Norman's Landscaping Rules: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles landscaping rules a little differently. In Norman, Oklahoma, there are 5 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.

Weed Ordinances

Norman caps weeds and grass at 12 inches on any platted or unplatted lot under City Code § 16-310. Growth past that height is a public nuisance the City can abate after 10 days' notice, with costs billed to the owner or placed as a lien collected through Cleveland County property taxes.

Key details: Height limit: 12 inches for weeds/grass. Notice before abatement: 10 days by mail plus posting. Ag zone exemption: A-1/A-2 unless abutting other zones. Buffer if abutting: 50-foot strip required. Repeat within 6 months: Summary abatement, no new notice.

A conviction under this article carries a fine and/or imprisonment set by the City's penalty and fine schedule under § 16-311, and each day a violation continues is a separate offense that can be charged separately. Separately, if the City itself abates the weeds, the City Clerk files a lien with the Cleveland County Clerk covering mowing, cleaning, and removal costs; if the owner does not pay within 30 days of the certified statement, the unpaid amount is certified to the County Treasurer and collected as an ad valorem tax against the property.

Tree Trimming

NCC 16-910 makes it the duty of every property owner abutting a street to prune trees on their premises so limbs and undergrowth never hang lower than seven feet over an adjoining sidewalk or 14 feet over the street. The City Forester enforces the standard citywide, and a violation carries the fine in NCC 16-911.

Key details: Sidewalk clearance: 7 feet minimum. Street clearance: 14 feet minimum. Who must prune: Owner of real estate abutting the street. Enforcing officer: City Forester, NCC 16-902. Permit exemption: Branches under 4 inches DBH for clearance only.

Violating the pruning duty in 16-910 is punishable under 16-911 by a fine as set in the City's penalty and fine schedule, assessed per offense; the general Code ceiling in NCC 1-114 tops out at $750.00 and 60 days for provisions that don't set their own amount. The Forester investigates complaints and issues orders before any citation, and a continuing hazard can support a separate charge each day.

Water Restrictions

Norman's Stage 1 conservation plan restricts landscape watering year-round to odd or even calendar days matching the address's last digit, with hand watering always allowed and variances available from the City Manager.

Key details: Governing section: NCC 34-505, Stage 1. Watering days: Odd/even address matches odd/even date. Hand watering: Allowed at all times. Variance authority: City Manager or designee. Penalty: $50-$750 fine or up to 60 days jail.

Failure to comply with the watering-day schedule in NCC 34-505, or with the terms of any variance granted under it, is punishable in accordance with NCC 34-101: a fine of $50.00 to $750.00, up to 60 days imprisonment, or both, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense.

Tree Removal & Heritage Trees

Norman requires written permission from the City Forester before anyone alters or removes a street tree, defined as a tree six inches DBH or larger growing in the public right-of-way. Unauthorized removal draws an administrative fine of up to $50 per inch of trunk diameter, capped at $2,000.

Key details: Governing sections: NCC §§ 16-903, 16-904. Permit authority: City Forester. Max administrative fine: $50/inch DBH, capped $2,000. Street tree threshold: 6 inches DBH or more. Replacement credit (1 tree): $200.00.

Removing or altering a street tree without Forester approval carries an administrative fine of up to $50.00 per inch of DBH, capped at $2,000.00 per violation under § 16-904(b)(1). Separately, § 16-911 allows prosecution under the City's general penalty and fine schedule for chapter violations upon conviction, but an owner cannot be hit with both the administrative fine and a criminal penalty for the same act. Fine reduction credits for planting replacement trees run from $200 for one tree up to $2,000 for five, per § 16-904(c).

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

Native Plants

Norman's parking-lot landscaping code tells developers using its xeriscape option that native species 'are better adapted to this climatic zone and should be used' alongside other drought-tolerant plants, under NCC 36-551. It is paired with a required plant list the Director of Planning maintains in Appendix F.

Key details: Provision: xeriscape 'appropriate plant selection' principle. Standard: native, drought-tolerant species should be used. Plant approval: Director of Planning; list in Appendix F. Applies to: off-street parking landscaping, 6+ spaces. Maintenance bond: 50% of plant cost, held 3 years.

Substituting unapproved species is treated the same as any other landscaping deficiency: the Director of Planning can reject the plan before a certificate of occupancy issues, and if approved landscaping later dies or is removed without replacement, the City can draw on the owner's maintenance and replacement guarantee or pursue a Chapter 36 violation under NCC 36-569, fined $50 to $750 per day.

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

The Bottom Line

Norman'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 Norman is broadly strict or permissive.

This guide is based on Norman's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.