How Longmont Handles Landscaping Rules: A Practical Guide

Longmont maintains 129 local ordinances across all categories, and 5 of those deal specifically with landscaping rules. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Longmont falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Weed Ordinances

Longmont bans weeds and unsightly vegetation over 12 inches tall on any lot, including the strip abutting the public right-of-way, and treats noxious weeds as a public nuisance.

Key details: Height limit: 12 inches. Notice to cure: 10 days. First fine range: $50–$500. Repeat offense minimum: $100, not suspendable. City cleanup surcharge: 20% of removal cost.

Municipal court fines run $50 to $500 per Sec. 9.32.060; a second conviction within 12 months carries a mandatory, non-suspendable minimum $100 fine. The city may also enter and remove weeds itself, charging costs plus a 20% administrative fee as a property lien.

Native Plants

Longmont's land development code requires that at least 75 percent of every landscaped area be covered in drought-tolerant vegetation or native ground cover, with nonfunctional turf banned outright. Functional turf is allowed only where it serves a civic, community or recreational purpose. The standard applies citywide to new development and redevelopment landscape plans under Municipal Code § 15.05.040.C.2.a.v.

Key details: Minimum native cover: 75% of landscaped area. Nonfunctional turf: Prohibited citywide. Functional turf allowed: Civic/community/recreational areas only. Design mandate: Xeriscape practice required in all areas. Soil amendment: 3 cu. yd. compost per 1,000 sq. ft..

Failing to meet the native ground cover or xeriscape standard is a violation of the development code under § 15.09.030. The city may withhold or deny building permits and certificates of occupancy, revoke an issued permit, issue a stop-work order, or pursue injunctive relief under § 15.09.050 until the landscaping is brought into compliance, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense under § 15.09.040.

Water Restrictions

Longmont's public works director can impose nonemergency watering schedules for lawns and gardens citywide, backed by escalating fines up to $500 per violation for customers who don't comply.

Key details: Schedule set by: Director of public works, per resolution. First offense: Written warning only. Repeat fines: $100, then $300, then $500. Applies to: All city water system users. Governing section: § 14.04.450.

After one annual written warning, watering-restriction violations cost $100 for a first offense, $300 for a second and $500 for a third or later offense in the same calendar year.

Tree Removal & Heritage Trees

Removing, pruning or destroying a tree or shrub on Longmont city property without an approved permit from the director of Public Works and Natural Resources is unlawful under Longmont Municipal Code § 13.24.120. Unauthorized removal after a permit denial costs three times the tree's appraised value under § 13.24.130, and anyone responsible for a tree that dies on city property must replace it if the director requires under § 13.24.140.

Key details: Permit required for: planting, pruning, removing city-property trees. Issuing authority: Director of Public Works and Natural Resources. Unauthorized removal after denial: 3x appraised tree value (§13.24.130.C). Criminal penalty: up to $999 fine and/or 180 days jail. Dead tree duty: replace if director requires (§13.24.140).

Removing, destroying, or unpermitted pruning of a tree on Longmont city property is a strict-liability offense under § 13.24.190: no intent is required, and each violation is punishable by a fine of up to $999.00, up to 180 days in jail, or both. On top of that criminal fine, a person who removes a city tree after being denied a permit owes the city three times the tree's appraised value under § 13.24.130(C), and unpaid abatement costs become a lien on the responsible party's property under § 13.24.160.

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

Tree Trimming

Property owners in Longmont must trim or remove trees that block sight lines or fail to clear 15 feet over streets and 8 feet over sidewalks.

Key details: Street clearance: 15 feet minimum. Sidewalk clearance: 8 feet minimum. Hydrant buffer: no growth within 3 feet. Who pays: owner billed if city trims.

The city may perform the trimming and assess the cost against the owner; unresolved clearance problems can also trigger the chapter's general penalty of up to a $999 fine and 180 days imprisonment under § 13.24.190.

The Bottom Line

Longmont'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 Longmont is broadly strict or permissive.

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