Rochester's Landscaping Rules: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles landscaping rules a little differently. In Rochester, New York, 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.

Native Plants

Rochester's landscaping-plan guidelines direct that plants be suited to the site's climate, geology and topography and that protection of native plant materials and natural areas be encouraged, under City Code § 120-169E(1)(a). The same guidelines cap water-intensive ornamental plants at 10% of the landscaped area on projects that require a landscaping plan.

Key details: Native plants: Protection/preservation encouraged. Water-intensive plants: Capped at 10% of landscaped area. Plant list: Must meet City's Approved Plant list. Synthetic turf/plants: Barred from required landscaping. Applies to: Projects requiring a landscaping plan.

A landscaping plan that exceeds the 10% cap on water-intensive ornamental plants, uses synthetic turf where real landscaping is required, or ignores the Approved Plant Materials List can be rejected or cited under § 120-169 and the general compliance rule in § 120-204. Enforcement runs through § 120-203 and Municipal Code § 52-3, with fines up to $500 or 15 days in jail per offense.

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Rochester gives residents more flexibility on native plants.

Weed Ordinances

Rochester caps grass and weeds at 10 inches. Under Property Conservation Code § 90-14(B), exterior plant growth taller than 10 inches is a violation, and all noxious weeds are banned outright. Cultivated flowers and gardens are exempt.

Key details: Height limit: 10 inches (254 mm). Code section: § 90-14(B) Property Code. Ticket: $150 per violation. Cure period: 10 days after Notice/Order. Abatement: City contractor mows, bills owner.

Grass or weeds over 10 inches, or any noxious weeds, on a lot's exterior. Uncorrected after the 10-day Notice and Order: a $150 ticket per violation plus City contractor mowing billed to the owner.

Tree Removal & Heritage Trees

In Rochester, no one may plant, cut down, trim, prune, spray, or injure any tree in a public street or place without the written consent of the City Forester. The Forestry Division controls all street-tree work and sets the conditions of every consent.

Key details: Governing section: § 89-9, Chapter 89. Permit authority: City Forester / Forestry Division. Consent required for: plant, remove, trim, prune. Damage report window: 48 hours. Cost recovery: shade-tree evaluation chart.

Damaging or destroying a public tree obligates the responsible party to report to the Forestry Division within 48 hours and to pay repair or replanting costs, valued by a shade-tree evaluation chart and assessable against the real property.

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

Rainwater Harvesting

Rain barrels, rain gardens and bioswales are permitted accessory uses on both residential and nonresidential lots in Rochester, but the green infrastructure has to sit in the side or rear yard, not the front, under City Code § 120-163A(9) and B(17). No separate permit is needed beyond the standard accessory-use rules that apply citywide.

Key details: Allowed uses: Rain barrels, rain gardens, bioswales. Where allowed: Side or rear yard only. Applies to: Residential and nonresidential lots. Citation: City Code § 120-163A(9), B(17). Permit: By-right accessory use.

Placing a rain barrel, rain garden or bioswale in the front yard falls outside the side/rear-yard allowance in § 120-163A(9) and B(17) and is enforceable as a Chapter 120 siting violation under § 120-204. Enforcement runs through § 120-203 and Municipal Code § 52-3, with fines up to $500 or 15 days in jail per offense, and each day a continuing violation is a separate offense under § 120-206.

The rules around rainwater harvesting in Rochester lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

Composting

Rochester's Refuse Code authorizes residents to compost leaves in their own backyard rather than setting them out for city pickup. Code § 20-15(H) lets the Department of Environmental Services treat backyard leaf composting as the primary disposal method; uncomposted leaves get one seasonal curbside collection each fall, and lawn clippings that aren't composted must go out with regular refuse in a City-issued container, alternate container, or plastic bag.

Key details: Backyard composting: Authorized by the Department, no permit required. Governing section: Code § 20-15(G), (H). Leaf curbside window: October 15 to November 30 only, once a year. Uncomposted lawn clippings: Must go in container or plastic bag with refuse. Enforcing agency: Department of Environmental Services / Commissioner.

Putting loose leaves at the curb outside the October 15 to November 30 collection window, or storing yard waste so it creates a health hazard, is an Article II Refuse Code violation. Under § 13A-11F(1), Article II violations carry the same fines as littering offenses: $100 (or $150 in default) for a first offense, $200/$250 for a second, and $400/$500 for a third within two years, plus any City abatement cost.

The rules around composting in Rochester lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

The Bottom Line

Compared to many U.S. cities, Rochester gives residents more room on landscaping rules. 3 of the 5 rules here are rated permissive. But permissive does not mean unregulated. There are still requirements, and the city does enforce them when violations are reported.

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