How Lima Handles Landscaping Rules: A Practical Guide

Lima maintains 101 local ordinances across all categories, and 9 of those deal specifically with landscaping rules. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Lima falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Grass Height Limits

Lima caps grass and weeds at 8 inches. The owner or occupant must keep the premises and exterior property free from grass and/or weeds in excess of eight inches, or the City can cut and bill them.

Key details: Maximum height: 8 inches. Code section: Lima PMC 1806.09(A). Notice to cut: Within 5 days. Enforcer: Code Official. Cost recovery: Tax-duplicate special assessment.

Code Official serves 5-day notice to cut; on failure the City abates and bills all costs plus an administrative fee, collectible as a tax-duplicate special assessment.

Water Restrictions

Lima has no standing lawn-watering ban or odd/even schedule. The City's Utilities Department draws on roughly 15 billion gallons of reservoir storage, so outdoor watering is unrestricted absent a declared shortage.

Key details: Standing watering ban: None. Odd/even schedule: Not in effect. Reservoir storage: ~15 billion gallons. Ohio state mandate: None; locally managed. Check current status: limawater.cityhall.lima.oh.us.

No routine penalty because no standing restriction exists; violations would only arise if the City issued a mandatory conservation order during a declared water emergency.

Tree Removal & Heritage Trees

Lima declares damaged, dead, diseased, or insect-infested trees a nuisance. Once the Code Official notifies you, the offending tree or parts must be removed within 60 days of service.

Key details: Removal deadline: 60 days after notice. Code section: Lima PMC 1806.18. Trigger: Dead, diseased, damaged, infested tree. Healthy private tree: No city permit required. Right-of-way trees: City Engineer, Chapter 1028.

Dead/diseased trees are a declared nuisance; failure to remove within 60 days of notice lets the City abate and pursue cost recovery under the property-maintenance chapter.

Artificial Turf

Lima has no ordinance specifically permitting or banning artificial turf in residential yards. It is not covered by the weed/grass height rules, but front-yard installations may need zoning and building review.

Key details: City turf ordinance: None. Subject to 8-inch rule: No (not living grass). Front-yard/hardscape: Check zoning, Part Twelve. Drainage changes: May need building review. HOA/deed: Verify private covenants.

No turf-specific penalty; poorly maintained, damaged, or drainage-obstructing installations could be cited under the Property Maintenance Code's exterior-condition and sanitation rules.

Tree Trimming

Branches of shade or ornamental trees on private property may not grow within 16 feet of the street grade. Lower-hanging branches are declared a nuisance, and the abutting owner must remove them.

Key details: Clearance over streets: 16 feet. Code section: Lima PMC 1806.13. Applies to: Shade/ornamental trees on private land. Status of low branches: Declared a nuisance. Responsible party: Abutting lot owner.

Low branches are a declared nuisance; the abutting owner must remove them or the City abates the nuisance according to law and may pursue cost recovery.

Weed Ordinances

Beyond the 8-inch height limit, Lima requires premises free of all noxious or harmful weeds and vines. The Code Official orders cutting within five days; Ohio law (ORC 731.51) mirrors this notice process.

Key details: City rule: Lima PMC 1806.09(B), 1806.10. State law: Ohio Revised Code 731.51. Cut deadline: Within 5 days of notice. Covered weeds: Thistles, ragweed, wild carrot, etc.. Enforcer: Code Official.

Failure to cut within 5 days lets the City remove the weeds and recover all costs plus an administrative fee, collectible as a special assessment on the property tax duplicate.

Composting

Lima has no ordinance banning backyard composting. A tidy compost pile is allowed, but rotting, odorous, or rubbish-strewn accumulations can be cited as a nuisance under the Property Maintenance Code.

Key details: Composting ban: None. Must stay: Clean, safe, sanitary (1806.01). Nuisance risk: Odor, vermin, rubbish spread. Related rules: Gen. Offenses Chapter 660. Best practice: Enclosed bin, no meat scraps.

A nuisance compost pile (odor, vermin, rubbish spread) can be cited under Property Maintenance Code sanitation rules and Chapter 660 nuisance provisions, with abatement and cost recovery.

Rainwater Harvesting

Lima has no ordinance banning or licensing residential rain barrels. Ohio law allows private rainwater collection; the state plumbing code governs any indoor or potable rainwater plumbing connection.

Key details: City rain-barrel ban: None. Outdoor irrigation use: Allowed. Indoor/potable plumbing: Ohio Plumbing Code + permit. Backflow protection: Required if tied to city water. Keep covered: Avoid mosquito nuisance.

No harvesting-specific penalty; an uncovered, stagnant barrel breeding mosquitoes could be cited as a nuisance under the Property Maintenance Code sanitation provisions.

Native Plants

Lima has no ordinance banning native or naturalized landscaping. Cultivated flowers and gardens are exempt from the weed rules, but any planting must still meet the 8-inch height and noxious-weed limits.

Key details: Native-plant ban: None. Cultivated gardens: Exempt from weed rule. Code definition: Lima PMC 1802 (Weeds). Height limit still applies: 8 inches, Section 1806.09. Noxious species: Still prohibited.

A native bed is not itself a violation, but unmanaged overgrowth exceeding 8 inches or containing noxious weeds can be cited under Sections 1806.09 and 1806.10.

The Bottom Line

Lima'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 Lima is broadly strict or permissive.

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