How Provo Handles Landscaping Rules: A Practical Guide

Provo maintains 142 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 Provo falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Artificial Turf

Provo prohibits artificial turf grass in required landscaped yards citywide, allowing it only on athletic fields and public recreation spaces, and separately bans outdoor carpet as a landscaping substitute.

Key details: Artificial turf in yards: Prohibited. Exception: Athletic fields, public recreation spaces. Outdoor carpet: Also banned as landscaping. Minimum living vegetation coverage: 40% within 3 years.

Installing artificial turf grass in a required yard outside an athletic field or public recreation space violates Section 15.20.060(6)(d); replacement landscaping plans that include it can be rejected by the Development Services Department at plan review, and existing violations are enforced as a landscaping maintenance failure under Section 15.20.070.

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

Native Plants

Provo's landscape design standards push every project toward drought-tolerant and native plantings and let anyone landscaping a street-facing yard choose a xeric design over turf grass, as long as living plants cover at least 40% of the unbuilt area within three years of planting.

Key details: Xeric/water-wise coverage floor: 40% living plants within 3 years. Drought-tolerant list keeper: City Forester. Zeroscaping (bare dirt/gravel): prohibited citywide. Artificial turf: banned except athletic/rec fields. Governing section: Provo City Code 15.20.060.

Landscape plans are reviewed by Development Services under Section 15.20.050 before a building permit issues, and a plan showing bare dirt or gravel with no living plants is rejected as prohibited zeroscaping under 15.20.070(2)(d). After installation, Section 15.20.070(2) requires plantings to be kept in a live, thriving, weed-free condition; dead or unmaintained landscaping, including a failed xeric planting that never reaches the 40% living-coverage floor, is a code-compliance violation the owner must correct.

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

Tree Trimming

Provo City Code 9.20.050 makes it unlawful to plant, remove, spray, trim, prune, or cut any tree or shrub on city parking strips, parks, or other public property without first obtaining the written consent of the City Forester. Provo's Arboricultural Standards require limbs over streets to clear 13 feet and over sidewalks to clear 8 feet, and all work to follow ANSI A300 and Z133.1 standards.

Key details: Code Section: Provo City Code 9.20.050 (Consent Required). Clearance over street: 13 feet. Clearance over sidewalk: 8 feet. Standards: ANSI A300, ANSI Z133.1, ISA BMP. Permit Issuer: Provo City Forester / Forestry Division.

Working on a public-right-of-way tree without the City Forester's written consent violates Chapter 9.20 and is enforceable by the Forestry Division. Anyone causing injury to persons or damage to a tree, shrub, vehicle, or structure while working on city trees must promptly report it to the City Forester and make restitution or repair. Improper street-tree work can also trigger nuisance enforcement under Title 7.

Compared to other cities, Provo takes a harder line on tree trimming. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Water Restrictions

Provo City Code 10.02.160 makes it unlawful for any water user to waste water through leaks, overflowing troughs, or wasteful running of hydrants and faucets. Under Provo City Code 10.02.220, when water is scarce the Mayor may proclaim restrictions on outdoor (non-domestic) water use, and violators can have their water shut off until they pay a turn-on fee.

Key details: Code Section: Provo City Code 10.02.160 (Wasting Water). Scarcity Authority: Provo City Code 10.02.220 (Mayor's Proclamation). Enforcement: Water shut-off until turn-on fee paid (10.02.220). State Authority: Utah Code Title 10, Chapter 8 (municipal waterworks power). Rebate Program: Provo Turf Trade (water-wise landscape rebates).

Wasting water under 10.02.160 is a municipal-code violation. Violating a mayoral scarcity proclamation under 10.02.220 results in the premises' water being shut off, and service will not be restored until the uniform turn-on fee is paid; other penalties under the Provo City Code may also apply.

Weed Ordinances

Provo City Code Chapter 7.02 (Weed and Refuse Abatement) lets the City inspect for injurious and noxious weeds and serve written notice requiring the owner to remove them within at least 10 days. If the owner fails to comply, the City may abate the weeds itself and bill the owner, with unpaid costs collected through the courts or placed on the property tax notice. Utah Code Title 4, Chapter 17 makes uncontrolled noxious weeds a public nuisance statewide.

Key details: Code Chapter: Provo City Code Ch. 7.02 (Weed and Refuse Abatement). Notice Period: Not less than 10 days (7.02.030). Inspectors: Provo City Fire Department (7.02.020). Penalty: Misdemeanor + abatement costs billed/liened (7.02.060). Payment Deadline: 20 days after itemized statement mailed.

Failing to remove weeds after notice under Chapter 7.02 is a misdemeanor (7.02.060). The City may abate the weeds and bill the owner, who has 20 days to pay; unpaid costs are pursued in court or added to the property's tax notice along with an administrative fee, court costs, reasonable attorney's fees, and interest. Statewide, uncontrolled noxious weeds become a lien-backed county-abatement matter under Utah Code 4-17-110.

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

The Bottom Line

Provo is tougher than many cities when it comes to landscaping rules. Out of the 5 rules covered here, 3 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Provo, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

Keep in mind that Provo 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.