Landscaping Rules in Parma, OH

If you live in Parma or are thinking about moving there, landscaping rules are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Parma has 5 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of landscaping rules, and some of them might surprise you.

Weed Ordinances

Parma Codified Ordinances require residential property owners to keep grass and weeds cut below 8 inches. Exceeding this limit creates a public nuisance subject to city abatement. The Building Department and Division of Streets enforce through complaint-driven inspection.

Key details: Max Height: 8 inches. Notice: 7 days typical. Abatement: City cuts, bills owner. Repeat: No re-notice same season.

Cutting and administrative costs commonly range 150 to 400 dollars per abatement, billed to the property owner. Continued non-compliance can lead to misdemeanor charges under the property maintenance code.

Compared to other cities, Parma takes a harder line on weed ordinances. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Tree Removal & Heritage Trees

Removing a public, commercial or multi-family tree in a Parma tree lawn or other regulated area takes a permit from the City Forester under Section 913.03. Vacant-lot removals need Planning Commission sign-off on a landscaping plan first; developed lots need the Building Commissioner's written clearance.

Key details: Permitting authority: City Forester. Application lead time: 5 days before work begins. Removal permit fee: Set by Section 185.05 schedule. Planting permit fee: None. Vacant lot removal: Needs Planning Commission approval.

Removing or damaging a regulated tree without the Section 913.03 permit, or without the Planning Commission or Building Commissioner sign-off required by Section 913.03(e), is punishable under Section 913.99 by a fine of not less than $50 and not more than $5,000, scaled to reflect the actual damage done, with the money going into a dedicated urban forest fund rather than the City's general treasury.

Compared to other cities, Parma takes a harder line on tree removal & heritage trees. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Water Restrictions

Parma's Mayor can proclaim a water use emergency and order curtailment of unnecessary use, including lawn sprinkling and irrigation, whenever a water shortage threatens public health and safety. Section 660.19 caps any single emergency at seven days and requires public notice through local media before restrictions take hold.

Key details: Governing section: Codified Ordinances § 660.19. Who can declare: Mayor of Parma. Maximum duration: 7 days per proclamation. Covered activity: Lawn sprinkling and land irrigation. First offense: Minor misdemeanor, up to $150 fine.

A first violation of an active water use emergency proclamation under Section 660.19(g) is a minor misdemeanor, carrying up to a $150 fine and no jail time. A second or later violation within the same emergency is a third-degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine, and a separate offense is charged for each day the violation continues.

The rules around water restrictions in Parma lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

Composting

Parma limits backyard composting to porous containers or pits no taller than four feet and no deeper than two and a half feet, capped at 25 square feet in the rear yard, under Section 1707.19, and requires monthly turning plus setbacks from property lines and neighboring homes.

Key details: Location: Rear yard only, max 25 sq ft. Height/depth limit: 4 ft tall, 2.5 ft deep max. Setbacks: 2 ft from side/rear lines, 40 ft from structures. Turning requirement: Mixed at least once a month. Allowed material: Grass, shrub clippings, leaves, flowers, garden plants.

Violating the container size, setback, or material rules in Section 1707.19 is charged under Section 1705.99(b) as a fourth-degree misdemeanor for a first offense and a second-degree misdemeanor for a repeat offense within the same enforcement pattern, with a separate offense counted for each day the noncompliant pile or container remains.

Tree Trimming

Parma requires nine feet of clearance between the ground and the lowest branches of any tree overhanging a public sidewalk, driveway or street beyond the curb line. Section 1707.11(b) puts that trimming duty on the private owner or occupant whose tree branches project into the public right-of-way.

Key details: Minimum clearance: 9 ft over sidewalks and streets. Side-yard clearance: 5 ft within 15 ft of driveway. Enforcement: Written notice, then City trims at owner cost. Cost recovery: Lien on property. Penalty: Misdemeanor, 4th degree first offense.

Letting a tree's branches hang lower than nine feet over a public sidewalk or street, or five feet near a driveway-sidewalk intersection within 15 feet, or refusing to abate one of the five nuisance conditions in Section 1707.11(d), is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree for a first offense and a misdemeanor of the second degree for a repeat offense under Section 1705.99(b). If the owner ignores the Director's written trim notice, the City does the trimming and liens the property for the full cost.

The Bottom Line

Parma is tougher than many cities when it comes to landscaping rules. Out of the 5 rules covered here, 2 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Parma, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

All of the above reflects Parma'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.