Henderson's Landscaping Rules: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles landscaping rules a little differently. In Henderson, Nevada, there are 7 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.

Native Plants

Henderson voids any HOA covenant, deed clause, or private agreement that blocks a property owner from installing water-efficient, drought-tolerant, or native xeriscape landscaping, once it clears standard design review.

Key details: Applies to: All Henderson properties, HOAs included. HOA covenants blocking xeriscape: Void and unenforceable. Design review: Still required for the landscape plan. New lawn grass: Banned citywide since Sept 19, 2022. Plant list: Must meet SNWA Water Smart standard.

An HOA or covenant provision blocking water-efficient or native landscaping is unenforceable under this section; homeowners may install approved xeriscape regardless of association rules, subject to standard city design review.

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

Tree Trimming

Henderson bans trees, shrubs, or foliage that overhang a public sidewalk lower than 10 feet or a street lower than 16 feet 4 inches, treating the growth as an unlawful right-of-way obstruction subject to code enforcement after notice.

Key details: Sidewalk clearance: at least 10 feet. Street clearance: at least 16 ft. 4 in.. Removal notice: 24 hours before violation. Enforcement: Public works, code enforcement, police. Ongoing violation: each day is separate offense.

Leaving branches or shrubs below the 10-foot sidewalk or 16-foot-4-inch street clearance after a 24-hour removal notice: each additional day the obstruction remains is charged as a separate offense under the encroachment ordinance.

Composting

Henderson requires compost piles and bins to sit at least 20 feet from residential buildings and stay hidden from the street, and confines residential composting to material generated and used on the same lot.

Key details: Setback: 20 feet from residential buildings. Screening: Not visible from public right-of-way. Material source: On-site generated material only. Use restriction: Compost must be used on-site. Code: Henderson Development Code § 19.9.8.

Composting that violates the setback, screening, or on-site-material limits is a Development Code violation, enforceable by Henderson Code Enforcement through notice, correction orders, and municipal citations.

Weed Ordinances

Henderson's property maintenance code requires landscaping visible from a street, alley, or sidewalk to stay under six inches. Weeds, tall grass, and tumbleweeds taller than that are a code violation that draws a correction notice, fines, or city abatement.

Key details: Max height: 6 inches. Citation: HMC § 15.12.030(B)(8). Criminal penalty: up to $1,000 fine, 6 months jail. Non-compliance remedy: city abatement + special assessment lien. Enforcer: Henderson Code Enforcement.

Weeds, tall grass, or uncontrolled growth over six inches visible from a street, alley, or sidewalk violates Henderson's property maintenance code and triggers a correction notice, administrative fines, or city abatement billed to the owner.

Water Restrictions

Henderson bans irrigation from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day from May through August and assigns each property fixed watering days the rest of the year.

Key details: Summer no-water hours: 11 a.m.-7 p.m., May 1-Aug 31. Winter watering days: 1 assigned day per week. Spring/fall watering days: 3 assigned days per week. Enforcing agency: Henderson Department of Utility Services. Max penalty: Water service disconnection.

Watering outside your assigned hours or days is 'water waste' under § 14.14.140. The Department can flag the property, terminate water service after notice goes uncorrected, bill repair costs to the customer's utility account, and impose penalties under the department's service rules.

Tree Removal & Heritage Trees

Henderson has no general permit for removing trees on your own property, but code enforcement can order treatment, trimming, or removal of any tree found to endanger public safety or spread disease under HMC 5.28.020.

Key details: General removal permit: None required for routine removal. Trigger for city order: Tree endangers public safety or health. Compliance window: 5 days after written order. Penalty for noncompliance: Misdemeanor, separate offense each day. Enforcing office: Building director / code enforcement.

Failing to comply with a written removal order within five days is a misdemeanor under HMC § 5.28.060; each day of continued noncompliance is a separate offense, and the city can bill you for the work.

The rules around tree removal & heritage trees in Henderson lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

Artificial Turf

Henderson's Development Code bars artificial plants from meeting landscaping standards, but carves out one exception: limited amounts of high-quality artificial turf, approved at the Community Development Director's discretion.

Key details: Coverage: Limited amounts only. Approval: Director's discretion required. Quality bar: Must be high-quality turf. Default rule: Artificial plants otherwise prohibited. Governing section: Development Code § 19.11.4.A.5.

No fixed fine is listed for exceeding the "limited amount." Community Development can reject non-conforming turf during landscape plan review, or flag it for removal during a property maintenance inspection under HMC Chapter 15.12.

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

The Bottom Line

Compared to many U.S. cities, Henderson gives residents more room on landscaping rules. 2 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.

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