Landscaping Rules in Allentown, PA (2026)
5 verified landscaping rules for Allentown, Pennsylvania, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Trimming
In Allentown, the owner of property abutting a public right-of-way is responsible for the care and maintenance of any shade (street) tree growing in that right-of-way. A City permit from the Department of Public Works is required before pruning, removing, planting, stump-grinding, or applying pesticide/fertilizer to a street tree, and all work must follow the City's Arboricultural Specifications and Standards of Practice under Article 911 of the 1962 Codified Ordinances.
Property owners maintain street trees; permit required
Heavy RestrictionsCity of Allentown Street Tree Permit Instructions (Article 911 of the 1962 Codified Ordinances)
Pruning trees. A permit is required to perform pruning and other work on trees or shrubs growing in the public right-of-way. In addition, a City-licensed ISA tree contractor is required to perform such work on trees growing on public property. All pruning must be performed to the City's Arboricultural Specifications and Standards of Practice. ... All tree work must be done in accordance with th...
Weed Ordinances
Allentown defines weeds broadly as rank vegetable growth (grass, ragweed, dandelion, brush, and similar vegetation) that emits unpleasant or noxious odors or pollen, conceals filthy deposits, or harbors mosquitoes, insects, or vermin. Under Chapter 393 (Neighborhood Improvement), property owners may not allow weeds to exceed 10 inches in height and have an affirmative duty to cut them; the City may abate after one annual notice.
Weeds are a nuisance; 10-inch limit, City may abate
Heavy RestrictionsCity of Allentown Code Ch. 393, Neighborhood Improvement (Weeds definition)
Weeds: all rank vegetable growth including but not limited to grass, ragweed, dandelion and miscellaneous other vegetation commonly referred to as 'weeds' or 'brush' which exhale unpleasant noxious odors or pollen, or which may conceal filthy deposits or serve as breeding places for mosquitoes, other insects or vermin.
Water Restrictions
Allentown has no permanent day-of-week or time-of-day lawn-watering ordinance. Outdoor watering is restricted only when the Governor declares a drought emergency, at which point Pennsylvania's statewide nonessential-water-use ban (4 Pa. Code Chapter 119) prohibits watering grass except for narrow exceptions. The Lehigh County Authority (LCA), which supplies Allentown, issues its own voluntary or mandatory conservation requests tied to the state drought status.
Watering banned only during state drought emergencies
Some Restrictions4 Pa. Code Section 119.4 (Prohibitions)
Whenever the Governor declares by proclamation or executive order a state of drought or water shortage emergency in an area of this Commonwealth, the following water uses shall be deemed nonessential and are prohibited within areas that have been declared to be in a state of drought or water shortage emergency, including within any public water supply agency's service area for which a source of...
Native Plants
Allentown's zoning code lets property owners plant a native meadow instead of a mowed lawn to satisfy the ground-vegetation requirement. Section 660-74.C allows "alternative lawn or meadow plantings" anywhere a lawn is required, provided a meadow lawn is made up of grasses, naturally spreading groundcovers, and wildflowers native to the area, rather than ornamental or invasive species.
Allentown Allows Native Meadow Lawns as Landscaping
Few RestrictionsCity of Allentown Zoning Ordinance § 660-74.A, C (Ord. No. 16166, adopted Oct. 15, 2025, effective Jan. 1, 2026)
§ 660-74. Ground vegetation. A. Applicability. All unpaved areas of any lot in any zone other than an N1 through N5 Zone must be covered by either planting bed per § 660-74B or lawn per § 660-74C. ... C. Lawn. Seeded, plugged, or sodded grasses, clover, or other alternative lawn or meadow plantings may be planted throughout landscaped areas. (1) Lawn must be established within 90 days of planti...
Artificial Turf
Allentown's abandoned-property registry law lists artificial turf or sod designed for residential installation as acceptable yard maintenance on registered vacant and defaulted properties, alongside grass, ground covers, and decorative rock or bark.
Allentown Allows Artificial Turf on Registered Vacant Lots
Light RestrictionsCity of Allentown Codified Ordinances § 135-6.D (Maintenance requirements, Abandoned Real Property; Blight)
Yard maintenance shall include, but not be limited to, grass, ground covers, bushes, shrubs, hedges or similar plantings, decorative rock or bark or artificial turf/sod designed specifically for residential installation. Acceptable maintenance of yards and/or landscape shall not include weeds, gravel, broken concrete, asphalt or similar material.
Looking for Lehigh County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Allentown city rules.
Landscaping Rules in Lehigh County →