Hendersonville's Landscaping Rules: The Rules That Matter
Every city handles landscaping rules a little differently. In Hendersonville, Tennessee, 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 Removal & Heritage Trees
Hendersonville requires a Tree Removal Permit before cutting any tree 10 inches DBH or larger on commercial or industrial zoned property, administered by the Planning Department under the city's Zoning Ordinance.
Key details: Permit trigger: Tree 10+ inches DBH removed. Zoning scope: Commercial and industrial only. Survey required: Licensed surveyor tree survey. No-permit default: 160 tree inches per acre. Site Plan lots: Exempt, follow landscape plan instead.
Cutting a protected tree without first obtaining the permit is a zoning violation and misdemeanor under Section 4.13, punishable by a $50.00 fine per day, plus staff-assessed replacement inches defaulting to 160 tree inches per acre.
Composting
Hendersonville's zoning code allows compost piles only in the rear yard; the permitted-encroachments table marks them not allowed in any front or side yard.
Key details: Rear yard only: Front and side yards not permitted. No size limit set: Table 12 sets no bin standard. Governing table: Table 12, Permitted Encroachments.
Placing a compost pile in a front or side yard falls outside the rear-yard-only allowance in Table 12, exposing the property to a zoning violation notice from the Codes Department.
The rules around composting in Hendersonville lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.
Water Restrictions
New commercial, industrial, multi-family, and institutional landscaping in Hendersonville must have an automatic irrigation system designed by a certified professional to minimize water use: there's no citywide watering-day schedule.
Key details: Required for: Commercial, industrial, multi-family, institutional. Design standard: Minimize water use. Plans must be: Stamped by certified designer. Waiver available: Existing vegetated areas only.
Installing landscaping without the required stamped irrigation plan is a Site Plan compliance failure and a misdemeanor under the ordinance's general violations clause: a $50 daily fine.
Weed Ordinances
Beyond a bare height limit, Hendersonville's weed ordinance bans noxious weeds outright, exempts cultivated gardens, and makes owners responsible for keeping the public right-of-way and corner-lot sightlines clear of growth.
Key details: Noxious weeds: Banned regardless of height. Right-of-way: Owner must maintain frontage. Corner lots: No sightline-blocking growth. Exempt: Cultivated flowers and gardens. Code: Property Maintenance Code § 302.4.
A lot with prohibited noxious weeds, an unmaintained right-of-way strip, or a corner-lot sightline obstruction is a code violation the Department of Building and Codes can cite and order corrected, independent of the general height limit.
The Bottom Line
Hendersonville'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 Hendersonville is broadly strict or permissive.
All of the above reflects Hendersonville's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.