoor-grade synthetic turf permitted. Permeable base required: Permeable base required to avoid runoff. Front-yard coverage limited;: Front-yard coverage limited; majority must be living/approved material. Indoor/outdoor carpet not: Indoor/outdoor carpet not allowed. Faded or torn: Faded or torn turf is a maintenance violation.

Rainwater Harvesting

Rainwater harvesting is encouraged in Garland and protected by Texas Property Code 202.007, which prevents HOAs from prohibiting properly screened rain barrels and cisterns.

Key details: No City: No city permit for typical above-ground barrels under 5,000 gal (outdoor use). Indoor-connected Systems: Indoor-connected systems require TCEQ standards & licensed plumber. Backflow Prevention: Backflow prevention required if connected to public water. Tanks Must: Tanks must be covered to exclude mosquitoes. Tx Property: TX Property Code 202.007 limits HOA bans.

The rules around rainwater harvesting in Garland lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

Tree Trimming

Garland requires property owners to keep trees, shrubs, and hedges trimmed out of the sight-line triangle at street corners and alley intersections. Code of Ordinances § 33.66 bans foliage between three and nine feet above the street grade within a 45-foot corner triangle, with a 14-day removal notice from the Transportation Department before the City acts.

Key details: Sight-line height band: 3 to 9 feet above street grade. Street corner triangle: 45 feet along each curbline. Street-alley triangle: 25 feet along each line. Notice-to-removal window: 14 days after written notice. Fine range: $1.00 to $200.00 per day.

Failing to trim or remove a hedge, tree, bush, or shrub blocking the sight-line triangle within 14 days of the Transportation Department's written notice is a criminal offense under § 33.66(D): a fine of $1.00 to $200.00, with every additional day the obstruction remains charged as a separate violation.

Native Plants

Garland encourages native and drought-tolerant landscaping, and Texas Property Code 202.007 prevents HOAs from prohibiting xeriscaping, drought-resistant plants, or water-conserving turf.

Key details: Landscaping: Native and drought-tolerant plants encouraged citywide. Requirements: Living-cover percentage required, but turfgrass not mandated. Limits: HOAs cannot ban xeriscaping (TX Property Code 202.007). Height Limits: Avoid invasive species (Chinese tallow, ligustrum). Water: Rebates available via Garland Water Utilities.

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Garland gives residents more flexibility on native plants.

Water Restrictions

Garland limits sprinkler and automatic irrigation to two days a week from April through October and one day a week from November through March, with all irrigation-system watering banned between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. in the warm months. Hand watering with a shutoff nozzle, soaker hoses and drip irrigation are exempt from both limits.

Key details: Summer limit: 2 days/week, Apr 1-Oct 31. Winter limit: 1 day/week, Nov 1-Mar 31. Banned hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (Apr-Oct). Exempt methods: handheld hose, soaker hose, drip. First offense: citation, fine set by ordinance.

A first violation of the watering-day or watering-hour rule draws a citation with a minimum and maximum fine set by ordinance under § 51.95. A second violation lets the city disconnect water service outright, restorable only after paying the reconnection charge set in § 50.30(D)(1). The person in apparent control of the property is presumed to be the violator, and parents are presumed responsible for violations committed by their minor children.

Tree Removal & Heritage Trees

Removing a protected tree anywhere in Garland requires City authorization first. Development sites need a Planning Director-approved Tree Management Plan before removal (GDC § 4.56), and undeveloped sites need a separate Tree Removal Permit from the Planning Department. Removing or injuring a protected tree without authorization draws a civil penalty of $250 per diameter inch under § 4.57.

Key details: Protected tree threshold: 6-inch minimum diameter. Civil penalty: $250 per diameter inch removed/injured. Tree inventory age limit: Completed within 730 days. Small-removal waiver: 5 or fewer protected trees. Class 1 replacement ratio: 2 caliper inches per diameter inch.

Section 4.57(A) sets a civil penalty of $250 per diameter inch of tree removed or injured in violation of Article 4, whether the tree is destroyed outright or damaged by non-compliant construction protection measures that cause it to decline or die. Penalties are assessed and adjudicated through the City's administrative enforcement procedure in Chapter 24 of the City Code, and collected fines go into a dedicated reforestation and tree management fund used to replant trees elsewhere in the City.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Garland actively enforces its tree removal & heritage trees requirements.

The Bottom Line

Compared to many U.S. cities, Garland gives residents more room on landscaping rules. 3 of the 7 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.

Keep in mind that Garland 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.