How New Bedford Handles Landscaping Rules: A Practical Guide
New Bedford maintains 76 local ordinances across all categories, and 2 of those deal specifically with landscaping rules. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where New Bedford falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.
Weed Ordinances
New Bedford caps grass, bushes, and weeds along sidewalks and street frontage at three inches under Code of Ordinances § 22-18. Owners get 72 hours after written notice from a city inspector to cut plant growth down or clear it off the walkway before fines start.
Key details: Max weed/grass height: 3 inches. Notice-to-comply window: 72 hours. Initial fine: $20.00. Continuing fine: $5.00 per week/part week. Who can issue notice: Building, fire, health inspectors; police; forestry.
Failing to comply with a § 22-18 notice within the 72-hour window triggers a twenty-dollar ($20.00) fine, plus an additional five-dollar ($5.00) fine for each week or partial week that the violation continues after the notice period expires. Fines can only follow proper written notice from an authorized city official (building, fire prevention, health, or forestry inspector, a police officer, traffic meter person, or the public infrastructure commissioner or a designee) on the standardized city form.
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
New Bedford has no stand-alone tree-cutting permit for private land, but any project large enough to require Site Plan Review must be designed to minimize removal of trees six inches in caliper or larger, while the Commissioner of Public Infrastructure separately controls all public shade trees as tree warden.
Key details: Design standard: Minimize removal of trees 6-in. caliper+. Applies to: Projects meeting Site Plan Review thresholds. Public shade trees: Controlled by tree warden (Commissioner). Standalone private-tree permit: None in this code. Approval authority: Planning Board or Administrative Review.
A site plan that fails to minimize tree removal as required by Section 5471(i) can be denied or conditioned by the Site Plan Review Authority under Section 5470, and under Section 5450 no building permit issues without that approval. Removing or altering a public shade tree without the tree warden's authorization under Section 2-231(i) falls outside any private party's authority under the Code.
If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find New Bedford gives residents more flexibility on tree removal & heritage trees.
The Bottom Line
New Bedford'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 New Bedford is broadly strict or permissive.
Keep in mind that New Bedford 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.